Numbers 35 20

Numbers 35:20 kjv

But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;

Numbers 35:20 nkjv

If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies,

Numbers 35:20 niv

If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die

Numbers 35:20 esv

And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died,

Numbers 35:20 nlt

So if someone hates another person and waits in ambush, then pushes him or throws something at him and he dies, it is murder.

Numbers 35 verses

Numbers 35 20 Meaning

Numbers 35:20 delineates specific actions of intentional homicide that classify as murder, precluding access to a city of refuge. It stipulates that if an individual causes another's death by a physical thrust stemming from explicit hatred or by launching a projectile in a deliberate ambush, it is to be considered a capital offense punishable by death. The verse emphasizes the presence of malicious intent—either active animosity or premeditated deception—as the key differentiator between murder and accidental killing.

Numbers 35 20 Context

Numbers chapter 35 details the allocation of land to the Levites, who received no territorial inheritance but were granted cities to dwell in, along with pasturelands. Crucially, within this allocation, specific cities were designated as "cities of refuge" (vv. 9-15). These cities provided asylum for individuals who had accidentally caused another's death, protecting them from the "avenger of blood." The core purpose of Numbers 35:20, and the surrounding verses (vv. 16-21), is to establish precise legal criteria for distinguishing between accidental homicide, which warranted refuge, and premeditated murder, which merited capital punishment. This verse, therefore, serves as a vital component in defining the boundaries of intent for lethal acts, ensuring justice for victims while providing protection for the innocent.

Numbers 35 20 Word analysis

• And if he: וְאִם (ve'im). This introductory conjunction links the verse to preceding legal clauses, signaling another condition within the established judicial framework. It sets up a specific hypothetical scenario that will define an act of murder.
• thrust him: יֶהְדְּפֶנּוּ (yehdefennu). From the Hebrew root הדף (hadaf), meaning "to push," "thrust," "shove away." It implies a forceful and direct physical assault, suggesting an immediate and potent intent to cause harm.
• of malice aforethought: בְּשִׂנְאָה (be'sin'ah). This is crucial for distinguishing murder. The preposition בְּ (be) means "in" or "with," and שִׂנְאָה (sin'ah) means "hatred," "enmity," or "hostility." This phrase indicates that the physical action (thrust) is driven by a pre-existing, settled animosity or ill-will, not a spontaneous outburst. It's the inner wicked disposition that makes the act murderous.
• or hurl at him: אוֹ הִשְׁלִיךְ עָלָיו (o hishlikh alav). אוֹ (o) means "or." הִשְׁלִיךְ (hishlikh) means "to throw," "cast," or "hurl," often implying the use of an object from a distance. עָלָיו (alav) means "upon him" or "at him." This describes the act of using a projectile as a weapon.
• by lying in wait: בְּצִדְיָה (be'tsidyah). This phrase describes a mode of attack marked by deception and premeditation. בְּ (be) means "by" or "with," and צִדְיָה (tsidyah) derives from צדה (tsadah), meaning "to lie in wait," "waylay," "hunt," or "plot treacherously." This signifies an ambush or a hidden, pre-planned assault, confirming deliberate intent and absence of impulsive action.
• that he die: וַיָּמֹת (vayyamot). This common verb ending signifies the resulting outcome: "and he dies" or "so that he dies." It is the fatal consequence that completes the definition of the crime, confirming that the malicious intent resulted in the ultimate loss of life.

Words-group analysis:

• And if he thrust him of malice aforethought: This combination establishes the first condition for murder: a direct, physical assault (thrust) where the underlying motivation is (malice aforethought / in hatred). This highlights that an act of violence becomes murder when driven by deliberate ill-will, showing a developed understanding of criminal intent in the legal code.
• or hurl at him by lying in wait: This second condition for murder describes an attack carried out with stealth and calculation. The use of a projectile weapon (hurl) coupled with the method of lying in wait signifies premeditation and a deceptive strategy to take a life. It portrays a calculated and cold-blooded act, further solidifying the distinction from accidental death.
• that he die: This concluding phrase for both conditions emphasizes that the legal classification of murder applies specifically when the malicious or treacherous act results in the victim's death. It confirms that the fatality is the critical consequence that transforms these malicious actions into a capital offense, underscoring the high value God places on human life.

Numbers 35 20 Bonus section

The precise legal language concerning "malice aforethought" and "lying in wait" indicates a highly developed sense of justice that extended beyond mere physical acts to encompass the moral culpability stemming from intention. This detail reveals that Israelite law, divinely ordained, was more nuanced and ethically advanced than many contemporary legal systems in the ancient Near East, which often focused solely on the outcome or physical damage. This careful distinction of intent prevented vengeful actions from being mistakenly carried out against those who caused accidental death, while ensuring that those with wicked designs received just punishment. This framework underscores the biblical truth that God is a God of justice who cares deeply about truth and motive.

Numbers 35 20 Commentary

Numbers 35:20 serves as a crucial legal benchmark within ancient Israelite jurisprudence, establishing the culpability of intent in matters of life and death. The verse systematically distinguishes premeditated murder from accidental homicide by focusing on the perpetrator's heart and method. The presence of sin'ah (hatred, malice) behind a forceful push or tsidyah (lying in wait, ambush) for a projectile attack transforms an act of violence into a capital offense. This demonstrates a remarkably sophisticated legal system, discerning between rash actions and those born of calculated evil. It underscores God's profound regard for human life, prohibiting both open animosity that leads to death and cunning deceit aimed at destruction. This principle anticipates later scriptural revelation, where Christ Himself emphasizes the eternal significance of the heart's disposition, correlating internal hatred with the sin of murder (Matt 5:21-22), affirming that divine justice inherently assesses not only external deeds but also inner motivations. The strict punishment of death for such crimes (as implied by contrast with city of refuge provisions) reflects the gravity of extinguishing a life intentionally and unjustly in God's eyes.