Deuteronomy 21 9

Deuteronomy 21:9 kjv

So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 21:9 nkjv

So you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 21:9 niv

and you will have purged from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 21:9 esv

So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 21:9 nlt

By following these instructions, you will do what is right in the LORD's sight and will cleanse the guilt of murder from your community.

Deuteronomy 21 verses

Deuteronomy 21 9 Meaning

Deuteronomy 21:9 outlines the profound spiritual and moral purpose behind the specific ritual for an unsolved murder (Deut 21:1-8). It signifies that by performing this prescribed act of purification and demonstrating communal accountability, Israel would effectively cleanse itself from the severe moral pollution and guilt incurred by the shedding of innocent blood. This action ensures the community acts righteously in God's eyes, thus preserving its covenant relationship and the sanctity of the land.

Deuteronomy 21 9 Context

Deuteronomy 21:9 concludes a section (Deut 21:1-9) that provides detailed instructions for a community ritual to atone for an unsolved murder within Israelite territory. The land, as a divine gift and the stage for God's covenant with His people, was considered holy and therefore susceptible to defilement by certain sins, especially the shedding of innocent blood. If the murderer could not be identified, the guilt would fall upon the entire community, specifically the elders of the nearest city. The prescribed ritual, involving the breaking of a heifer's neck in a valley and the elders' solemn declaration of innocence, was a symbolic act of taking corporate responsibility. Verse 9 provides the theological rationale: this ritual, performed sincerely, served to remove the deep spiritual stain of innocent blood from the midst of the people, demonstrating their obedience to God's standards of justice and righteousness. This entire passage emphasizes God's supreme concern for human life and justice, a distinctive feature compared to surrounding ancient Near Eastern legal codes, where such incidents might be ignored or handled purely secularly.

Deuteronomy 21 9 Word analysis

• So you shall put away (וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֣, u-vi’artā): This verb (ba'ar) means to "burn up," "consume," "clear out," or "purge." Here, it implies a decisive and thorough removal of something harmful or undesirable. It’s not just a superficial cleansing but a deep, decisive act of expulsion. This command highlights God's demand for active involvement in maintaining purity within the community.
• the guilt of innocent blood (דַּם־נָקִ֗י, dam-naqi): Literally "blood of clean" or "blood of innocent." This phrase refers not just to the act of spilling blood, but to the moral stain, the defilement, and the divine judgment that adheres to a community and land when an innocent life is taken without justice. God considers the life of an innocent person highly precious, and their blood defiles the land, calling out for recompense (Gen 4:10).
• from your midst (מִקִּרְבְּךָ֔, miqqirbekha): "From your inward part," "from within you." This emphasizes that the defilement impacts the community at its core, not merely on the fringes. The corporate body of Israel is held responsible, and therefore, the cleansing must be an internal, communal act. This reinforces the idea of Israel's collective covenant responsibility.
• when you do (כִּֽי־תַעֲשֶׂ֥ה, ki ta’aseh): The conditional "when you do" signifies that the effectiveness of removing the guilt is contingent upon the community's faithful and obedient performance of God's command. It's not automatic.
• what is right (הַיָּשָׁר֙, hayyashar): "The straight," "the upright," "the righteous." This term often refers to actions that are morally aligned with God's perfect standard. It's a frequently used Deuteronomic phrase, indicating conduct that pleases God, often linked to ethical living and covenant obedience, not merely ritual performance. It suggests adherence to the entire law, not just this specific command.
• in the sight of the LORD (בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָה, be’einei Yahweh): This stresses that God is the ultimate witness and judge of human actions. The act of cleansing must be acceptable and genuinely pleasing to Him, meeting His divine standards of justice and purity, not just human perceptions or societal expectations.

• "So you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from your midst": This phrase captures the primary theological aim of the ritual – to actively and definitively cleanse the community from the moral and spiritual pollution caused by an unavenged act of violence. It underscores the severity with which God views bloodshed and the collective responsibility of His people to maintain purity.
• "when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD": This emphasizes the crucial link between obedience to God's specific commands and the attainment of righteousness and purification. It transforms the ritual from a mere procedure into an act of faithfulness, aligning the community's will with God's justice. The "right" thing is God's revealed will.

Deuteronomy 21 9 Bonus section

This verse reflects a foundational theological principle throughout the Pentateuch: that sin, especially the sin of bloodshed, is not merely an individual transgression but has communal implications, defiling the land and the people (e.g., Num 35:33-34). The act of "putting away" (ba'ar) is a recurring command in Deuteronomy for purging various forms of evil or unrighteousness from the community (Deut 13:5; 17:7, 12; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21, 24; 24:7). This demonstrates a consistent theme: God desires a holy people living in a holy land, requiring diligent maintenance and purging of any sin that pollutes the sacred space and relationship. The very act of the elders washing their hands and declaring their innocence (Deut 21:7) is a symbolic transfer of guilt, underscoring the severity of the unaddressed crime and the necessity of corporate atonement. Ultimately, this provision points forward to the need for a perfect sacrifice—Jesus Christ—whose innocent blood speaks a better word, cleansing not just physical land but human souls from all sin and bloodguilt, truly doing "what is right in the sight of the LORD" for us (Heb 9:14, 22; 12:24).

Deuteronomy 21 9 Commentary

Deuteronomy 21:9 serves as the capstone to the complex procedure for expiating communal guilt stemming from an unsolved murder. It distills the theological essence of the preceding verses, highlighting God's abhorrence for innocent bloodshed and His unwavering demand for justice and purity within His covenant people. The verse emphasizes that merely performing the ritual for ritual's sake is insufficient; true purification and removal of guilt occur "when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD." This implies genuine submission, active obedience, and a heart disposed to upholding divine justice. The land of Israel was considered holy, consecrated to the Lord, and innocent blood shed upon it constituted a grave defilement, jeopardizing the nation's blessed existence in that land. Thus, the prescribed act was a corporate means to acknowledge the sanctity of life, remove a communal spiritual blight, and reaffirm Israel’s commitment to walking uprightly before God, ensuring His continued blessing and presence among them. This law is foundational, showcasing God's care for human life and His uncompromising stance against injustice, calling His people to actively purge evil from their collective midst.