Deuteronomy 19:12 kjv
Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
Deuteronomy 19:12 nkjv
then the elders of his city shall send and bring him from there, and deliver him over to the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
Deuteronomy 19:12 niv
the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die.
Deuteronomy 19:12 esv
then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die.
Deuteronomy 19:12 nlt
In that case, the elders of the murderer's hometown must send agents to the city of refuge to bring him back and hand him over to the dead person's avenger to be put to death.
Deuteronomy 19 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:6 | Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed... | God's universal law of capital punishment for murder. |
| Exod 21:12 | Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. | Establishes death penalty for murder. |
| Exod 21:13 | But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. | Introduces concept of refuge for unintentional killing. |
| Exod 21:14 | But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die. | No sanctuary for willful murder. |
| Num 35:16-18 | If he struck him with an iron instrument... then the killer is a murderer; he shall be put to death. | Defines deliberate acts resulting in murder. |
| Num 35:19 | The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death... | Identifies the 'avenger of blood' role. |
| Num 35:20-21 | If he thrust him in malice or hurled at him in ambush... he shall be put to death... | Further defines malicious/premeditated murder. |
| Num 35:24-28 | The congregation shall judge between the killer and the avenger of blood... the killer shall return to his city... until the death of the high priest. | Congregation's role in judging; distinguishes accidental killing. |
| Num 35:30 | If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses... | Requires multiple witnesses for conviction. |
| Num 35:31 | You shall not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer... he shall be put to death. | Prohibits substitution for murderer's penalty. |
| Num 35:33-34 | You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made... | Blood defiles the land, requires blood atonement (justice). |
| Deut 4:41-43 | Then Moses set apart three cities in charge of the Jordan toward the sunrise, to which the manslayer could flee... | Historical establishment of first cities of refuge. |
| Deut 19:1-6 | When the Lord your God cuts off the nations... you shall set apart three cities for you... for anyone who kills another unintentionally. | Purpose and context of cities of refuge within Deuteronomy. |
| Deut 19:10 | so that innocent blood may not be shed in your land, which the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance... | Prevents injustice and defilement of the land. |
| Deut 21:6-8 | And all the elders of that city nearest to the murdered man shall wash their hands over the heifer... | Ceremony for unsolved murder, highlights communal responsibility. |
| Josh 20:2-3 | Appoint for yourselves the cities of refuge... that the manslayer who kills any person without intent or premeditation may flee there. | Joshua's implementation of cities of refuge. |
| Josh 20:4-6 | And if he flees to one of these cities... and declares his case in the ears of the elders... they shall receive him. | Procedure for acceptance in cities of refuge. |
| Josh 20:9 | These were the designated cities for all the people of Israel and for the stranger... that anyone who killed a person unintentionally might flee there... | Universal application of cities of refuge. |
| Psa 9:12 | For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. | God as the ultimate avenger of blood. |
| Rom 13:4 | For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. | Government's role in executing justice for wrongdoers. |
| 1 Pet 4:15 | But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. | Murder is a clear sin that brings suffering. |
| Rev 13:10 | If anyone is to be captured, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. | Principle of justice and retribution in end times. |
Deuteronomy 19 verses
Deuteronomy 19 12 Meaning
Deuteronomy 19:12 explains the legal procedure for dealing with someone who has committed premeditated murder and has sought refuge in one of the cities designated for asylum. Instead of finding protection, such a murderer must be extracted from the city by the judicial elders of their own city and delivered into the hands of the victim's closest relative, known as the "avenger of blood," for execution. This verse clearly distinguishes intentional killing from accidental manslaughter, ensuring that true murderers face the deserved penalty and that the land is purified of the shedding of innocent blood.
Deuteronomy 19 12 Context
Deuteronomy 19 falls within a section of laws concerning the Israelite community, particularly focusing on the administration of justice as they are about to enter the promised land. Verses 1-13 specifically address the establishment and proper function of cities of refuge. The preceding verses (1-10) explain the compassionate provision for unintentional manslayers to flee to these cities to escape immediate retribution from the "avenger of blood." Verse 11, immediately preceding verse 12, draws a sharp contrast by describing the malicious murderer who "lies in wait" for his victim. Thus, verse 12 is the critical response to this premeditated evil, outlining the strict legal process to ensure such a murderer does not find unmerited protection and that justice is meted out. Historically, this system was a significant legal advance, preventing the endless cycle of blood feuds common in ancient Near Eastern societies by centralizing judgment while still honoring the kinsman's role in execution.
Deuteronomy 19 12 Word analysis
- Then the elders (וּבָאוּ זִקְנֵי - uvas’u ziq’ney): Refers to the legally constituted judicial authorities of the murderer's hometown. These individuals held significant spiritual, civil, and judicial power. Their involvement ensures due process, prevents arbitrary justice, and reflects community accountability in maintaining God’s righteous standards. It emphasizes that this is a matter of communal legal responsibility, not individual vigilantism.
- of his city: Specifically indicates the city where the murderer lived prior to the act. This implies that the community where the individual resided bears a responsibility to pursue justice for a grave crime committed by one of its members.
- shall send and bring him from there: "From there" (מִשָּׁם - mishām) explicitly points to the city of refuge. This highlights that the city of refuge, while a sanctuary, was not an indiscriminate haven for all killings. The elders had the authority and duty to legally compel the return of a known premeditated murderer. This action legally removes the killer from a place of unmerited safety.
- and deliver him (וְנָתְנוּ - wěnatěnû): Signifies a formal, judicial handing over. It means that the legal authorities (elders) were directly responsible for placing the murderer into the custody of the "avenger of blood," legitimizing the avenger's role within the legal framework, rather than it being an act of private revenge.
- into the hand of the avenger of blood (גֹאֵל הַדָּם - go'el haddam): This crucial term signifies the nearest male relative of the deceased, who had the legal and moral right and duty to avenge the shedding of his kinsman’s blood by executing the killer. The Hebrew term go'el means 'redeemer' or 'kinsman-redeemer,' highlighting the idea of restoring justice or rights within the family and clan structure. In this context, the go'el acts as an agent of divine justice. His role, however, was strictly regulated by the law to prevent excessive violence.
- that he may die (וָמֵת - wāmēt): This definitive statement underscores the unalterable consequence for premeditated murder. Capital punishment for intentional homicide was divinely commanded from Genesis (Gen 9:6) and re-established in the Mosaic Law as a just retribution, purifying the land from defilement caused by bloodshed (Num 35:33-34).
Deuteronomy 19 12 Bonus section
The concept of the go'el haddam (avenger of blood) reflects a unique aspect of Israelite law, combining elements of ancient family vengeance with a highly regulated legal system. The avenger acted as the designated executioner under the law, not as someone taking private, unchecked retribution. This provision highlighted the deep value of human life and the severity with which God views bloodshed. The process also underscores that the responsibility for justice was communal; the "elders" of the murderer's city had an obligation to remove defilement from their midst, demonstrating the covenant community's shared accountability before God for upholding righteous standards within the land. This divine ordinance was polemical against the practices of other nations where sanctuaries might offer absolute immunity, emphasizing that Israel’s God is a God of justice who holds all life sacred and demands accountability for its willful termination.
Deuteronomy 19 12 Commentary
Deuteronomy 19:12 serves as a critical counterbalance to the mercy shown in the cities of refuge. It clarifies that divine mercy, while abundant, does not negate the demand for justice against intentional wrongdoing, particularly the taking of an innocent life. This verse mandates an active pursuit and formal handover of a premeditated murderer who sought to exploit the system of refuge. The process, overseen by the elders, ensured a distinction between accidental and willful acts, demonstrating a sophisticated legal system for its time that moved beyond unbridled blood vengeance. By placing the responsibility on the communal elders to apprehend the murderer and hand him over to the avenger of blood, God instilled respect for human life and a system of legal accountability, thus maintaining the sanctity of the land and deterring future acts of malicious killing.