Numbers 35:6

4 And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.

5 And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.

And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.

7 So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.

8 And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

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
Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.
KJV
And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.
WEB
“The cities which you shall give to the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the man slayer to flee to. Besides them you shall give forty-two cities.
ASV
And the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which ye shall give for the manslayer to flee unto: and besides them ye shall give forty and two cities.
DARBY
And [among] the cities that ye shall give unto the Levites [shall be] the six cities of refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither, and besides them ye shall give forty-two cities:
BLB
And among the cities that you⁺ shall give to the Levites [are] six cities of refuge, which you⁺ shall give for the fleeing there of the manslayer. And to these you⁺ shall add forty-two cities.
ÅB
De byer dere skal gi levittene, skal være de seks tilfluktsstæder som dere skal gi, for at manndrapere kan flykte dit, og foruten dem skal dere gi to og førti byer.
OTB
"Av byene dere gir til levittene, utpek seks som tilfluktsbyer, hvor noen som har begått drap kan flykte. I tillegg skal dere gi førtito andre byer.
B1930
De byer I skal gi levittene, skal være de seks tilfluktsstæder som I skal gi, forat manndrapere kan fly dit, og foruten dem skal I gi to og firti byer.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 21:3

    And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.

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  • Joshua 21:13

    Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,

    Read in context
  • Joshua 21:38

    And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,

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  • Psalms 62:7–8

    In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 21:21

    For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,

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  • Psalms 142:4–5

    I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 21:27

    And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beesh-terah with her suburbs; two cities.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 21:32

    And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammoth-dor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.

    Read in context