Numbers 35:21
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 in other translations
| BSB | or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him. |
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| WEB | or in hostility struck him with his hand, so that he died, he 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. |
| ASV | or in enmity smote him with his hand, so that he died; he that smote him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meeteth him. |
| YLT | or in enmity he hath smitten him with his hand, and he dieth; the smiter is certainly put to death; he is a murderer; the redeemer of blood doth put the murderer to death in his coming against him. |
| DARBY | or from enmity smite him with his hand, so that he die, he that smote him shall certainly be put to death; he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meeteth him. — |
| BBE | Or in hate gave him blows with his hand, causing death; he who gave the death-blow is to be put to death; he is a taker of life: he whose right it is to give punishment for blood may put to death the taker of life when he comes face to face with him. |
| Webster | Or in enmity shall smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him. |
What does Numbers 35:21 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 35:16-21
16-21. If he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, &c.--Various cases are here enumerated in which the Goel or avenger was at liberty to take the life of the murderer; and every one of them proves a premeditated purpose.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 35:9-34
To show plainly the abhorrence of murder, and to provide the more effectually for the punishment of the murderer, the nearest relation of the deceased, under the title of avenger of blood, (or the redeemer of blood,) in notorious cases, might pursue, and execute vengeance. A distinction is made, not between sudden anger and malice aforethought, both which are the crime of murder; but between intentionally striking a…
Numbers 35:21 in the original Hebrew
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Context
- Numbers 35:20
But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;
- Numbers 35:21
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 35:22
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
Numbers 35:21 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | O por enemistad lo hirió con su mano, y murió: el heridor morirá; es homicida; el pariente del muerto matará al homicida, cuando lo encontrare. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | ou qu’il l’ait frappée de la main par inimitié, et qu’elle meure, celui qui l’a frappée sera certainement mis à mort: il est meurtrier; le vengeur du sang mettra à mort le meurtrier quand il le rencontrera. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | oder ihn aus Feindschaft mit seiner Hand geschlagen hat, daß er gestorben ist, so soll der Schläger gewißlich getötet werden; er ist ein Mörder; der Bluträcher soll den Mörder töten, wenn er ihn antrifft. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | aut cum esset inimicus, manu percusserit, et ille mortuus fuerit: percussor homicidii reus erit: cognatus occisi statim ut invenerit eum, jugulabit. |