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Deuteronomy 19:6

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:

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.

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.

8 And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you all the land He promised them,

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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
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.
KJV
Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
WEB
Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the man slayer while hot anger is in his heart and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him mortally, even though he was not worthy of death, because he didn’t hate him in time past.
ASV
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
DARBY
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, since he hated him not previously.
BLB
lest the avenger of blood pursue after the manslayer while his anger is hot, and overtake him because the way is long, and kill him, and he did not have a sentence of death, since he had not hated him from yesterday and the day before yesterday.
ÅB
For blodhevneren kunne ellers i sin brennende vrede forfølge manndraperen og, hvis veien var for lang, nå ham igjen og slå ham ihjel, skjønt han ikke var skyldig til døden, fordi han ikke hadde båret hat til ham i forveien.
OTB
Ellers kan blodhevneren forfølge ham i sinne, innhente ham hvis avstanden er for lang, og drepe ham, selv om han ikke fortjente døden fordi han ikke hadde hatet på forhånd.
B1930
For blodhevneren kunde ellers i sin brennende vrede forfølge manndraperen og, hvis veien var for lang, nå ham igjen og slå ham ihjel, skjønt han ikke var skyldig til døden, fordi han ikke hadde båret hat til ham i forveien.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 35:12

    You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.

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  • 2 Samuel 14:7

    Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”

    Read in context

  • Joshua 20:5

    Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 21:22

    If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree,

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 26:15–16

    But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”

    Read in context