Numbers 35:33

³¹ 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.

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.

³⁴ Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.”

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: 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.
KJV: So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
WEB: “‘So you shall not pollute the land where you live; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it.
ASV: So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
DARBY: And ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are; for blood, it polluteth the land; and there can be no atonement made for the land, for the blood that hath been shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
BLB: And you⁺ shall not pollute the land that you⁺ [are] in because the blood itself defiles the land; and for the land atonement cannot be made for the blood that is shed on it, except if by the blood of him who shed it.

ÅB: Dere skal ikke vanhellige det land dere bor i; for blod vanhelliger landet, og landet kan ikke få soning for det blod som utøses der, uten ved dens blod som utøser det.
OTB: "Ikke forurens landet hvor dere bor. Blodsutgytelse forurenser landet, og ingen soning kan gjøres for landet hvor blod har blitt utgytt, unntatt ved blodet til den som utgytte det.
B1930: I skal ikke vanhellige det land I bor i; for blod vanhelliger landet, og landet kan ikke få soning for det blod som utøses der, uten ved dens blod som utøser det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Luke 11:50–51
As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,
Read in context
Psalms 106:38
They shed innocent blood— the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.
Read in context
Genesis 9:6
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.
Read in context
Isaiah 26:21
For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
Read in context
Matthew 23:31–35
So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.
Read in context
Hosea 4:2–3
Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.
Read in context
Leviticus 18:25
Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.
Read in context
Ezekiel 22:24–27
“Son of man, say to her, ‘In the day of indignation, you are a land that has not been cleansed, upon which no rain has fallen.’
Read in context