Numbers 35 21

Numbers 35:21 kjv

Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

Numbers 35:21 nkjv

or in enmity he strikes him with his hand so that he dies, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

Numbers 35:21 niv

or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet.

Numbers 35:21 esv

or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

Numbers 35:21 nlt

Or if someone hates another person and hits him with a fist and he dies, it is murder. In such cases, the avenger must put the murderer to death when they meet.

Numbers 35 verses

Numbers 35 21 Meaning

Numbers 35:21 addresses cases of intentional homicide where the killer acts with premeditation, malice, and hostile intent. Such an act is clearly defined as murder, not accidental death. The verse dictates that if a person strikes another with hatred, or in ambush, resulting in death, the perpetrator is to be definitively executed. This emphasizes the gravity of willful murder and the absolute requirement for justice, leaving no room for the murderer to seek refuge in the designated cities.

Numbers 35 21 Context

Numbers Chapter 35 establishes the laws concerning the Levitical cities, which include six cities of refuge, and details the judicial process for accidental killing versus intentional murder. The chapter aims to uphold the sanctity of human life and ensure divine justice within Israel. Verses 9-15 set aside cities of refuge for those who unintentionally kill another, protecting them from the "avenger of blood" until a fair trial. Verses 16-21 meticulously define various scenarios that constitute deliberate murder, such as using a lethal weapon or, as in verse 21, striking with hatred or in ambush. These intentional acts remove the possibility of sanctuary in the cities of refuge. The overall historical context is Israel's preparation to enter the promised land, establishing the legal framework for a holy nation under God's covenant, where bloodguilt for innocent bloodshed defiled the land and required atonement through capital punishment. This system differentiated God's justice from the potentially arbitrary vendettas of surrounding nations.

Numbers 35 21 Word analysis

• And if (וְאִם, ve'im): This conjunction introduces a conditional clause, specifically presenting a second scenario (after using objects of lethal force in previous verses) where the act is deemed murder due to the intent. It functions as "But if" or "And if this is the case."
• with hatred (בְּשִׂנְאָה, bəśin'āh):
  • śin'āh means "hatred" or "enmity." It refers to a deep, often bitter, hostile emotional disposition. This is crucial because it defines the killer's internal motivation, which distinguishes murder from accidental killing. It highlights that the act is not sudden anger or recklessness but stems from a settled animosity.
  • Significance: This word emphasizes the malice aforethought. The presence of hatred disqualifies the killer from any sanctuary, reinforcing that God condemns intentional malice as much as the fatal act itself.
• he strikes him down (יִכֶּנּוּ, yikennu): From the root נָכָה (nakah), "to strike, smite, beat." Here, it signifies the act of delivering a fatal blow.
• with an ambush / lying in wait (בִּצְדִיָּה, biṣdiyyāh):
  • ṣdiyyāh derives from the root צוּד (tsud), meaning "to lie in wait, to hunt." It implies cunning, planning, and treachery. It speaks of a concealed, deliberate strategy to kill, akin to setting a trap.
  • Significance: This word further solidifies the premeditated nature of the crime. It is not an act of passion but a calculated one, underscoring the severe violation of human dignity and divine law. It demonstrates active plotting, which confirms malevolent intent beyond simple hatred.
• so that he dies (מֵת, met): Simple and direct; it states the outcome – the death of the victim.
• surely he shall be put to death (מוֹת יוּמַת, mot yumat):
  • This is a strong emphatic Hebrew construction, a double infinitive (infinitive absolute followed by a finite verb of the same root), meaning "dying he shall die" or "he shall surely be put to death."
  • Significance: It signifies an unavoidable, absolute sentence of capital punishment. There is no possibility of commutation or mitigation for a killer whose act is definitively identified as premeditated murder. This absolute phrasing underscores the sanctity of human life and the severity of taking it with intent.
• the murderer (הָרֹצֵחַ, harotseakh):
  • rotseakh is the specific term for a "murderer," differentiating it from simply "killing" (harag), which could include justifiable homicide or accidental death.
  • Significance: This precise term ensures the distinction between categories of homicide is maintained in legal application. The term specifically applies to unlawful, often intentional, slaying.
• by the avenger of blood (גֹּאֵל הַדָּם, go'el haddam):
  • go'el is "redeemer, kinsman redeemer, avenger." haddam is "the blood." Thus, "the avenger of blood" or "the blood redeemer." This was a designated next-of-kin who had the legal and moral duty to pursue and execute justice for the shedding of their kinsman's blood.
  • Significance: This legal mechanism was central to Israelite justice for homicide. It provided a direct means of administering justice, preventing a perpetual blood feud while ensuring that bloodguilt was dealt with and the land was not defiled. For an intentional murderer, the go'el's role was not to avenge through an arbitrary act but to act as the divinely sanctioned executor of justice.

Numbers 35 21 Bonus section

The concept of śin'āh (hatred) and ṣdiyyāh (ambush/lying in wait) as markers of intentionality goes beyond mere legal definition; they speak to the deep spiritual condition of the perpetrator. God judges the heart as well as the action (1 Sam 16:7). The Mosaic Law, through such verses, revealed not only standards for outward behavior but also principles related to inner malice, foreshadowing Jesus's teaching in the New Testament (Matt 5:21-22) that hatred in the heart is akin to murder in God's eyes. Furthermore, the land being defiled by bloodshed (Num 35:33-34) shows a spiritual interconnectedness between human sin and creation, emphasizing that justice is not merely about punishment but also about purifying the community and the land. The failure to execute a murderer meant the entire community bore bloodguilt, demanding this decisive action.

Numbers 35 21 Commentary

Numbers 35:21 sets forth a non-negotiable legal principle: intentional murder, defined by the killer's hatred or premeditated ambush, merits absolute capital punishment. This verse starkly contrasts with provisions for unintentional killing found earlier in the chapter, underscoring God's meticulous differentiation in judgment based on the intent of the heart. The emphatic declaration "surely he shall be put to death" leaves no ambiguity, reflecting the gravity with which God views the sanctity of human life and the defilement brought upon the land by unpunished bloodshed. The "avenger of blood" is empowered by divine law to execute justice, ensuring that society upheld righteous standards and purged evil from its midst, maintaining the purity of the community under God's covenant. This justice reflects a broader biblical principle that human life, created in God's image, is of immeasurable value and its taking requires proportionate recompense.