Numbers 35:22

Numbers 35:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
• New International Version (NIV)“ ‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally
• English Standard Version (ESV)"But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait
• New King James Version (NKJV)‘However, if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait,

Context of Numbers 35:22

20Likewise, if anyone maliciously pushes another or intentionally throws an object at him and kills him, 21or 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. But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally, 23or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him, 24then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.

Numbers 35:22 word by word

וְאִם־בְּפֶ֥תַע בְּלֹא־אֵיבָ֖ה הֲדָפ֑וֹ אוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו כָּל־כְּלִ֖י בְּלֹ֥א צְדִיָּֽה׃Read the interlinear

• But if anyoneאִם'im · ifH518
• pushes a personהָדַףhâdaph · to thrustH1920
• suddenlyפֶּתַעpetha‛ · suddennessH6621
• withoutלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• hostilityאֵיבָה'êybâh · enmityH342
• orאוֹ'ô 'av · orH176
• throwsשָׁלַךְshâlak · to throwH7993
• anכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• objectכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• at himעַל‛al · uponH5921
• unintentionallyצְדִיָּהtsedîyâh · ambushH6660

Cross-references for Numbers 35:22

• Numbers 35:11designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there.
• Exodus 21:13If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.
• Deuteronomy 19:5If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.
• Joshua 20:3so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Commentaries on Numbers 35:22

• 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. 22-23Sometimes a person died, but the death was not caused by an intentional act of violence. In these cases, the person who caused the death did not plan or mean to kill anyone. The cities of refuge were created as places of safety for people who were responsible for these accidental deaths. These cities protected them until the community could examine the case and decide what was just.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2822-28. But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait, &c.--Under the excitement of a sudden provocation, or violent passion, an injury might be inflicted issuing in death; and for a person who had thus undesignedly committed slaughter, the Levitical cities offered the benefit of full protection. Once having reached the nearest, for one or other of them was within a day's journey of all parts of the…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 35:22

• Avenger of Blood
• Homicide
• Refuge

In the dictionaries

• City
• Congregation
• Manslayer
• Murder
• Refuge, Cities of
• Testify
• Amorites
• Courts, Judicial
• Enmity
• 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