Numbers 35:16

Numbers 35:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
• New International Version (NIV)“ ‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)‘But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Context of Numbers 35:16

14Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge. 15For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that every one that killeth any person unwittingly may flee thither. But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 17And if he smote him with a stone in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 18Or if he smote him with a weapon of wood in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Numbers 35:16 word by word

וְאִם־בִּכְלִ֨י בַרְזֶ֧ל׀ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַֽ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃Read the interlinear

• ironבַּרְזֶלbarzel · ironH1270
• diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• murdererרָצַחrâtsach · to murderH7523

Cross-references for Numbers 35:16

• Numbers 35:22But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him anything without lying in wait,
• Deuteronomy 19:11But if any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally so that he dieth, and he flee into one of these cities;
• Numbers 35:30Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.
• Genesis 9:5And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it: and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man.
• Exodus 21:12He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death.
• Leviticus 24:17And he that smiteth any man mortally shall surely be put to death.

Commentaries on Numbers 35:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-25Verses 16-25 The sense is: Inasmuch as to take another man‘s life by any means whatsoever is murder, and exposes the murderer to the penalty of retaliation; so, if the deed is done in hostility, it is in truth actual murder, and the murderer shall be slain; but if it be not done in hostility, then the congregation shall interpose to stop the avenger‘s hand. Numbers 35:19 When he meeteth him - Provided, of course, it were without a city of refuge. Numbers…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. 15-24The Old Testament clearly distinguishes between intentional murder and accidental killing (35:11, 22–23; Exodus 21:12–14; compare Numbers 15:22–31). Murder required a penalty of execution, but an accidental death did not. Murder required a penalty of execution, but an accidental death did not. If a person used a weapon, this showed malicious intent (a plan to harm someone).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2116-21. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 35:16

• Homicide
• Iron
• Punishment
• Refuge

In the dictionaries

• City
• Congregation
• Copper
• Murder
• Refuge, Cities of
• Testify
• Amorites
• Assassination
• Courts, Judicial
• Ezekiel

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