Deuteronomy 4:42

40 Keep His statutes and commandments, which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.

41 Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east

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:

43 Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.

44 This is the law that Moses set before the Israelites.

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
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:
KJV
That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:
WEB
that the man slayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally and didn’t hate him in time past, and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
ASV
that the manslayer might flee thither, that slayeth his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in time past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:
DARBY
that the manslayer might flee thither, who should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not previously, that fleeing to one of these cities, he might live:
BLB
for to flee there the manslayer who kills his neighbor without knowing, and he without having hated him from yesterday and the day before yesterday, and that by fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
ÅB
for at en manndraper som hadde slått sin neste ihjel av vanvare og uten før å ha båret hat til ham, kunne flykte dit - til en av disse byer - og redde livet;
OTB
dit enhver som hadde drept en person kunne flykte hvis de hadde drept en nabo uten forsett. De kunne flykte til en av disse byene og bevare sitt liv.
B1930
forat en manndraper som hadde slått sin næste ihjel av vanvare og uten før å ha båret hat til ham, kunde fly dit - til en av disse byer - og redde livet;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 19:1–10

    When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land He is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their cities and houses,

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  • Hebrews 6:18

    Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

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  • Numbers 35:6

    Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities.

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  • Numbers 35:15–28

    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.

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  • Numbers 35:11–12

    designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.

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