Numbers 35:28

Numbers 35:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.
• New International Version (NIV)The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.
• New King James Version (NKJV)because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.

Context of Numbers 35:28

26“If the one who kills someone ever goes outside the border of the city of refuge he fled to, 27and the avenger of blood finds him outside the border of his city of refuge and kills him, the avenger will not be guilty of bloodshed, for the one who killed a person was supposed to live in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may the one who has killed a person return to the land he possesses. 29These instructions will be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations wherever you live. 30“If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death based on the word of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of one witness.

Numbers 35:28 word by word

כִּ֣י בְעִ֤יר מִקְלָטוֹ֙ יֵשֵׁ֔ב עַד־מ֖וֹת הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֑ל וְאַחֲרֵ֥י מוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל יָשׁוּב֙ הָרֹצֵ֔חַ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Because he should have remainedיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• of his refugeמִקְלָטmiqlâţ · refugeH4733
• until the deathמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194
• of the highגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
• priestכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• but afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• the slayerרָצַחrâtsach · to murderH7523
• shall returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• into the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• of his possessionאֲחֻזָּה'ăchûzzâh · possessionH272

Cross-references for Numbers 35:28

• John 15:4Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.
• Acts 11:23When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,
• Acts 27:31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”
• Hebrews 3:14For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start.
• Hebrews 6:4For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit,
• Hebrews 10:26For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
• Hebrews 9:11But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation),

Commentaries on Numbers 35:28

• 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. 26-29The killer (manslayer) had to stay in a special city (called a "city of refuge") as a consequence for the death he had caused. He had to stay in a city of refuge until he or the high priest died. After the high priest's death, the manslayer could return home, and the avenger of blood could not take revenge.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 35:28

• Avenger of Blood
• Homicide
• Refuge

In the dictionaries

• High priest
• City
• Congregation
• 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