Numbers 35:34

Numbers 35:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.’ ”

Context of Numbers 35:34

32“An accused murderer who has fled to a city of refuge must never go back and live on his own land before the death of the high priest. Don’t accept a cash payment to allow him to do this. 33“You must not pollute the land where you live. Murder is what pollutes the land. The land where a murder was committed can never make peace with the Lord except through the death of the murderer. Never make the land where you and I live unclean. I, the Lord, live among the Israelites.”

Numbers 35:34 word by word

וְלֹ֧א תְטַמֵּ֣א אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ יֹשְׁבִ֣ים בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ן בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה שֹׁכֵ֕ן בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Defileטָמֵאţâmê' · to defileH2930
• not therefore the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• which ye shall inhabitיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• whereinתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• I dwellשָׁכַןshâkan · to dwellH7931
• for I the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Numbers 35:34

• Numbers 5:3Send all of these unclean men and women outside the camp. They must not make this camp where I live among you unclean.”
• Leviticus 20:24I have told you that you will take their land. I will give it to you as your own. It is a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God who separated you from other people.
• Psalms 135:21Thank the Lord in Zion. Thank the one who lives in Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
• Isaiah 57:15The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.
• Hosea 9:3The people of Ephraim won’t stay in the Lord’s land. They will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria.
• 2 Corinthians 6:16Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, “I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
• Revelation 21:3I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God.
• Exodus 25:8“Then have them make a holy place for me, and I will live among them.
• Exodus 29:45“Then I will live among the Israelites and be their God.
• 1 Kings 6:13I will live among the Israelites and never abandon my people.”
• Psalms 132:14“This will be my resting place forever. Here I will sit enthroned because I want Zion.
• Isaiah 8:12“Don’t say that everything these people call a conspiracy is a conspiracy. Don’t fear what they fear. Don’t let it terrify you.”

Commentaries on Numbers 35:34

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34For I the Lord dwell … - An emphatic protest against all enactment or relaxation of laws by men for their own private convenience.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. 34The Lord lived among the people of Israel while the Tent of Meeting (the tabernacle) was in the center of the Hebrew camp (see chapters 1–4). This meant that they must not defile their land. They could not ignore God’s commands. They also could not fail to carry out justice as the law required (compare 5:1–4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 29-3429-34. these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations--The law of the blood-avenger, as thus established by divine authority, was a vast improvement on the ancient practice of Goelism. By the appointment of cities of refuge, the manslayer was saved, in the meantime, from the blind and impetuous fury of vindictive relatives; but he might be tried by the local court, and, if proved guilty on sufficient evidence…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• City
• Congregation
• Refuge, Cities of
• Testify
• Amorites
• Courts, Judicial

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