Numbers 35:14 kjv
Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
Numbers 35:14 nkjv
You shall appoint three cities on this side of the Jordan, and three cities you shall appoint in the land of Canaan, which will be cities of refuge.
Numbers 35:14 niv
Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge.
Numbers 35:14 esv
You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge.
Numbers 35:14 nlt
three on the east side of the Jordan River and three on the west in the land of Canaan.
Numbers 35 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 4:15 | And the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain... sevenfold vengeance...” | God's initial protective mark against indiscriminate killing. |
| Exo 21:12-14 | “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies... but if he did not lie in wait...” | Distinguishes intentional murder from unintentional killing. |
| Deut 4:41-43 | Then Moses set apart three cities in the East beyond the Jordan... | Moses' initial setting apart of the three cities east of Jordan. |
| Deut 19:1-10 | When the Lord your God cuts off the nations... three cities shall you provide for yourselves... | Expands on the law of cities of refuge, reiterating purpose and provisions. |
| Josh 20:1-9 | Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, 'Appoint the cities of refuge...'” | Fulfillment and actual naming/designation of the six cities by Joshua. |
| Josh 21:13 | And to the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge... | Confirms Hebron as a city of refuge for the Levites. |
| 2 Sam 14:14 | For we must all die... But God gives thought to devise ways so that a banished person may not remain an outcast. | Reflects God's nature of providing pathways for the lost or vulnerable. |
| Ps 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God as the ultimate spiritual refuge for His people. |
| Ps 91:2 | I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” | Affirmation of God as a personal place of safety. |
| Ps 142:5 | I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” | Seeking the Lord as ultimate refuge. |
| Prov 18:10 | The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. | A metaphor for the security found in God. |
| Heb 6:18 | ...that by two unchangeable things... we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. | Christ as the ultimate spiritual refuge and hope, an ultimate and eternal escape from God's wrath. |
| Col 1:19-20 | For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things... | Christ as the means of ultimate reconciliation and safety for sinners. |
| Rom 8:1 | There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. | Echoes the safety from judgment found in Christ, parallel to the refuge cities protecting from the avenger. |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. | Christ as the mediator providing access and reconciliation, analogous to the High Priest's role. |
| Num 35:25 | ...the congregation shall protect the slayer from the hand of the avenger of blood... until the death of the high priest. | Specific detail about the High Priest's death as the condition for release from refuge. |
| Num 35:28 | Because he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest... | Reiterates the High Priest's death as the release condition. |
| Eph 1:7 | In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses... | Our spiritual release and safety are secured through Christ's blood. |
| Isa 28:16 | ...Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone... whoever believes will not be in haste. | Christ as the firm foundation, a secure spiritual place of trust. |
| John 10:9 | I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. | Christ as the spiritual entry point to safety and abundant life. |
Numbers 35 verses
Numbers 35 14 Meaning
Numbers 35:14 outlines God's command to the Israelites regarding the establishment of six designated cities for refuge. These cities were to be divided evenly: three on the eastern side of the Jordan River and three on the western side within the land of Canaan. Their primary purpose was to serve as places of asylum, protecting individuals who had unintentionally caused the death of another, offering them a legal recourse and a safe haven from immediate vengeance by the avenger of blood until a proper trial could take place.
Numbers 35 14 Context
Numbers chapter 35 details the regulations for the forty-eight cities allocated to the Levites (Num 35:1-8). Within this allocation, six specific cities were designated as cities of refuge, as introduced in verse 6 and further explained in verse 14. This chapter serves as a critical bridge between the laws given at Mount Sinai and their practical application in the promised land. Historically and culturally, the concept of the "avenger of blood" (גֹאֵל הַדָּם, go'el hadam) was prevalent in the ancient Near East, where a victim's close relative had the duty to seek retribution for wrongful death, often leading to escalating blood feuds. The establishment of cities of refuge provided a divinely sanctioned alternative, distinguishing between premeditated murder and accidental homicide, ensuring due process and regulating vengeance to uphold a higher standard of justice unique to Israel. The geographical division of the cities—three east of the Jordan (Reuben, Gad, Manasseh) and three in Canaan proper (Judah, Ephraim, Naphtali)—underscores accessibility for all Israelites, reflecting divine provision and an orderly administration of justice across the entire promised territory. This system reflects a polemic against unregulated private vengeance by introducing a legal framework, demonstrating God's design for a society marked by both justice and mercy.
Numbers 35 14 Word analysis
- You shall give (תִּתְּנ֤וּ, tit·te·nu): From the verb נָתַן (nathan), meaning "to give, place, set." The use of the second person plural indicates a direct command and obligation laid upon the entire Israelite community, implying corporate responsibility for establishing and maintaining this system of justice. It's not a suggestion but a divine imperative.
- three (שָׁלֹ֣שׁ, sha·losh): A numeral, emphasizing a specific, deliberate number. The number "three" in biblical contexts often signifies divine completion, order, and testimony (e.g., three witnesses to establish truth, resurrection on the third day). Here, it reinforces the divine intention behind the precise arrangement of these cities.
- cities (עָרִים֙, a·rim): Plural of עִיר ('ir), referring to established settlements or towns. The fact that these were existing cities (and specifically Levitical cities) implies a level of existing infrastructure and religious/administrative presence suitable for administering justice and providing asylum.
- beyond the Jordan (בְּעֵבֶר֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן, be·'e·ver hay·yar·den): Literally "in the crossing of the Jordan," or "on the other side of the Jordan." This specifically refers to the Transjordan region, east of the Jordan River. This geographical specification highlights God's sovereignty and justice extending to all parts of the land He promised, including the territory initially settled by Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.
- and three cities in the land of Canaan (וְשָׁלֹ֖שׁ עָרִ֖ים בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן, v'sha·losh a·rim be·'e·retz ke·na·'an): This distinctly refers to the Cisjordan region, the primary "promised land" west of the Jordan River. The division into "three and three" ensures equitable access to refuge regardless of where one resided in the wider Israelite territory. It underscores geographical accessibility as a crucial component of justice.
- to be cities of refuge (לְעָרֵ֣י מִקְלָ֔ט, le·'a·rei mik·lat): The critical purpose. מִקְלָט (miklat) derives from a root meaning "to receive, to shelter," specifically denoting a place of asylum or haven. It signifies more than just a place to flee; it implies a structured legal and communal provision of safety and a means for a fair hearing. This was not a haven for criminals but a regulated sanctuary for those guilty of manslaughter, distinguishing between accidental and intentional killing.
Numbers 35 14 Bonus section
- Accessibility and Infrastructure: Beyond the mere command to designate cities, Deuteronomy 19:3 mandates that the Israelites were to "prepare the way" to these cities. This implies maintaining good roads and clear signage, underscoring the serious divine intent that justice and refuge be readily accessible and easily reached by anyone needing it.
- Levitical Administration: The cities of refuge were simultaneously Levitical cities (Num 35:6). This meant that those responsible for administering justice and religious rites (the Levites) resided in these very cities. Their presence ensured both spiritual oversight and legal integrity in the trials conducted and the asylum provided within these unique urban centers.
- Temporary vs. Eternal Refuge: The refuge provided in these cities was conditional and temporary; a slayer remained protected only until the death of the reigning High Priest (Num 35:28). This specific condition, tied to the priest, served as a poignant illustration and limited type, pointing to the once-for-all, perfect, and eternal freedom from judgment that believers find in the death of their High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Numbers 35 14 Commentary
Numbers 35:14 serves as a crucial administrative decree for a just and merciful society under God's law. By commanding the establishment of six specific cities of refuge, Israel was to implement a divinely regulated system of justice that transcended the prevalent ancient Near Eastern practice of unchecked blood vengeance. This verse specifically divides the allocation of these safe havens evenly across the Jordan, three on the eastern side and three within Canaan proper, demonstrating God's foresight and fairness in ensuring geographical accessibility for all accused individuals. This structure safeguarded individuals guilty of accidental homicide from immediate execution by an "avenger of blood," instead allowing for a formal legal process. Ultimately, these physical cities foreshadowed the ultimate spiritual refuge found in Jesus Christ, where those guilty of spiritual trespass can find eternal safety and a just advocate from the righteous judgment due to them, securing ultimate freedom through His High Priestly work.