Deuteronomy 19:4
2 then you are to set apart for yourselves three cities within the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
3 You are to build roads for yourselves and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that any manslayer can flee to these cities.
Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him:
5 If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.
6 Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm.
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
- Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him:
- KJV
- And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;
- WEB
- This is the case of the man slayer who shall flee there and live: Whoever kills his neighbor unintentionally, and didn’t hate him in time past—
- ASV
- And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in time past;
- DARBY
- And this is the case of the slayer who shall flee thither that he may live: he that smiteth his neighbour unwittingly, whom he hated not previously;
- BLB
- And this [is] the matter of the manslayer who flees there that he may live: Whoever strikes his neighbor without knowing, and he without having hated him from yesterday and the day before yesterday,
- ÅB
- Og slik skal det være med den manndraper som skal kunne flykte dit og berge livet: Når noen dreper sin neste av vanvare og uten å ha hatet ham i forveien,
- OTB
- Dette er tilfelle for den som dreper en annen utilsiktet, uten forutgående ondskap: når han dreper sin nabo uten hensikt.
- B1930
- Og således skal det være med den manndraper som skal kunne fly dit og berge livet: Når nogen dreper sin næste av vanvare og uten å ha hatet ham i forveien,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Numbers 35:15–24
These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 4:42
to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities:
Read in context1 Chronicles 11:2
Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
Read in contextDeuteronomy 19:6
Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm.
Read in contextGenesis 31:2
And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
Read in contextIsaiah 30:33
For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.
Read in contextJoshua 3:4
But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”
Read in context