Deuteronomy 19 6

Deuteronomy 19:6 kjv

Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

Deuteronomy 19:6 nkjv

lest the avenger of blood, while his anger is hot, pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and kill him, though he was not deserving of death, since he had not hated the victim in time past.

Deuteronomy 19:6 niv

Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought.

Deuteronomy 19:6 esv

lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him fatally, though the man did not deserve to die, since he had not hated his neighbor in the past.

Deuteronomy 19:6 nlt

"If the distance to the nearest city of refuge is too far, an enraged avenger might be able to chase down and kill the person who caused the death. Then the slayer would die unfairly, since he had never shown hostility toward the person who died.

Deuteronomy 19 verses

Deuteronomy 19 6 Meaning

Deuteronomy 19:6 describes the vital function of the cities of refuge: to protect an individual who has accidentally caused another's death from the "avenger of blood." The verse highlights the urgency and emotional intensity of the situation, where a relative, driven by immediate grief and rage, might pursue the unintentional killer. The concern is that if the distance to a city of refuge is too great, the avenger might catch and execute the slayer, even though the act was unintentional and without prior malice, thereby resulting in an unjust death. This provision demonstrates God's commitment to due process, discerning justice, and preventing innocent bloodshed based on hasty vengeance.

Deuteronomy 19 6 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 19 outlines specific laws concerning justice and legal processes within Israel. This verse (19:6) is a crucial part of the detailed instructions for establishing and utilizing "cities of refuge," a system designed to handle cases of accidental homicide (Deut 19:1-13). Following God's command to Moses, Israel was to set apart six cities (three already chosen by Moses in Deut 4:41-43, and three more to be chosen once they possessed Canaan) which would serve as safe havens for those who unintentionally killed another. This system prevented the immediate, emotional blood-vengeance that was common in the ancient Near East by providing a legal pathway for due process, distinguishing between accidental death and premeditated murder. The overarching historical context is Israel's impending entry into the Promised Land and the establishment of a just society under God's law, a society that stands in contrast to the arbitrary or revenge-driven legal systems of the surrounding nations. The detailed nature of these laws demonstrates God's profound concern for the sanctity of human life and the precise administration of justice, tempering vengeance with mercy and establishing legal distinctions based on intent.

Deuteronomy 19 6 Word analysis

• lest (פֶּן, pen): A particle denoting fear or caution; indicating a negative purpose. It expresses the reason for the previous instruction (the command to set aside cities of refuge), which is to prevent a specific undesired outcome.
• the avenger of blood (גֹּאֵל הַדָּם, go'el hadam):
  • גֹּאֵל (go'el): This is a key Hebrew term meaning "redeemer," "kinsman," or "one who avenges/delivers." The go'el had specific responsibilities within the family and clan structure, including reclaiming alienated land, redeeming enslaved kin, and marrying a widowed sister-in-law (levirate marriage). Here, the role expands to avenging the blood of a murdered kinsman. This concept highlights the close-knit, tribal nature of ancient Israelite society where familial responsibility extended to justice.
  • הַדָּם (hadam): "the blood." Thus, "the one who avenges the blood." This is not a legal official but a family member (usually the nearest male relative) acting out of a sacred duty to family honor and justice, though outside formal judicial process initially.
  • Significance: The existence of the go'el hadam underscores the severity of bloodshed in Israel and the cultural expectation of restitution. The law regarding cities of refuge does not abolish the go'el hadam but regulates and restricts his authority, preventing the shedding of innocent blood through unexamined rage.
• pursue (רָדַף, radaf): To chase, pursue, follow after. Implies active and swift pursuit, emphasizing the immediate threat to the manslayer.
• the manslayer (הָרֹצֵחַ, harōṣēaḥ):
  • While often translated as "manslayer" here (emphasizing accidental death), the root (רָצַח, raṣaḥ) in Hebrew technically means to "murder" or "kill" without specification of intent.
  • Significance: In the context of the cities of refuge laws, the usage here clarifies that this raṣaḥ refers specifically to one who has killed unintentionally, as explicitly stated by "though he was not deserving of death" later in the verse and in surrounding verses (e.g., Num 35:22-24: "without intent"). This highlights the importance of context in interpreting Hebrew terms that can have a broader semantic range. The Law differentiates sharply between this and deliberate, malicious murder.
• while his heart is hot (כִּי־יֵחַם לְבָבוֹ, ki-yeḥam lēḇāḇō): Literally "when his heart is warm/heated."
  • Significance: This vivid idiom describes intense anger, rage, and grief, often impulsively. It paints a picture of the avenger's emotional state, driven by immediate sorrow and a desire for immediate retribution, rather than rational judgment or due process. This underscores why a sanctuary system was necessary—to provide a buffer against emotion-driven vengeance.
• and overtake him (וְהִשִּׂיג֖וֹ, vəhiśśiḡō): To catch up to, reach, apprehend. Signifies the successful execution of the pursuit.
• because the way is long (וְכִֽי־יִרְבֶּה֙ הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ, vəḵî-yirbeh haddereḵ): Literally, "and when the way multiplies."
  • Significance: This phrase provides the specific rationale for why three additional cities of refuge would be needed and for them to be dispersed effectively throughout the land (Deut 19:8-9). The emphasis on "long way" suggests that geographical proximity to a sanctuary was critical for the law's effectiveness. Distance increased the risk of the avenger catching the manslayer. It highlights God's practical concern for accessibility of justice.
• and strike him fatally (וְהִכָּהוּ נֶפֶשׁ, vəhikkāhū nep̄eš): Literally, "and strike him soul/life." This is an idiomatic expression for striking him so that he dies, delivering a fatal blow.
• though he was not deserving of death (וְהֽוּא֙ אֵ֣ין לוֹ מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֔וֶת, vəhûʾ ʾên lô mišpaṭ-māwet): Literally, "and he there is not to him a judgment of death."
  • Significance: This is the crux of the verse. It explicitly states that the manslayer's action, while leading to a death, did not merit the death penalty under divine law because it lacked malicious intent. This establishes a crucial legal distinction between murder and manslaughter, reflecting God's just character which requires an alignment between punishment and culpability.
• since he had not hated him in time past (וְה֤וּא֙ לֹא־שׂוֹנֵ֣א ה֔וּא לוֹ מֵאֶתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁום, vəhûʾ loʾ-sōwnêʾ hûʾ lô mêʾetmôl šilšôm): Literally, "and he was not hating he to him from yesterday day before yesterday."
  • Significance: This emphasizes the lack of premeditation, malice, or prior enmity. "Yesterday and day before yesterday" is an idiom for "formerly" or "in time past." It's the standard legal criterion used in cases of accidental homicide (Exod 21:13; Num 35:23). This absence of previous hatred proves that the death was accidental rather than driven by animosity, setting it apart from premeditated murder (compare Deut 19:11). This deepens the requirement for discernment in justice, moving beyond just the immediate act to the killer's prior relationship and intentions.

Deuteronomy 19 6 Bonus section

The concept of the "avenger of blood" and the cities of refuge foreshadow several theological truths. Just as the manslayer had to flee to a designated city for safety, believers find ultimate refuge in Christ, who delivers them from the ultimate "avenger of blood," divine justice against sin (Heb 6:18, Ps 91:2-4). The requirement for the manslayer to remain in the city until the death of the high priest (Num 35:28) points to Christ, our ultimate High Priest (Hebrews chapters 4-10), whose death provides ultimate and permanent release from the condemnation of sin. This system regulated ancient practices, not only by providing a safe place for the accused but also by creating a pathway for discernment in cases that might otherwise be settled by violent retribution. It underscored the sanctity of human life and God's sovereign right over it, forbidding taking life without due cause and proper legal review, thereby curbing both individual lawlessness and mob rule.

Deuteronomy 19 6 Commentary

Deuteronomy 19:6 functions as a critical justification for the institution of cities of refuge in ancient Israel. It unveils God's intricate system of justice, which moves beyond primitive blood revenge. The verse articulates the dire consequence of not having readily accessible cities of asylum: a passionate go'el hadam (avenger of blood) might, in a surge of grief and rage ("while his heart is hot"), overtake an unintentional killer on a long journey and execute him unjustly.

The core theological and legal principle illuminated here is the paramount importance of distinguishing between intentional and unintentional homicide. God's law rigorously defines acts deserving of death, and acts that, though resulting in death, lack the malice that warrants capital punishment. The manslayer "was not deserving of death" because his action was not born of prior hatred or premeditation. This showcases God's justice as being rooted in truth and intent, not merely outcome.

The provisions for cities of refuge, as underscored by this verse, reflect divine compassion for the one who kills accidentally, granting them a right to due process and sanctuary from unchecked vengeance. It highlights a system that, while recognizing the family's right to go'el (redeem/avenge), subjected this right to a higher, more orderly, and divinely mandated legal structure. The physical provision of accessible refuge cities, emphasized by the phrase "because the way is long," shows God's practical concern for implementing justice effectively in the lived reality of the people, balancing justice with mercy, and preventing the perpetuation of unjust bloodshed. The contrast with surrounding cultures, which often lacked such refined legal distinctions, elevates the ethical superiority of the Israelite legal system given by God.