Deuteronomy 19:2 kjv
Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
Deuteronomy 19:2 nkjv
you shall separate three cities for yourself in the midst of your land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
Deuteronomy 19:2 niv
then set aside for yourselves three cities in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
Deuteronomy 19:2 esv
you shall set apart three cities for yourselves in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
Deuteronomy 19:2 nlt
Then you must set apart three cities of refuge in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 19 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 35:6 | “And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities of refuge...” | Six cities established, specifically Levitical |
| Num 35:11-12 | “...ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person unawares. And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger...” | Purpose: refuge for unintentional killing |
| Num 35:22-25 | “But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait... then the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the avenger...” | Differentiates unintentional homicide |
| Exo 21:13 | “And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.” | God provides a place for accidental killers |
| Deut 4:41-43 | “Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; That the slayer might flee thither...” | Moses pre-established cities east of Jordan |
| Deut 19:4-6 | “And this is the case of the slayer that shall flee thither... so that the avenger of the blood pursue him not, while his heart is hot...” | Details scenarios for refuge usage |
| Deut 19:11-13 | “But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him... then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence...” | Distinction from premeditated murder |
| Josh 20:1-9 | “The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge... where the slayer that killeth any person at unawares may flee.” | Joshua implements the command post-entry |
| Josh 21:13 | “And they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer...” | Hebron as a city of refuge (Levitical) |
| Ps 46:1 | “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” | God as ultimate spiritual refuge |
| Ps 91:2 | “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” | God as personal fortress and protector |
| Prov 18:10 | “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” | Refuge in God's character/name |
| Heb 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.” | Christ as a spiritual refuge for hope |
| Gen 12:7 | “And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land...” | Land promised as a divine gift |
| Deut 6:10-11 | “And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers...” | Land is a fulfillment of God's promise |
| Deut 20:10-17 | (Laws concerning war for possession of the land) | Land acquisition tied to divine purpose |
| Deut 30:20 | “That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land...” | Dwelling in land dependent on obedience |
| Matt 5:21-22 | “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment...” | Justice principles related to murder |
| Rom 12:19 | “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” | God's right to vengeance, preventing self-retaliation |
| Eph 2:12-13 | “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel... But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” | All can find refuge in Christ from condemnation |
| Isa 4:6 | “And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” | Divine protection and refuge |
| Col 1:13-14 | “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” | Spiritual liberation and refuge in Christ |
| Rev 12:15-16 | (Dragon's persecution and earth's help) | Symbolizes God's provision of refuge for His people |
Deuteronomy 19 verses
Deuteronomy 19 2 Meaning
Deuteronomy 19:2 outlines a divine command for the nation of Israel to designate three cities of refuge within their promised land. These cities were to serve as sanctuaries for individuals who had unintentionally killed another person, providing a safe haven from the avenger of blood and preventing further bloodshed due to personal retaliation. This provision ensured a system of measured justice and maintained order within the land that the Lord their God was granting them as an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 19 2 Context
Deuteronomy 19 is part of Moses' final discourse to the Israelites before their entry into the promised land, detailing specific laws necessary for the ordered functioning of their new society under God's covenant. This chapter specifically addresses the administration of justice concerning capital offenses, particularly homicide. Verse 2, along with the surrounding verses (Deut 19:1-13), establishes the crucial institution of "cities of refuge." This law provides a critical distinction between intentional murder, which warranted capital punishment, and unintentional manslaughter, which merited protection within a designated city. Historically, without such a system, blood feuds and unchecked revenge would likely destabilize the community. Culturally, this law would set Israel apart from surrounding nations that often practiced arbitrary vengeance or demanded financial compensation regardless of intent. The cities of refuge were therefore an essential mechanism to curb indiscriminate blood vengeance and establish a nuanced, just legal system reflective of God's character in the land He was granting to His people.
Deuteronomy 19 2 Word analysis
- Thou shalt separate: (Hebrew: וְהִבְדַּלְתָּ֣, ve-hivdaltā) This verb, badal, means to divide, set apart, or distinguish. It emphasizes a deliberate, divinely commanded action. It implies a separation for a sacred purpose, establishing boundaries for legal action and preventing the chaotic practice of blood vengeance. This is a clear directive from God, not merely a societal convention.
- three cities: (Hebrew: שָׁלֹשׁ֙ עָרֵי֙, shlosh arei) The number "three" is specific and pragmatic. Later scriptures indicate three cities were set aside on each side of the Jordan River (total six), strategically placed for accessibility across the breadth of the land. This indicates God's foresight and practical care for His people's safety.
- of refuge: (Hebrew: מִקְלָ֔ט, miklat) From the root qalāt, meaning to receive or gather in. It denotes a place of asylum, safety, and protection. This noun highlights the primary function of these cities: to be a haven for those fleeing immediate danger, awaiting a fair trial, and receiving protection from the 'avenger of blood'.
- for thee: (Hebrew: לָ֔ךְ, lakh) This refers to the collective nation of Israel. The provision is for the benefit and judicial stability of the entire covenant community, demonstrating God's care for justice within their society.
- in the midst of thy land: (Hebrew: בְּת֥וֹךְ אַרְצְךָ֖, betokh artsekha) Signifies a central and accessible location, ensuring that individuals from any part of the land could reach a city of refuge quickly, thereby underscoring the practicality and fairness of the system. It speaks to the permeation of divine justice throughout the God-given territory.
- which the Lord thy God giveth thee: (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ נֹתֵ֨ן לְךָ֥, asher YHWH Eloheikha noten lekha) Establishes the divine origin of the land. God is the sovereign giver, and this highlights the foundational principle that Israel’s occupancy of the land is a gracious gift, not a conquest by their own power. Their administration of justice within this land, therefore, must align with the Giver's righteous character.
- to possess it: (Hebrew: לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ, lerishtah) The purpose of receiving the land is for its long-term occupancy and administration. This links the divine gift of the land directly to the responsibility of establishing and maintaining justice within it, as a demonstration of their covenant faithfulness and holiness.
Words-group analysis
- "Thou shalt separate three cities of refuge": This command outlines a deliberate act of divine providence. God, the ultimate Lawgiver, mandates a specific infrastructure—cities of refuge—to manage cases of accidental death, thereby protecting innocent life and preventing unchecked cycles of vengeance within His covenant people. It reflects God’s order and His commitment to justice over chaos.
- "for thee in the midst of thy land": This phrase emphasizes both the benefit to the people and the strategic implementation of the law. The cities were conveniently located across the entire land, making them readily accessible to anyone who needed to flee, thus demonstrating God's practical care for all segments of His people in the territory He gave them.
- "which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it": This is a profound theological statement. It connects the system of justice (cities of refuge) directly to God’s gracious gift of the land (the inheritance). It underscores that their ability to possess and live in the land is conditional on their obedience to God's laws, especially those pertaining to justice and the sanctity of human life, thus ensuring the purity and holiness of the land given by a holy God.
Deuteronomy 19 2 Bonus section
The cities of refuge were not merely places of asylum but also centers of judgment and Levitical oversight. Significantly, six of the forty-eight cities allocated to the Levites were designated as cities of refuge (Num 35:6, Josh 21). This connection underscores the spiritual and instructional role these cities played; the Levites, being custodians of the law, would have been vital in administering justice within these sanctuaries. Furthermore, the death of the High Priest was the condition for the manslayer to return home freely (Num 35:28). This unusual provision points typologically towards Christ: as our High Priest, His death provides ultimate freedom and refuge for those who flee to Him from the spiritual condemnation of the "avenger" (Satan) for our sins, whether intentional or not, granting us access to the heavenly land and freedom from eternal judgment. The entire system highlighted the principle that innocent blood defiles the land (Num 35:33-34), and thus, mechanisms were needed to cleanse the land or prevent such defilement through proper justice, ensuring that Israel's habitation was holy to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 19 2 Commentary
Deuteronomy 19:2 provides a foundational element of God's legal system for Israel, demonstrating His profound concern for justice, order, and the sanctity of human life. The directive to "separate" cities of refuge highlights the divine initiative and purpose; these were not human innovations but God-ordained provisions. By establishing these sanctuaries, God created a crucial distinction between premeditated murder and accidental death, a nuance not universally recognized in ancient cultures. This system curtailed the practice of uncontrolled blood vengeance by a kinsman, which often led to unending cycles of retaliation, bringing chaos and defilement to the land.
The provision for three strategically located cities in the "midst of thy land" reflects God’s practical wisdom, ensuring fair and swift access for those fleeing to safety. This prevented the taking of innocent life before a proper legal investigation could be held by community elders. The verse explicitly links this system of justice to the land "which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it," emphasizing that the purity and order of their society were essential for maintaining their inheritance from God. The cities of refuge were thus instrumental in enabling Israel to live justly in a land received by grace, underscoring that faithful living was intrinsically tied to righteous governance under divine law.
- Example: If a woodcutter's axe head flew off and accidentally killed a bystander, the woodcutter could flee to a city of refuge. This protection allowed for an investigation to confirm it was truly unintentional, rather than allowing the victim's family to immediately avenge the death.