Numbers 35:12

Numbers 35:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
• New International Version (NIV)They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment.

Context of Numbers 35:12

10“Tell the Israelites: When you cross the Jordan River and enter Canaan, 11select certain cities to be places of refuge. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may run to them. These cities will be places of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death. So anyone accused of murder will not have to die until he has had a trial in front of the community. 13There will be six cities you select as places of refuge, 14three on the east side of the Jordan River and three in Canaan.

Numbers 35:12 word by word

וְהָי֨וּ לָכֶ֧ם הֶעָרִ֛ים לְמִקְלָ֖ט מִגֹּאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א יָמוּת֙ הָרֹצֵ֔חַ עַד־עָמְד֛וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י הָעֵדָ֖ה לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they shall be unto you citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• for refugeמִקְלָטmiqlâţ · refugeH4733
• from the avengerגָּאַלgâ'al · to redeem: avengeH1350
• that the manslayerרָצַחrâtsach · to murderH7523
• dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• not, until he standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the congregationעֵדָה‛êdâh · congregationH5712
• in judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941

Cross-references for Numbers 35:12

• Numbers 35:19The relative who can avenge the death must make sure a murderer is put to death. When he catches up with the murderer, he must kill him.
• Deuteronomy 19:6Otherwise, in a rage the relative who has the authority to avenge the death will pursue him. If the place is too far away, the relative may catch up with him and take his life even though he didn’t deserve the death penalty, because in the past he never hated the person he killed.
• Joshua 20:3Choose them so that anyone who unintentionally kills someone may run to them. They will be a place of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death.
• 2 Samuel 14:7Then the entire family turned against me. They said, ‘Give us the man who killed his brother so that we can kill him because he took his brother’s life. We’re going to destroy the one who ⌞now⌟ would be the heir.’ In this way they wish to extinguish the ⌞one⌟ burning coal that is left for me. They will not let my husband’s name or descendants remain on the face of the earth.”
• Numbers 35:24Then the community must use these rules in order to decide if you ⌞are innocent⌟ or if the dead person’s relative can avenge the death.
• Deuteronomy 19:11Suppose someone hates another person, waits in ambush for him, attacks him, takes his life, and runs to one of these cities.
• Joshua 20:4“ ‘A person who kills someone accidentally can run to one of these cities. There he will stand at the entrance to the city, where court is held, and present his case to the leaders of that city. Then they will take him into their city and give him a place to live with them.

Commentaries on Numbers 35:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Until he stand before the congregation in judgment - So one of these cities was not a perpetual asylum; It was only a pro tempore refuge, till the case could be fairly examined by the magistrates in the presence of the people, or the elders their representatives; and this was done in the city or place where he had done the murder, Joshua 20:4, Joshua 20:6. If he was found worthy of death, they delivered him to the avenger that he might be slain…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The avenger - Hebrew גאל gā'al a term of which the original import is uncertain. The very obscurity of its etymology testifies to the antiquity of the office which it denotes. That office rested on the principle of Genesis 9:6, “whoso sheddeth man‘s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” The unwritten code of the East conceded to the nearest kinsman of a murdered man the right of avenging the blood that had been shed. Such rude justice necessarily…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. 12a refuge from the avenger: Justice was carried out through vengeance. A designated avenger, usually a close relative of the person who died, took this role.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 35:12

• Government
• Homicide
• Refuge

In the dictionaries

• City
• Congregation
• Goel
• Manslayer
• Refuge, Cities of
• Testify
• Amorites
• Avenge; Avenger
• Courts, Judicial
• Crime; Crimes

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