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

20If any of you kills someone you hate by shoving him or by deliberately throwing something at him, 21or if you beat your enemy to death with your bare hands, you must be put to death. You are a murderer. The relative who can avenge the death must kill you when he catches up with you, because you are a murderer. “But suppose you accidentally kill someone who wasn’t your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but didn’t mean to kill him. 23Or suppose you drop a big stone, and someone is killed. However, you didn’t know the person was there, he wasn’t your enemy, and you weren’t trying to harm him. 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.

Numbers 35:22 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• But if he thrustהָדַףhâdaph · to thrustH1920
• him suddenlyפֶּתַעpetha‛ · suddennessH6621
• withoutלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• enmityאֵיבָה'êybâh · enmityH342
• or have castשָׁלַךְshâlak · to throwH7993
• upon him any thingכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• without laying of waitצְדִיָּהtsedîyâh · ambushH6660

Cross-references for Numbers 35:22

• Numbers 35:11select certain cities to be places of refuge. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may run to them.
• Exodus 21:13If it wasn’t done intentionally, but God let it happen, the killer should flee to a place I will set aside for you.
• Deuteronomy 19:5Suppose two people go into the woods to cut wood. As one of them swings the ax to cut down a tree, the head flies off the handle, hits, and kills the other person. The one who accidentally killed the other person may run to one of these cities and save his life.
• 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.

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