Deuteronomy 19 10

Deuteronomy 19:10 kjv

That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.

Deuteronomy 19:10 nkjv

lest innocent blood be shed in the midst of your land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and thus guilt of bloodshed be upon you.

Deuteronomy 19:10 niv

Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

Deuteronomy 19:10 esv

lest innocent blood be shed in your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, and so the guilt of bloodshed be upon you.

Deuteronomy 19:10 nlt

That way you will prevent the death of innocent people in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession. You will not be held responsible for the death of innocent people.

Deuteronomy 19 verses

Deuteronomy 19 10 Meaning

Deuteronomy 19:10 details the theological and practical reason for establishing cities of refuge: to prevent the shedding of innocent blood in the land Yahweh is giving to Israel as an inheritance. By providing a safe haven for those who accidentally killed another, the law ensures that innocent lives are protected from unwarranted retribution and, consequently, that corporate bloodguilt does not come upon the community. This underscores the sanctity of life and the divine standard of justice that Israel was commanded to uphold for their continued enjoyment of the covenant land.

Deuteronomy 19 10 Context

Deuteronomy 19 focuses on judicial matters and justice within the land Israel is about to inherit. The chapter begins by detailing the purpose and regulation of the three (later six) cities of refuge for unintentional homicide (vv. 1-10). This contrasts sharply with the law concerning a premeditated murderer who must be put to death. Following this, Moses outlines laws regarding the importance of truthful witness (vv. 15-21) and the prohibition against moving a neighbor's landmark (v. 14). Verse 10 specifically articulates the theological rationale behind the establishment of the cities of refuge. It highlights God’s concern for human life and the profound consequences of allowing innocent blood to remain unaddressed within the nation. The historical context is Moses' final address to the Israelites on the plains of Moab before entering Canaan, reiterating and explaining the laws of the covenant for their future life in the Promised Land. This law was crucial for establishing a just society in a new land where pre-existing tribal retaliatory systems could easily lead to unending bloodshed and defilement.

Deuteronomy 19 10 Word analysis

• that (לְמַעַן – lĕmaʿan): This introductory particle indicates purpose or reason, signifying that the entire purpose of establishing the cities of refuge is to achieve the state described in the following clauses. It links the command (in earlier verses) to its intended outcome.
• innocent (נָקִי – naqi): This adjective means "clean," "pure," "innocent," or "guiltless." Here, it directly modifies "blood," emphasizing the moral blamelessness of the person whose life was taken accidentally. The shedding of naqi blood is a grave offense against divine order, distinguished from justified killing (e.g., execution for capital crimes).
• blood (דָּם – dam): Refers to the life force and existence of a being. In ancient Near Eastern thought and particularly in Israelite theology, blood held immense symbolic and literal significance as the bearer of life (Lev 17:11). Shedding blood means taking a life.
• may not be shed (לֹא יִשָּׁפֵךְ – lo yishshaphēkh): This is a negative imperative or prohibition, derived from the root שָׁפַךְ (shapakh), "to pour out" or "to shed." The passive form "may not be shed" implies both an avoidance of the act and the collective responsibility to prevent it from happening. It’s not just a warning but a direct command to establish a system that actively prevents it.
• in your land (בְּאַרְצְךָ – bĕʾartzeḵa): Refers to the specific geographical area given by God to Israel as part of the Abrahamic covenant. The sanctity of life is not merely an individual concern but fundamentally affects the very purity and habitability of the land itself. Unaddressed bloodshed defiles the land (Num 35:33).
• which the LORD (אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה – asher Yahweh): Identifies the divine giver of the land. This underscores divine ownership and Israel's dependent status. The land is not conquered territory but a covenant gift.
• your God (אֱלֹהֶיךָ – Eloheykha): Reinforces the unique covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel. The commands regarding the land are from their specific God, who expects adherence to His standards of holiness.
• is giving you (נֹתֵן לְךָ – nōtēn lĕḵa): Present participle emphasizes ongoing divine provision and grace. The land is an active gift, contingent upon Israel's faithfulness to His laws.
• for an inheritance (נַחֲלָה – naḥalâ): Refers to a perpetual possession, a patrimony, or an ancestral allotment. The land of Canaan was God's promised inheritance to Israel (Gen 12:7), and its retention was tied to their moral conduct and adherence to the covenant. Failure to prevent innocent bloodshed jeopardized their very hold on this sacred gift.
• and so guilt be on you (וְהָיָה עָלֶיךָ דָמִים – wĕhāyâ ʿaleḵa damîm): This phrase indicates the consequence of neglecting the command. Damim (plural of dam) here signifies "bloodguilt" or "bloodshed," often carrying the connotation of moral responsibility and punitive consequences for such a defilement. If the innocent blood is shed without a proper system of justice, the guilt falls upon the community or the land as a whole, rather than just the individual perpetrator. This concept of corporate guilt for unresolved crime emphasizes the communal responsibility for maintaining justice and purity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "that innocent blood may not be shed": This phrase clearly articulates the primary aim of the cities of refuge. It highlights God's paramount concern for the sanctity of human life, particularly of those who are blameless. The establishment of these cities was a divine provision to mitigate the tragic consequences of accidental death and prevent uncontrolled vengeful actions, which would lead to further unjustified killings.
• "in your land, which the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance": This section emphasizes the deep theological connection between the prevention of innocent bloodshed and the very land Israel was destined to inhabit. The land, a divine gift and central to the covenant, was sacred and was meant to reflect God's holiness and justice. Unpurged bloodshed defiled the land and jeopardized Israel's inheritance and blessing, demonstrating that God's gift was conditional upon moral and legal obedience.
• "and so guilt be on you": This serves as a stark warning and consequence. It reveals the principle of corporate guilt, where the community as a whole bore responsibility for unaddressed moral infractions, especially concerning murder. If the nation failed to establish and enforce the means to justly deal with accidental killings, the resulting bloodguilt (often personified as "bloods") would come upon them, signifying a state of moral defilement that could invoke divine judgment. This also acts as a polemic against practices in other nations that may have been lax regarding human life or swift to blood revenge without due process.

Deuteronomy 19 10 Bonus section

The concept of bloodguilt falling upon the community underscores the biblical principle of corporate responsibility. In ancient Israelite thought, a community was inextricably linked, and the actions or inactions of individuals could have collective consequences, especially when justice was concerned. This provided a strong incentive for the entire nation to actively uphold divine standards, ensuring the moral purity of their society. The cities of refuge, therefore, were not just for the benefit of the accidental manslayer, but a crucial component for maintaining the spiritual and social health of the nation. This early form of a legal process also subtly differentiated between premeditated murder and accidental killing, laying a foundational emphasis on intent, which would later become a critical component of legal systems. Moreover, the secure and accessible nature of the cities, coupled with the communal assembly's role in the trial (Num 35:24), highlight an early framework of communal oversight and legal due process that aimed to provide justice tempered with mercy.

Deuteronomy 19 10 Commentary

Deuteronomy 19:10 reveals God's profound concern for justice and the sanctity of human life, particularly the blameless. The establishment of cities of refuge was not merely a practical legal measure but a divine command rooted in God's character. By providing a system for unintentional manslayers to find asylum, Yahweh ensured that justice was served while preventing the endless cycle of retaliatory violence and unmerited death. This law protected the innocent from an enraged "avenger of blood" and, critically, safeguarded the entire nation from incurring corporate bloodguilt. Allowing innocent blood to be shed and remain unatoned for would defile the land, a land sacred because it was Yahweh’s gift and the embodiment of His covenant with Israel. Failure in this responsibility risked nullifying their inheritance, bringing divine judgment upon the community. The verse thus intertwines justice, life's sanctity, land, and covenant, demonstrating that ethical purity was indispensable for Israel’s relationship with God and their continued existence as His chosen people in His holy land.