Numbers 35 16

Numbers 35:16 kjv

And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Numbers 35:16 nkjv

'But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Numbers 35:16 niv

"?'If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.

Numbers 35:16 esv

"But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.

Numbers 35:16 nlt

"But if someone strikes and kills another person with a piece of iron, it is murder, and the murderer must be executed.

Numbers 35 verses

Numbers 35 16 Meaning

Numbers 35:16 declares a specific legal decree for ancient Israel concerning intentional homicide. If a person strikes another with a demonstrably lethal weapon, exemplified by an "iron instrument," and death results, the act is explicitly identified as murder. Consequently, the murderer is unequivocally condemned to death, reflecting the principle of capital punishment for taking an innocent human life with malicious intent.

Numbers 35 16 Context

Numbers chapter 35 details instructions given by God to Moses regarding the settlement of the Levites and the establishment of cities of refuge as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land. This particular verse (16) forms part of the crucial legal distinction between intentional murder and unintentional manslaughter. It aims to clarify beyond doubt what constitutes a capital crime. The surrounding verses (17-18) continue to list examples of weapons whose use resulting in death immediately categorizes the act as murder. This divine law established a strict justice system to protect innocent life, prevent arbitrary blood feuds, and maintain the sanctity of the land, which would be defiled by unpunished bloodshed (Num 35:33-34). Historically, this decree served as a divinely instituted legal framework, contrasting with the often more arbitrary or compensatory systems of justice found in other ancient Near Eastern cultures.

Numbers 35 16 Word analysis

• And if he struck him: (V'im hikka'hu) – Introduces a conditional scenario. "Struck" (from Hebrew nakah) implies a forceful, deliberate act rather than an accidental brushing or touch.

• with an iron instrument: (bikli barzel) –

  • Kli (כְּלִי): meaning "vessel," "implement," or "tool," it denotes any item used to perform an action.
  • Barzel (בַּרְזֶל): meaning "iron." Iron was a known material for weapons due to its hardness and effectiveness in causing severe injury. The specificity of "iron" highlights the lethality and intended force of the chosen object. It indicates a tool not randomly picked but chosen for its capacity to inflict fatal harm, underscoring intent.

• so that he died: (va-yamut) – Establishes the fatal outcome directly linked to the strike. This clause makes it clear that the statute applies when the action results in death, emphasizing the finality and gravity of the offense.

• he is a murderer; (rotzea hu) –

  • Rotzea (רֹצֵחַ): refers specifically to one who unlawfully takes a human life with intent or malice. This term differentiates such a person from someone who kills by accident (shogeg) or in a legitimate act like warfare. The immediate designation as "murderer" removes any ambiguity regarding the nature of the crime.

• the murderer shall surely be put to death: (Mot yumat ha-rotzea) –

  • Mot yumat (מוֹת יוּמַת): This is an emphatic Hebrew construction (infinitive absolute + imperfect verb), meaning "dying he shall die" or "he shall certainly/surely be put to death." This emphasizes the absolute certainty, divine mandate, and non-negotiable nature of the punishment. No appeals or commutations are permissible for a divinely designated murderer.
  • "Put to death": Signifies the carrying out of capital punishment, usually through execution.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And if he struck him with an iron instrument, so that he died,": This phrase meticulously describes the nature of the fatal blow, indicating a deliberate, forceful act performed with a highly lethal weapon, unequivocally establishing malicious intent or severe negligence leading to the act. The instrument's material (iron) provides irrefutable proof of its potential for lethality.
  • "he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.": This clause pronounces the divine verdict and consequence. The repetition of "murderer" solidifies the identity of the offender and highlights that such a person forfeits their own right to life under God's righteous law. The strong emphatic Hebrew construction guarantees the ultimate outcome, underscoring divine justice.

Numbers 35 16 Bonus section

• Categorization of Weapons: The explicit mention of specific weapons (iron instrument in v.16, stone in v.17, wooden weapon in v.18) serves not only as examples but establishes criteria. These were common, easily accessible objects in the ancient world, yet when wielded to inflict a fatal blow, their very nature signifies the intent or profound recklessness of the perpetrator, removing doubt about accidental killing.
• The Go'el HaDam (Avenger of Blood): While this verse establishes the guilt, the practical execution was often carried out by the "avenger of blood" (Num 35:19). However, the avenger's role was strictly regulated by these laws, preventing mere personal vengeance and instead executing a divine judgment pronounced by the community's legal process.
• Defilement of the Land: The consistent theme in Numbers 35 is that unpunished bloodshed defiles the land (Num 35:33). Executing the murderer was seen as a cleansing act, essential for the holiness of the land where God resided among His people.

Numbers 35 16 Commentary

Numbers 35:16 is a clear declaration within Israel's judicial code concerning the sanctity of human life and the severity of its intentional violation. It outlines a scenario where the deliberate use of a clearly lethal weapon, such as an iron instrument, resulting in death, constitutes premeditated murder. This legislative clarity prevented any attempt to portray such an act as accidental or lesser manslaughter. The verse emphatically mandates the capital punishment for such a crime ("shall surely be put to death"). This uncompromising demand for "life for life" (lex talionis principle in application to life) underscores the divine valuation of human life, made in the image of God (Gen 9:6), and ensures that intentional bloodguilt does not defile the land of Israel (Num 35:33). It stands as a foundational text affirming capital punishment as a just divine response to malicious murder.