Numbers 35:34

Numbers 35:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.’ ”

Context of Numbers 35:34

32You shall not accept a ransom for him who has escaped to his city of refuge, so that he may return to live in his [own] land before the death of the high priest. 33So you shall not pollute and defile the land in which you live; for [the shedding of innocent] blood pollutes and defiles the land. No atonement (expiation) can be made for the land for the [innocent] blood shed in it, except by the blood (execution) of him who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I live, for I, the Lord, live among the people of Israel.’ ”

Numbers 35:34 word by word

וְלֹ֧א תְטַמֵּ֣א אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ יֹשְׁבִ֣ים בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ן בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה שֹׁכֵ֕ן בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Defileטָמֵאţâmê' · to defileH2930
• not therefore the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• which ye shall inhabitיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• whereinתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• I dwellשָׁכַןshâkan · to dwellH7931
• for I the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Numbers 35:34

• Numbers 5:3You shall send away both male and female; you shall send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp where I dwell in their midst.”
• Leviticus 20:24But I have said to you, “You are to inherit and take possession of their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples (pagan nations).
• Psalms 135:21Blessed be the Lord from Zion, Who dwells [with us] at Jerusalem. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
• Isaiah 57:15For the high and exalted One He who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy says this, “I dwell on the high and holy place, But also with the contrite and humble in spirit In order to revive the spirit of the humble And to revive the heart of the contrite [overcome with sorrow for sin].
• Hosea 9:3They will not remain in the land of the Lord, But Ephraim will return to [another] Egypt [in bondage] And they will eat [ceremonially] unclean food in Assyria.
• 2 Corinthians 6:16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said: “I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
• Revelation 21:3and then I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “See! The tabernacle of God is among men, and He will live among them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them [as their God,]
• Exodus 25:8Have them build a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.
• Exodus 29:45I will dwell among the sons of Israel and be their God.
• 1 Kings 6:13I will dwell among the sons (descendants) of Israel, and will not abandon My people Israel.”
• Psalms 132:14“This is My resting place forever” [says the Lord]; “Here will I dwell, for I have desired it.
• Isaiah 8:12“You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear nor be in dread of it.

Commentaries on Numbers 35:34

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34For I the Lord dwell … - An emphatic protest against all enactment or relaxation of laws by men for their own private convenience.Read the comment
• 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. 34The Lord lived among the people of Israel while the Tent of Meeting (the tabernacle) was in the center of the Hebrew camp (see chapters 1–4). This meant that they must not defile their land. They could not ignore God’s commands. They also could not fail to carry out justice as the law required (compare 5:1–4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 29-3429-34. these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations--The law of the blood-avenger, as thus established by divine authority, was a vast improvement on the ancient practice of Goelism. By the appointment of cities of refuge, the manslayer was saved, in the meantime, from the blind and impetuous fury of vindictive relatives; but he might be tried by the local court, and, if proved guilty on sufficient evidence…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• City
• Congregation
• Refuge, Cities of
• Testify
• Amorites
• Courts, Judicial

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