Numbers 35:29 kjv
So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Numbers 35:29 nkjv
'And these things shall be a statute of judgment to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Numbers 35:29 niv
"?'This is to have the force of law for you throughout the generations to come, wherever you live.
Numbers 35:29 esv
And these things shall be for a statute and rule for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.
Numbers 35:29 nlt
These are legal requirements for you to observe from generation to generation, wherever you may live.
Numbers 35 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Perpetual Statute/Ordinance | ||
| Exo 12:14 | 'This day shall be to you a memorial… an ordinance forever.' | Law for Passover forever. |
| Lev 24:3 | 'outside the veil of the testimony... a perpetual statute throughout your generations.' | Lamp oil ordinance for generations. |
| Num 18:23 | 'But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle… a statute forever.' | Levites' service, perpetual statute. |
| Num 19:10 | 'And it shall be to the children of Israel… a perpetual statute.' | Purification with water, enduring law. |
| Num 19:21 | 'This shall be a perpetual statute for them.' | Laws of purification, eternal. |
| Psa 119:160 | 'The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.' | God's judgments are eternal. |
| Matt 5:18 | 'For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.' | Jesus affirms permanence of law. |
| Justice and Judgment | ||
| Deut 1:17 | 'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great.' | Judges must judge fairly. |
| Deut 16:18 | 'You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates... who shall judge the people with righteous judgment.' | Appoint righteous judges. |
| Deut 19:15-18 | 'One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity… at the mouth of two or three witnesses.' | Need multiple witnesses for judgment. |
| Psa 9:7-8 | 'But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness.' | God's eternal righteous judgment. |
| Pro 21:3 | 'To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.' | Justice is paramount to God. |
| Isa 1:17 | 'Learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.' | Pursue justice as a divine command. |
| Amos 5:24 | 'But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.' | Justice is essential for society. |
| Generations and Dwellings | ||
| Gen 17:7 | 'And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants... an everlasting covenant.' | God's covenant applies to all generations. |
| Num 35:10 | 'Then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge.' | Context: appointing cities of refuge. |
| Deut 12:5 | 'But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling.' | Place for worship where God dwells. |
| Isa 66:1-2 | 'Heaven is My throne... what house would you build for Me?... To this one I will look: to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit.' | God's presence not confined to structures. |
| Fulfillment/Echo in New Testament | ||
| Jer 31:31-34 | 'Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.' | Prophecy of the New Covenant. |
| Heb 8:8-12 | 'For finding fault with them, He says... I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts.' | New Covenant fulfills the law spiritually. |
| Rom 13:1 | 'Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God.' | Civil authority instituted by God. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | 'Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake... for the punishment of evildoers.' | Submit to authorities for justice. |
Numbers 35 verses
Numbers 35 29 Meaning
Numbers 35:29 establishes the preceding judicial processes, specifically concerning the unintentional manslayer and the cities of refuge, as a permanent and binding legal ordinance for the Israelite people. It decrees that these regulations for justice are to be observed by all generations and applied consistently across all their settlements within the promised land. This ensures a uniform, divine standard for adjudicating cases of bloodshed and preventing indiscriminate blood revenge.
Numbers 35 29 Context
Numbers chapter 35 details two crucial provisions for the tribes of Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land: the allocation of forty-eight cities with surrounding pasturelands for the Levites (vv. 1-8), and the establishment of six cities of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone (vv. 9-34). This specific verse, Numbers 35:29, concludes the lengthy section on the cities of refuge and the legal procedures concerning homicide. It emphasizes the perpetual and universally applicable nature of these judicial laws. The regulations defined a clear legal process to distinguish between premeditated murder (punishable by death) and unintentional killing (requiring refuge in designated cities). This system prevented uncontrolled blood revenge by the "avenger of blood" and ensured that justice, divinely ordained, was applied uniformly throughout the land and across generations, countering the common ancient Near Eastern practice of familial retribution without proper trial.
Numbers 35 29 Word analysis
- And these things (וְהָיוּ אֵלֶּה, vehayu elleh):
- Literally "And they shall be, these [things]." The phrase functions as a direct referent to the preceding detailed laws regarding the manslayer and cities of refuge (Num 35:9-28). It emphasizes that the entire set of specific judicial rules, not just a single principle, is meant to be binding. It signifies the collective, comprehensive nature of the ordinance.
- shall be (וְהָיוּ, vehayu):
- A consecutive perfect tense from היה (hayah), meaning "to be" or "to become." In this context, it carries a prescriptive and authoritative force, implying a divine decree or commandment. It underscores the certainty and enduring nature of what is being stated. This is not a suggestion but an established fact for the future.
- for a statute (לְחֻקַּת, lekֻqqat):
- From חֻקָּה (chuqqah), meaning "statute," "ordinance," "decree," or "appointed portion." It denotes a prescribed and unchangeable law, often originating from divine authority, signifying something firmly fixed or established. It implies a rule or regulation that sets a boundary or a standard that must be strictly observed. This word frequently appears in the Pentateuch for permanent, divinely-given laws for Israel.
- of judgment (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat):
- From מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), meaning "judgment," "justice," "legal decision," "right," or "ordinance." It refers to the process and outcome of a fair legal ruling, ensuring righteousness and equity. It highlights the purpose of the statute: to bring forth right judgments and administer justice in all cases related to killing. The phrase "statute of judgment" denotes a foundational law that governs the administration of justice.
- unto you (לָכֶם, lakhem):
- Directly addressing the congregation of Israel. This possessive pronoun emphasizes that the law is for them, applying to every individual within the community, holding them collectively accountable for its observance. It personalizes the divine mandate.
- throughout your generations (לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם, ledorotaykhem):
- A foundational Hebrew expression signifying perpetuity and enduring applicability. It means "for your generations" or "from generation to generation." This stresses the non-temporal aspect of the law, indicating it is not for a specific period but is binding upon all future descendants of Israel. This asserts the enduring relevance of God's justice system. It contrasts sharply with temporary human edicts, marking this law as divinely perpetual.
- in all your dwellings (בְּכֹל מֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם, bekhol moshavoteykhem):
- From מֹשָׁב (moshav), meaning "dwelling place," "settlement," or "habitation." This phrase ensures the universal territorial application of the law within the land of Israel, regardless of where the Israelites establish their homes or towns. It signifies that the principles of justice for manslayers and the provision for cities of refuge were to be implemented across the entire geography they inhabited, guaranteeing legal consistency and protection everywhere. It also stands against regional variations in legal practice.
- Word-group Analysis:
- "And these things shall be for a statute of judgment": This phrase underlines the binding, formal, and judicial nature of the laws. It's a formal declaration that these specific regulations are divinely instituted and serve as fundamental principles for administering justice within the community.
- "unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings": This crucial phrase outlines the scope and duration of the law. "Unto you" makes it personal to the Israelites; "throughout your generations" ensures its perpetual observance; and "in all your dwellings" ensures its universal geographic application within the land. Together, these terms emphasize the comprehensiveness and non-negotiable permanence of God's legal system for His covenant people. It reinforces the idea of a unified and consistently applied justice system rooted in divine law.
Numbers 35 29 Bonus section
- The repetition of the concept "perpetual statute" (chuqqah) throughout the Pentateuch, as seen here and in many laws in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, served to imbue these laws with ultimate authority, deriving directly from God. It presented them as fundamentally distinct from human, temporal edicts.
- This verse, along with the broader laws in Numbers 35, established a sophisticated legal framework that differentiated intent in homicide, a hallmark of a just legal system and a notable feature compared to some other ancient legal codes that did not always make such clear distinctions.
- The emphasis on "in all your dwellings" countered the potential for a fragmented legal system. It provided a unified standard of justice throughout the tribal territories, fostering a sense of national cohesion under God's law.
- The mishpat (judgment/justice) here extends beyond mere legal ruling; it carries the divine quality of righteousness that God expects in the administration of all legal matters in Israel. This aligns with prophetic calls for justice, showing that the foundational principles were already present in the Pentateuchal law.
Numbers 35 29 Commentary
Numbers 35:29 concludes the detailed legislation on cities of refuge by powerfully declaring its permanent and universal applicability within Israel. It firmly establishes these provisions as a "statute of judgment" (חֻקַּת מִשְׁפָּט), underscoring their divinely mandated authority and role in maintaining justice. This ensures that the intricate procedures distinguishing between intentional murder and accidental homicide are not temporary directives but foundational pillars of Israelite society, binding for all successive generations and across every locale within the Promised Land. This meticulous attention to justice demonstrates God's profound concern for the sanctity of human life and the preservation of order within His covenant community, preventing lawless vengeance and upholding righteous discernment in matters of life and death.