Numbers 35:33

Numbers 35:33 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
• New International Version (NIV)“ ‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.

Context of Numbers 35:33

31Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. 32You shall not take ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to live in the land before the death of the priest. So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. 34You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.’”

Numbers 35:33 word by word

וְלֹֽא־תַחֲנִ֣יפוּ אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ בָּ֔הּ כִּ֣י הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יַחֲנִ֖יף אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְלָאָ֣רֶץ לֹֽא־יְכֻפַּ֗ר לַדָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שֻׁפַּךְ־בָּ֔הּ כִּי־אִ֖ם בְּדַ֥ם שֹׁפְכֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• So you shall not polluteחָנֵףchânêph · to polluteH2610
• the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• in whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• you are; for bloodדָּםdâm · bloodH1818
• and noלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• expiationכִּפֶּרkâphar · to atoneH3722
• that is shedשָׁפַךְshâphak · to pour: killH8210
• on it, exceptכִּיkîy · forH3588
• on it, except[כִּי] אם'im · if: exceptH518

Cross-references for Numbers 35:33

• Leviticus 18:25For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants.
• Deuteronomy 21:1“If a slain person is found lying in the open country in the land which the Lord your God gives you to possess, and it is not known who has struck him,
• 2 Kings 23:26However, the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.
• 2 Kings 24:4and also for the innocent blood which he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; and the Lord would not forgive.
• Psalms 106:28They joined themselves also to Baal-peor, And ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
• Isaiah 26:21For behold, the Lord is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain.
• Ezekiel 22:24“Son of man, say to her, ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’
• Hosea 4:2There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
• Micah 4:11And now many nations have been assembled against you Who say, ‘Let her be polluted, And let our eyes gloat over Zion.’
• Matthew 23:31So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
• Luke 11:50so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,

Commentaries on Numbers 35:33

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 33For blood it defileth the land - The very land was considered as guilty till the blood of the murderer was shed in it. No wonder God is so particularly strict in his laws against murderers, Because he is the author of life, and none have any right to dispose of it but himself. Because life is the time to prepare for the eternal world, and on it the salvation of the soul accordingly depends; therefore it is of infinite consequence to the man that his life…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. 33for bloodshed pollutes the land: If the person who caused a death, whether murder or accidental killing, was not treated as the law commanded, God viewed the land as polluted. Human bloodshed required death as a response (Genesis 4:10–11; 9:6). This rule is different from cases such as Exodus 21:29–30 (see also Leviticus 18:28; Ezekiel 36:17–18; Hosea 4:2–3). This strong warning about murder shows the great value of human life (Exodus 20:13).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

Topics related to Numbers 35:33

• Homicide
• Punishment

In the dictionaries

• City
• Congregation
• Refuge, Cities of
• Testify
• Amorites
• Assassination
• Atonement
• Cleanse
• Courts, Judicial
• Defile; Defilement

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