Numbers 35:15

Numbers 35:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.
• New International Version (NIV)These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.
• English Standard Version (ESV)These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.
• New King James Version (NKJV)These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there.

Context of Numbers 35:15

13The cities which you are to provide shall be your six cities of refuge. 14You shall provide three cities on this [east] side of the Jordan [River], and three [more] cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be the cities of refuge. These six cities shall be a refuge for the Israelites and for the stranger and the resident alien among them; so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may escape there. 16‘But if he struck his victim down [intentionally] with an iron object so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall certainly be put to death. 17If he struck his victim down [intentionally] with a stone in hand, which may cause a person to die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall certainly be put to death.

Numbers 35:15 word by word

לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֤ר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔ם תִּהְיֶ֛ינָה שֵׁשׁ־הֶעָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לְמִקְלָ֑ט לָנ֣וּס שָׁ֔מָּה כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• These sixשֵׁשׁshêsh shishshâh · sixH8337
• citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• shall be a refugeמִקְלָטmiqlâţ · refugeH4733
• for the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and for the strangerגֵּרgêr gêyr · sojournerH1616
• and for the sojournerתּוֹשָׁבtôshâb tôshâb · sojournerH8453
• amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• them: that every one that killethנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• any personנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: personH5315
• unawaresשְׁגָגָהshegâgâh · sin of errorH7684
• may fleeנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127

Cross-references for Numbers 35:15

• Numbers 15:16There is to be one law and one ordinance for you and for the stranger who lives with you as a resident alien.’ ”
• Exodus 12:49The same law shall apply to the native-born and to the stranger who lives temporarily among you.”
• Leviticus 24:22You shall have one standard of law for the stranger among you as well as for the native, for I am the Lord your God.’ ”
• Romans 3:29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not also the God of Gentiles [who were not given the Law]? Yes, of Gentiles also,
• Galatians 3:28There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority].

Commentaries on Numbers 35:15

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-34Verses 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 man with any weapon likely…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them … anyone: The same law applied equally to everyone. Israel had one standard of justice for everyone. This was unlike many societies that had different laws for citizens and noncitizens (see also Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16–17; 1 Timothy 5:21; James 2:2–4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-3411. that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares--The practice of Goelism, that is, of the nearest relation of an individual who was killed being bound to demand satisfaction from the author of his death, existed from a very remote antiquity (Ge 4:14; 27:45). It seems to have been an established usage in the age of Moses; and although in a rude and imperfect state of society, it is a natural and intelligible principle of criminal…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 35:15

• Aliens
• Homicide
• Refuge

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Citizenship
• City
• Congregation
• Foreigner
• Refuge, Cities of
• Testify

Commentaries on Numbers 35

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings