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Deuteronomy 21:3

1 If one is found slain, lying in a field in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed him,

2 your elders and judges must come out and measure the distance from the victim to the neighboring cities.

Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work,

4 bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.

5 And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault.

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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
Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work,
KJV
And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
WEB
It shall be that the elders of the city which is nearest to the slain man shall take a heifer of the herd, which hasn’t been worked with and which has not drawn in the yoke.
ASV
and it shall be, that the city which is nearest unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
DARBY
and the city that is nearest unto him that is slain, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer that hath not been wrought with, that hath not drawn in the yoke;
BLB
And it shall be [that] the city nearest to the slain man, the elders of that city will take a heifer of the herd, which has not been worked in it [and] which has not pulled with a yoke,
ÅB
Og de eldste i den by som er nærmest den drepte, skal ta en kvige som ikke har vært brukt til arbeid og ikke har båret åk;
OTB
De eldste i byen nærmest kroppen skal ta en kvige som ikke har vært brukt til arbeid og som ikke har båret åk,
B1930
Og de eldste i den by som er nærmest den drepte, skal ta en kvige som ikke har vært brukt til arbeid og ikke har båret åk;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 19:2

    “This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer that has no defect and has never been placed under a yoke.

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  • Philippians 2:8

    And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 31:18

    I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 11:28–30

    Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

    Read in context