Numbers 35:33

31 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.

32 And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

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.

34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

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

    That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

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  • Psalms 106:38

    And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 9:6

    Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

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  • Isaiah 26:21

    For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

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  • Matthew 23:31–35

    Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

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  • Hosea 4:2–3

    By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

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  • Leviticus 18:25

    And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

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  • Ezekiel 22:24–27

    Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.

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