Deuteronomy 4:42

40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.

41 Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;

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:

43 Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.

44 And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:

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 thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 6:18

    That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

    Read in context
  • Numbers 35:6

    And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 35:15–28

    These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 35:11–12

    Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

    Read in context