Numbers 35:22 kjv
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
Numbers 35:22 nkjv
'However, if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait,
Numbers 35:22 niv
"?'But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally
Numbers 35:22 esv
"But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait
Numbers 35:22 nlt
"But suppose someone pushes another person without having shown previous hostility, or throws something that unintentionally hits another person,
Numbers 35 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 21:12-14 | "Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death... If he did not lie in wait..." | Distinguishes premeditated murder from accidental. |
| Ex 21:20 | "If a man strikes his male or female servant with a rod and he dies..." | Homicide and culpability in slavery. |
| Deut 4:41-43 | "Moses then set apart three cities... for the manslayer who might flee..." | Introduction of cities of refuge in Transjordan. |
| Deut 19:4-6 | "This is the case of the manslayer who may flee there and live... if he thrusts his neighbor without enmity..." | Further elaborates conditions for cities of refuge. |
| Deut 19:11-13 | "But if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him..." | Defines intentional murder, contrasting verse 22. |
| Josh 20:2-6 | "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge... where the manslayer who has struck any person unintentionally..." | Establishment and purpose of cities of refuge in Canaan. |
| Josh 20:9 | "These were the appointed cities for all the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourned among them..." | Cities of refuge were for all, including sojourners. |
| Prov 24:23 | "These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judgment is not good." | Emphasizes impartiality in justice. |
| Rom 2:6 | "He will render to each one according to his works." | Principle of divine justice for deeds. |
| 1 Sam 24:11 | "I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it." | David's actions without malicious intent toward Saul. |
| 1 Kgs 2:31-32 | "The king said to Benaiah, ‘Do as he has said and strike him down and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt..." | Guilt of intentional bloodshed brought on family. |
| Gen 9:6 | "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image." | Establishes capital punishment for murder, dignity of life. |
| Num 35:6 | "And among the cities that you give to the Levites, there shall be six cities of refuge..." | Specifies the number and purpose of cities. |
| Num 35:11 | "Then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there." | Reinforces the 'without intent' criterion. |
| Num 35:16-21 | Describes types of acts that constitute murder, defining the intent lacking in v. 22. | Differentiates premeditated vs. unintentional acts. |
| 1 Jn 3:15 | "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." | Links hatred/enmity to murderous intent, reflecting biblical law. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Universal principle of consequences for actions. |
| Mt 5:21-22 | "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder...’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause..." | Broadens understanding of anger and intent in the heart. |
| Heb 6:18 | "...we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us." | Theological echo of 'fleeing for refuge' in Christ. |
| Ps 46:1 | "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." | Spiritual application of "refuge." |
| Is 26:3-4 | "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you... for in the LORD GOD you have an everlasting rock." | Trusting in God as ultimate safety/refuge. |
| 1 Pet 1:17 | "If you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds..." | Emphasizes God's impartial judgment. |
Numbers 35 verses
Numbers 35 22 Meaning
Numbers 35:22 differentiates between intentional murder and unintentional homicide. It describes a scenario where someone causes death unexpectedly and without pre-existing animosity or malicious intent. This act, though leading to death, is not deemed an act of deliberate murder, making the perpetrator eligible for the city of refuge rather than immediate execution by the avenger of blood. The verse sets criteria for discerning accidental death from a plotted attack.
Numbers 35 22 Context
Numbers chapter 35 details the provision of forty-eight cities for the Levites throughout Israel's inheritance, with six designated specifically as "cities of refuge." This chapter outlines the critical distinction between murder and unintentional homicide. Verses 16-21 describe actions that undeniably constitute murder, involving pre-meditation or malice. In contrast, verse 22, along with verses 23-24, establishes the criteria for acts of unintentional manslaughter, providing protection for the accused until judged by the assembly. This framework demonstrates God's emphasis on justice, equity, and the sanctity of human life, ensuring a legal recourse for accidental death while punishing intentional shedding of innocent blood.
Numbers 35 22 Word analysis
- However: While not in the immediate Hebrew word, it implies a contrast, transitioning from explicit examples of intentional murder (v.16-21) to accidental killing. It highlights an alternative scenario.
- if he thrust him suddenly: (וּבְפֶתַע - ū·ḇə·p̄e·ṯaʻ) -
- bephatha’: means "suddenly, unexpectedly, on a sudden, in a moment." It signifies an immediate, unplanned action, without prior intent or calculation. This spontaneity is crucial to classify the act as unintentional. It excludes any deliberation or design to harm.
- without enmity: (בְּלֹא אֵיבָה - bə·lō· ’ê·ḇāh) -
- b’lo: "without, not."
- ’eybah: "hatred, hostility, animosity." This word is central to discerning the killer's motive. The absence of enmity or malice aforethought is the defining characteristic that differentiates accidental killing from murder. It speaks directly to the state of the heart or mind of the one who inflicted the injury. The action was not born from pre-existing animosity.
- or threw a weapon at him: (א֥וֹ הִשְׁלִ֛יךְ עָלָ֥יו כָּל־כְּלִ֖י - ’ōw hiš·lîḵ ‘ā·lāw kol-kə·lî) -
- hishlikh: "threw, cast, hurled." Implies an action of projecting an object.
- ’alav: "at him."
- kli: "vessel, instrument, tool, weapon." This refers to any object used for an action, not necessarily an instrument designed solely for violence. The specific kind of object (e.g., stone, tool) used by someone determines their culpability if used intentionally to kill (vv.16-18). Here, it's used without intent to kill.
- without lying in wait: (וּבְלֹ֥א צְדִיָּ֖ה - ū·ḇə·lō’ ṣə·ḏî·yāh) -
- b’lo: "without, not."
- tsediyyah: "lying in wait, ambush, plotting, design, deliberate intent." This reinforces the concept of lack of premeditation. The killer did not set a trap, scheme, or plan the victim's death. This term signifies absence of malice aforethought and a designed attack.
- if he thrust him suddenly without enmity: This phrase establishes the absence of an immediate, malicious impulse or a history of ill-will between the individuals involved. The action leading to death was abrupt and not fueled by hostility. It directly contrasts with actions taken out of revenge or hatred.
- threw a weapon at him without lying in wait: This phrase specifies the method of killing (using an object) but nullifies any implication of calculated or planned assault. It confirms that there was no ambush, no pre-designed plot to cause harm or death. The "weapon" was simply the instrument involved in an unforeseen fatal outcome. The intent was not to use it as a weapon for lethal force in a plotted way.
Numbers 35 22 Bonus section
The detailed stipulations in Numbers 35 regarding the cities of refuge reveal a profound theological truth: God’s justice is not merely punitive but restorative and merciful. While murder always warranted the death penalty, accidental death prompted a legal framework that valued life, sought to prevent immediate vengeful killings, and allowed due process. The killer’s remaining in the city of refuge until the death of the current High Priest (Num 35:25, 28) symbolizes a period of atonement and reminds the community of the gravity of the lost life, even if unintentional. It implies a "payment" through confinement, an acknowledgment of responsibility for the tragic event. This system foreshadowed a greater "refuge" in Christ for those who unintentionally trespass against God's law, allowing forgiveness and escape from ultimate wrath (Heb 6:18).
Numbers 35 22 Commentary
Numbers 35:22 is a cornerstone verse in Israel's judicial system, distinguishing between first-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Its essence lies in establishing the mental state or mens rea of the perpetrator. The Law meticulously separates actions rooted in hatred or pre-meditated intent from those occurring accidentally or without malice. This provision reflects divine justice, which, unlike human justice often clouded by emotion, accurately assesses the heart and true culpability. The absence of "enmity" and "lying in wait" are non-negotiable criteria, ensuring that the accidental killer could find protection in the cities of refuge. This distinction underscored the infinite value God places on human life, while also extending mercy to those who cause death without wicked intent, providing an asylum of protection until their case could be fairly heard and judged by the community.