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Deuteronomy 19:6

4 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;

5 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:

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.

7 Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

8 And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;

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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

    And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

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  • 2 Samuel 14:7

    And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

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  • Joshua 20:5

    And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

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  • Deuteronomy 21:22

    And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

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  • Jeremiah 26:15–16

    But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.

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