Deuteronomy 19 · Verse 6

Deuteronomy 19:6

Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
Deuteronomy 19:6, King James Version

Deuteronomy 19:6 in other translations

BSBOtherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm.
WEBOtherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the man slayer while hot anger is in his heart and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him mortally, even though he was not worthy of death, because he didn’t hate him in time past.
ASVlest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
YLTlest the redeemer of blood pursue after the man-slayer when his heart is hot, and hath overtaken him (because the way is great), and hath smitten him--the life, and he hath no sentence of death, for he is not hating him heretofore;
DARBYlest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, since he hated him not previously.
BBEFor if not, he who has the right of punishment may go running after the taker of life in the heat of his wrath, and overtake him because the way is long, and give him a death-blow; though it is not right for him to be put to death because he was not moved by hate.
WebsterLest the avenger of blood shall pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

What does Deuteronomy 19:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 19:6-7
6-7. Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot--This verse is a continuation of De 19:3 (for De 19:4, 5, which are explanatory, are in a parenthetical form), and the meaning is that if the kinsman of a person inadvertently killed should, under the impulse of sudden excitement and without inquiring into the circumstances, inflict summary vengeance on the homicide, however guiltless, the law tolerated such an act; it was to pass with impunity. But to prevent such precipitate measures, the cities of refuge were established for the reception of the homicide, that "innocent blood might not be shed in thy land" (De 19:10). In the case of premeditated murder (De 19:11, 12), they afforded no immunity; but, if it were only manslaughter, the moment the fugitive was within the gates, he found himself in a safe asylum (Nu 35:26-28; Jos 20:6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:1-13

Chapter Outline The cities of refuge, The man-slayer, The murderer. (1-13) Landmarks not to be removed. (14) The punishment of false witnesses. (15-21) Verses 1-13 Here is the law settled between the blood of the murdered, and the blood of the murderer; provision is made, that the cities of refuge should be a protection, so that a man should not die for that as a crime, which was not his willing act. In Christ, the…

Read the full comment on Deuteronomy 19:1-13 →

Deuteronomy 19:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

פֶּן\־pen-lestH6435
יִרְדֹּף֩yir.Dofhe should pursueH7291
גֹּאֵ֨לgo.'El[the] avenger ofH1350
הַדָּ֜םha.Dam<the> bloodH1818
אַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiafterH310
הָרֹצֵ֗חַha.ro.Tze.achthe killerH7523
כִּי\־ki-forH3588
יֵחַם֮ye.Chamit will be hotH2552
לְבָבוֹ֒le.va.Voheart hisH3824
וְהִשִּׂיג֛וֹve.hi.si.Goand he will overtake himH5381
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
יִרְבֶּ֥הyir.Behit will be greatH7235
הַדֶּ֖רֶךְha.De.rekhthe journeyH1870
וְהִכָּ֣הוּve.hi.Ka.huand he will strike himH5221
נָ֑פֶשׁNa.feshlifeH5315
וְלוֹ֙ve.Loand [belonged] to <the> him
אֵ֣ין'einnotH369
מִשְׁפַּט\־mish.pat-a sentence ofH4941
מָ֔וֶתMa.vetdeathH4194
כִּ֠יkiforH3588
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
שֹׂנֵ֥אso.Ne'[was] hatingH8130
ה֛וּאhu'heH1931
ל֖וֹlo<to> <the> him
מִתְּמ֥וֹלmi.te.Molfrom yesterdayH8543
שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם\׃shil.Shom[the] third dayH8032

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Deuteronomy 19:6

  • Numbers 35:12

    And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

  • 2 Samuel 14:7

    And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

  • Joshua 20:5

    And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

  • Deuteronomy 21:22

    And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

  • Jeremiah 26:15-16

    But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears. Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the avenger.
Nu 35:12; Jos 20:5; 2Sa 14:7
slay him. Heb. smite him in life. not worthy.
21:22; Jer 26:15,16
in time past. Heb. from yesterday the third day.
4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Deuteronomy 19:5

    As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:

  • Deuteronomy 19:6

    Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

  • Deuteronomy 19:7

    Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

Read all of Deuteronomy 19

Deuteronomy 19:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
No sea que el pariente del muerto vaya tras el homicida, cuando se enardeciere su corazón, y le alcance por ser largo el camino, y le hiera de muerte, no debiendo ser condenado á muerte; por cuanto no tenía enemistad desde ayer ni antes de ayer con el muerto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
de peur que le vengeur du sang ne poursuive l’homicide pendant que son cœur est échauffé, et qu’il ne l’atteigne, parce que le chemin est long, et ne le frappe à mort, quoiqu’il ne mérite pas la mort, car il ne le haïssait pas auparavant.
German
Elberfelder 1871
auf daß nicht der Bluträcher, weil sein Herz entbrannt ist, dem Totschläger nachsetze und ihn erreiche, weil der Weg lang ist, und ihn totschlage, obwohl ihm kein Todesurteil gebührt, da er ihn vordem nicht haßte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
ne forsitan proximus ejus, cujus effusus est sanguis, dolore stimulatus, persequatur, et apprehendat eum si longior via fuerit, et percutiat animam ejus, qui non est reus mortis: quia nullum contra eum, qui occisus est, odium prius habuisse monstratur.