Numbers 35 30

Numbers 35:30 kjv

Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Numbers 35:30 nkjv

Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.

Numbers 35:30 niv

"?'Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

Numbers 35:30 esv

"If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Numbers 35:30 nlt

"All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

Numbers 35 verses

Numbers 35 30 Meaning

Numbers 35:30 establishes a critical judicial safeguard within Israelite law, particularly concerning capital offenses like murder. It mandates that anyone accused of murder and subject to capital punishment must be condemned only on the testimony of two or more credible witnesses. Crucially, it prohibits conviction leading to execution based on the testimony of a single witness, thereby preventing arbitrary or vengeful killings and protecting the accused from false accusation. This verse ensures a high standard of proof for irreversible penalties, reflecting God's emphasis on justice and the sanctity of human life.

Numbers 35 30 Context

Numbers 35 discusses the provision for Cities of Refuge, designed to protect individuals who accidentally kill someone from immediate revenge by a "goel haddam" (avenger of blood). The preceding verses define intentional murder versus unintentional manslaughter, and the various conditions under which the killer must stand trial. Verse 30 directly follows these regulations, establishing the necessary legal threshold for securing a murder conviction and subsequent execution. This distinction and the requirement for multiple witnesses emphasize that while murder warrants capital punishment, Israelite law rigorously protected the accused through due process, distinguishing between intent and accident, and demanding corroborating evidence before meting out the ultimate penalty. It reflects God's ordered justice system for His people in contrast to arbitrary justice prevalent in other ancient cultures.

Numbers 35 30 Word analysis

• If anyone kills another (כֹּל מַכֵּה־נֶפֶשׁ – kol makkeh-nephesh):

  • Kol means "all" or "anyone."
  • Makkeh (מַכֵּה) from nakah (נָכָה) means "to strike," often with the result of death. It implies deliberate action or responsibility leading to a fatality.
  • Nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) means "soul," "life," "person." The phrase signifies anyone taking a human life, establishing the severity of the act.
  • Significance: It clearly indicates that the focus is on a human taking another human life.

• the murderer shall be put to death (מַעַל פִּי־עֵדִים יִרְצַח אֶת־הָרֹצֵחַ – al pi-edim yûmaṯ hā-rōtsēaḥ - This phrasing implies "by the mouth of witnesses the murderer shall die", not simply "the murderer shall be put to death"):

  • Haroẓeaḥ (הָרֹצֵחַ) means "the murderer," indicating a specific class of killer: one who commits intentional homicide (distinct from accidental killing). The root rātzaḥ (רָצַח) is the same word used in the Sixth Commandment "You shall not murder."
  • Yûmaṯ (יוּמַת) is a hophal imperfect verb form of mût (מוּת), meaning "to die" or "to be put to death." The passive form "shall be put to death" emphasizes that this is a divine command carried out by the community through judicial action, not private revenge.
  • Significance: It underscores the just and deliberate execution of capital punishment, contrasting it with private vengeance.

• on the testimony (עַל פִּי – ʿal pī)

  • Pī (פִי) is the construct form of peh (פֶה), meaning "mouth." So literally, "upon the mouth."
  • Significance: It signifies the direct verbal witness given in a legal setting, where a spoken statement has legal force.

• of two or more witnesses (שְׁנַיִם עֵדִים אֹו שְׁלֹשָׁה עֵדִים – shenayim ʿēdīm ʾō shəlošāh ʿēdīm)

  • Shenayim (שְׁנַיִם) means "two."
  • ʿĒdīm (עֵדִים) is the plural of ʿēd (עֵד), meaning "witness."
  • Ō (אֹו) means "or."
  • Shəlošāh (שְׁלֹשָׁה) means "three."
  • Significance: This specific numerical requirement is a legal safeguard against arbitrary justice. "Two or three" implies that two is the minimum, and three further strengthens the corroboration. This standard sets a high bar for capital conviction.

• but no one shall be put to death (וְעֵד אֶחָד לֹא יַעֲנֶה בְנֶפֶשׁ לָמוּת – wəʿēd ʾeḥād lō yaʿăneh bə-nephesh lāmût - literally: "And one witness shall not answer concerning a person for death.")

  • Lō yaʿăneh (לֹא יַעֲנֶה) means "he shall not answer" or "he shall not testify," implying his testimony alone is insufficient for condemnation.
  • Bə-nephesh lāmût (בְנֶפֶשׁ לָמוּת) means "concerning a person to die," specifically referencing capital conviction.
  • Significance: This directly negates the possibility of conviction on sole testimony, creating a legal standard that guards against perjury and injustice, upholding fairness in legal proceedings.

Numbers 35 30 Bonus section

The specific requirement of two or more witnesses also served as a deterrence against false witness, as any witness involved knew their testimony had to be corroborated, reducing the chance of an unsubstantiated lie leading to conviction. Furthermore, under Mosaic Law (Dt 19:16-21), if a witness was found to have given false testimony with malicious intent, they would face the very punishment the accused would have received. This strict measure further enforced the integrity and truthfulness expected in the judicial process, acting as a profound check on perjury and promoting a system of justice founded on objective truth and communal responsibility. The principle transcended capital cases and became a pervasive theme for establishing any serious charge in Israelite society, later finding echoes in New Testament guidelines for disciplinary matters.

Numbers 35 30 Commentary

Numbers 35:30 encapsulates a core principle of divine justice within the Mosaic Law: accountability for severe crimes coupled with rigorous protection for the accused. While God's law demands capital punishment for intentional murder, recognizing the ultimate offense against His image-bearers (Gen 9:6), it simultaneously erects an impenetrable barrier against wrongful execution. The mandate of "two or more witnesses" (Deut 17:6; 19:15) serves several critical functions. Firstly, it ensures corroboration, diminishing the likelihood of an innocent person being condemned based on isolated or prejudiced testimony. Secondly, it elevates the truth, placing the burden of proof firmly on multiple credible sources, promoting diligence in investigation. Thirdly, it acts as a bulwark against individual malice or vengeful actions, demanding communal consent based on verifiable facts. This principle underscores that the divine command for justice is not brutal or arbitrary but meticulous, emphasizing fairness, truth, and the sanctity of individual life even for those accused of the most grievous sin. It's a foundational safeguard demonstrating God's meticulous care for due process.