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Numbers 35:31

Justice

29 This will be a statutory ordinance for you for the generations to come, wherever you live.

30 If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.

You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.

32 Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.

33 Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.
KJV
Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.
WEB
“‘Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death. He shall surely be put to death.
ASV
Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.
DARBY
And ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall certainly be put to death.
BLB
And you⁺ shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is [is] condemned to die; for he must surely be put to death.
ÅB
Dere skal ikke ta imot løsepenger for en manndrapers liv når han er skyldig til døden; han skal late livet.
OTB
"Ikke aksepter en løsepenger for livet til en morder som fortjener å dø. De må dø.
B1930
I skal ikke ta imot løsepenger for en manndrapers liv når han er skyldig til døden; han skal late livet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Kings 2:28–34

    When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 51:14

    Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 21:14

    But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 9:5–6

    And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 12:13

    Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 19:11–13

    If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities,

    Read in context