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Deuteronomy 19:5

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.

4 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:

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.

7 This is why I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities.

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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
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.
KJV
As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
WEB
as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to chop wood and his hand swings the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and hits his neighbor so that he dies—he shall flee to one of these cities and live.
ASV
as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbor, so that he dieth; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live:
DARBY
as when he goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron slippeth from the handle, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; such an one shall flee unto one of these cities, and live;
BLB
and he who goes with his neighbor into the forest to cut timber, and his hand swings with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies, he shall flee to one of these cities and live,
ÅB
som når en går med sin neste ut i skogen for å hugge tømmer og han hugger til med øksen for å felle et tre, men øksen farer av skaftet og treffer hans neste, så han dør, da kan han flykte til en av disse byer og berge livet.
OTB
For eksempel, hvis en mann går med sin nabo inn i skogen for å hugge ved, og når han svinger øksen for å felle et tre, glir jernhodet fra skaftet og treffer hans nabo, slik at han dør, kan han flykte til en av disse byene og leve.
B1930
som når en går med sin næste ut i skogen for å hugge tømmer og han hugger til med øksen for å felle et tre, men øksen farer av skaftet og treffer hans næste, så han dør, da kan han fly til en av disse byer og berge livet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 27:12

    The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

    Read in context

  • 2 Kings 6:5–7

    As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. “Oh, my master,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!”

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 32:2

    Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shadow of a great rock in an arid land.

    Read in context

  • Numbers 35:25

    The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

    Read in context