New American Standard Bible 1995

Deuteronomy 21

Expiation of a Crime

1“Ifכִּי־ki-H3588a slainחָלָ֗לcha.LalH2491person is foundיִמָּצֵ֣אyi.ma.Tze'H4672lyingנֹפֵ֖לno.FelH5307in the open countryבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הba.sa.DehH7704in the landבָּאֲדָמָה֙ba.'a.da.MahH127whichאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834the Lordיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givesנֹתֵ֤ןno.TenH5414you topossessלְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּle.rish.TahH3423, andit is not knownנוֹדַ֖עno.Da'H3045whoמִ֥יmiH4310has struckהִכָּֽהוּ׃hi.Ka.huH5221him,

2then your eldersזְקֵנֶ֖יךָze.ke.Nei.chaH2205and your judgesוְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יךָve.sho.fe.Tei.khaH8199shall goוְיָצְא֥וּve.ya.tze.'UH3318out and measureוּמָדְדוּ֙u.ma.de.DuH4058the distanceto the citiesהֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892whichאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834are aroundסְבִיבֹ֥תse.vi.VotH5439the slainהֶחָלָֽל׃he.cha.LalH2491oneH2491.

3It shall be that the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892which is nearestהַקְּרֹבָ֖הha.ke.ro.VahH7138to the slainהֶחָלָ֑לhe.cha.LalH2491manH2491,that is, the eldersזִקְנֵי֩zik.NeiH2205of that cityהָעִ֨ירha.'IrH5892,shall takeוְלָֽקְח֡וּve.la.ke.ChuH3947a heiferעֶגְלַ֣ת'eg.LatH5697of the herdבָּקָ֗רba.KarH1241,whichאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834has not been workedעֻבַּד֙'u.BadH5647and whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834has not pulledמָשְׁכָ֖הma.she.KhahH4900in a yokeבְּעֹֽל׃be.'OlH5923;

4and the eldersזִקְנֵי֩zik.NeiH2205of that cityהָעִ֨ירha.'IrH5892shall bringוְהוֹרִ֡דוּve.ho.Ri.duH3381the heiferהָֽעֶגְלָה֙ha.'eg.LahH5697downH3381to a valleyנַ֣חַלNa.chalH5158with runningH386waterH386,whichאֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834has not been plowedיֵעָבֵ֥דye.'a.VedH5647or sownיִזָּרֵ֑עַyi.za.Re.a'H2232,and shall breakוְעָֽרְפוּ־ve.'a.re.fu-H6202the heifer’sהָעֶגְלָ֖הha.'eg.LahH5697neckH6202thereשָׁ֥םshamH8033in the valleyבַּנָּֽחַל׃ba.Na.chalH5158.

5Thenthe priestsהַכֹּהֲנִים֮ha.ko.ha.NimH3548,the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Leviלֵוִי֒le.ViH3878,shall comeH5066nearH5066,for the Lordיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430has chosenבָּחַ֞רba.CharH977them to serveלְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹle.Sha.re.ToH8334Him and to blessוּלְבָרֵ֖ךְu.le.va.RekhH1288in the nameבְּשֵׁ֣םbe.ShemH8034of the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068;and everyכָּל־kol-H3605disputeרִ֥יבrivH7379and everyוְכָל־ve.kholH3605assaultנָֽגַע׃Na.ga'H5061shall be settledוְעַל־ פִּיהֶ֥םve.'al- pi.HemH5921 H6310by them.

6Allוְכֹ֗לve.KholH3605the eldersזִקְנֵי֙zik.NeiH2205of that cityהָעִ֣ירha.'IrH5892which is nearestהַקְּרֹבִ֖יםha.ke.ro.VimH7138to the slainהֶחָלָ֑לhe.cha.LalH2491manH2491shallwashיִרְחֲצוּ֙yir.cha.TzuH7364their handsיְדֵיהֶ֔םye.dei.HemH3027overעַל־'al-H5921the heiferהָעֶגְלָ֖הha.'eg.LahH5697whose neckH6202was brokenH6202in the valleyבַנָּֽחַל׃va.Na.chalH5158;

7and they shall answerוְעָנ֖וּve.'a.NuH6030and sayוְאָמְר֑וּve.'a.me.RuH559, ‘Our handsיָדֵ֗ינוּya.Dei.nuH3027did not shedשָֽׁפְכוּ֙sha.fe.khahH8210thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088bloodהַדָּ֣םha.DamH1818,norH3808did our eyesוְעֵינֵ֖ינוּve.'ei.Nei.nuH5869seeרָאֽוּ׃ra.'UH7200it.

8Forgiveכַּפֵּר֩ka.PerH3722Your peopleלְעַמְּךָ֨le.'a.me.KhaH5971Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤לYis.ra.'ElH3478whomאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834You have redeemedפָּדִ֙יתָ֙pa.Di.taH6299, O Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and do not placeתִּתֵּן֙ti.TenH5414the guiltH1818ofinnocentנָקִ֔יna.KiH5355bloodH1818in the midstבְּקֶ֖רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130of Your peopleעַמְּךָ֣'a.me.KhaH5971Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478.’And the bloodguiltinessH1818shall beforgivenוְנִכַּפֵּ֥רve.nik.ka.PerH3722them.

9So you shall removeתְּבַעֵ֛רte.va.'ErH1197the guiltH1818of innocentהַנָּקִ֖יha.na.KiH5355bloodהַדָּ֥םha.DamH1818from your midstמִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָmi.kir.Be.chaH7130,whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588you doתַעֲשֶׂ֥הta.'a.SehH6213whatH3477is rightהַיָּשָׁ֖רhai.ya.SharH3477in the eyesבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the Lordיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

Domestic Relations

10“Whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588you goתֵצֵ֥אte.Tze'H3318out to battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֖הla.mil.cha.MahH4421againstעַל־'al-H5921your enemiesH340, andthe Lordיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430deliversוּנְתָנ֞וֹu.ne.ta.NoH5414them into your handsבְּיָדֶ֖ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027and you takeוְשָׁבִ֥יתָve.sha.Vi.taH7617them away captiveשִׁבְיֽוֹ׃shiv.YoH7628,

11and seeוְרָאִיתָ֙ve.ra.'i.TaH7200among the captivesבַּשִּׁבְיָ֔הba.shiv.YahH7633a beautifulיְפַת־ye.fat-H3303womanאֵ֖שֶׁת'E.shetH802,and haveH2836a desireH2836for her and would takeוְלָקַחְתָּ֥ve.la.kach.TaH3947her as a wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802for yourself,

12then you shall bringוַהֲבֵאתָ֖הּva.ha.ve.TahH935her homeתּ֣וֹךְTokhH8432to your houseבֵּיתֶ֑ךָbei.Te.khaH1004, and she shallshaveוְגִלְּחָה֙ve.gi.le.ChahH1548her headרֹאשָׁ֔הּro.ShahH7218andtrimוְעָשְׂתָ֖הve.'a.se.TahH6213her nailsצִפָּרְנֶֽיהָ׃tzi.pa.re.Nei.haH6856.

13She shall alsoremoveוְהֵסִ֩ירָה֩ve.he.Si.rahH5493the clothesשִׂמְלַ֨תsim.LatH8071of her captivityשִׁבְיָ֜הּshiv.YahH7628and shall remainוְיָֽשְׁבָה֙ve.ya.she.VahH3427in your houseבְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָbe.vei.Te.khaH1004, andmournוּבָֽכְתָ֛הu.va.khe.TahH1058her fatherאָבִ֥יהָ'a.Vi.haH1and motherאִמָּ֖הּ'i.MahH517a fullיָמִ֑יםya.MimH3117monthיֶ֣רַחYe.rachH3391;and afterוְאַ֨חַרve.'A.charH310that you may goתָּב֤וֹאta.Vo'H935in to her and be her husbandH1166and she shall be your wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.

14It shall be, ifאִם־'im-H518you are not pleasedחָפַ֣צְתָּcha.Fatz.taH2654with her, then you shall letH7971her goוְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ֙ve.shi.lach.TahH7971wherever she wishesלְנַפְשָׁ֔הּle.naf.ShahH5315;but you shall certainlyוּמָכֹ֥רu.ma.KhorH4376not sellתִמְכְּרֶ֖נָּהtim.ke.Re.nahH4376her for moneyבַּכָּ֑סֶףba.Ka.sefH3701, you shall notmistreatתִתְעַמֵּ֣רtit.'a.MerH6014her, becauseתַּ֖חַת אֲשֶׁ֥רTa.chat 'a.SherH8478 H834you havehumbledעִנִּיתָֽהּ׃ ס'i.ni.TahH6031her.

15“Ifכִּֽי־ki-H3588a manלְאִ֜ישׁle.'IshH376hasH1961twoשְׁתֵּ֣יshe.TeiH8147wivesנָשִׁ֗יםna.ShimH802,the oneהָאַחַ֤תha.'a.ChatH259lovedאֲהוּבָה֙'a.hu.VahH157andthe otherוְהָאַחַ֣תve.ha.'a.ChatH259unlovedשְׂנוּאָ֔הse.nu.'AhH8130, and boththe lovedהָאֲהוּבָ֖הha.'a.hu.VahH157and theunlovedוְהַשְּׂנוּאָ֑הve.ha.se.nu.'AhH8130have borneוְיָֽלְדוּ־ve.yal.du-H3205him sonsבָנִ֔יםva.NimH1121,if the firstbornהַבְּכ֖וֹרha.be.KhorH1060sonהַבֵּ֥ןha.BenH1121belongs to theunlovedלַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃la.se.ni.'AhH8146,

16then it shall be in the dayבְּיוֹם֙be.yOmH3117hewillsהַנְחִיל֣וֹhan.chi.LoH5157whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834he hasH1961to his sonsבָּנָ֔יוba.NavH1121,he cannotלֹ֣א יוּכַ֗לlo' yu.KhalH3201 H3808makeH1069the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of the lovedהָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔הha.'a.hu.VahH157the firstbornH1069beforeעַל־ פְּנֵ֥י'al- pe.NeiH5921 H6440the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of theunlovedהַשְּׂנוּאָ֖הha.se.nu.'AhH8130,who is the firstbornהַבְּכֹֽר׃ha.be.KhorH1060.

17But he shall acknowledgeיַכִּ֗ירya.KirH5234the firstbornהַבְּכֹ֨רha.be.KhorH1060,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of theunlovedהַשְּׂנוּאָ֜הha.se.nu.'AhH8130,by givingלָ֤תֶתLa.tetH5414him a doubleשְׁנַ֔יִםshe.Na.yimH8147portionפִּ֣יpiH6310of allבְּכֹ֥לbe.KholH3605thathe hasיִמָּצֵ֖אyi.ma.Tze'H4672, for he is thebeginningרֵאשִׁ֣יתre.ShitH7225of his strengthאֹנ֔וֹ'o.NoH202;to him belongs the rightמִשְׁפַּ֥טmish.PatH4941of the firstbornH1060.

18“Ifכִּֽי־ki-H3588anyH376manH376hasיִהְיֶ֣הyih.YehH1961a stubbornסוֹרֵ֣רso.RerH5637and rebelliousוּמוֹרֶ֔הu.mo.RehH4784sonבֵּ֚ןbenH1121who willnot obeyשֹׁמֵ֔עַsho.Me.a'H8085 H6963his fatherאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1or his motherאִמּ֑וֹ'i.MoH517,and when they chastiseוְיסְּר֣וּve.yi.se.RuH3256him, he will not even listenיִשְׁמַ֖עyish.Ma'H8085to them,

19then his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1and motherוְאִמּ֑וֹve.'i.MoH517shall seizeוְתָ֥פְשׂוּve.Ta.fe.suH8610him, and bringוְהוֹצִ֧יאוּve.ho.Tzi.'uH3318him out to the eldersזִקְנֵ֥יzik.NeiH2205of his cityעִיר֖וֹi.RoH5892at the gatewayשַׁ֥עַרSha.'arH8179of his hometownמְקֹמֽוֹ׃me.ko.MoH4725.

20They shall sayוְאָמְר֞וּve.'a.me.RuH559to the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of his cityעִיר֗וֹi.RoH5892, ‘Thisזֶה֙zehH2088sonבְּנֵ֤נוּbe.Ne.nuH1121of ours is stubbornסוֹרֵ֣רso.RerH5637and rebelliousוּמֹרֶ֔הu.mo.RehH4784,he will not obeyשֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּsho.Me.a' be.ko.Le.nuH8085 H6963us, he is a gluttonזוֹלֵ֖לzo.LelH2151and a drunkardוְסֹבֵֽא׃ve.so.Ve'H5433.’

21Then allכָּל־kol-H3605the menH376of his cityעִיר֤וֹi.RoH5892shall stoneוּ֠רְגָמֻהוּU.re.ga.mu.huH7275him to deathוָמֵ֔תva.MetH4191; soyou shall removeוּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥u.vi.'ar.TaH1197the evilהָרָ֖עha.Ra'H7451from your midstמִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָmi.kir.Be.chaH7130, andallוְכָל־ve.kholH3605Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478will hearיִשְׁמְע֥וּyish.me.'UH8085of itand fearוְיִרָֽאוּ׃ סve.yi.Ra.'uH3372.

22“Ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a manבְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376has committedיִהְיֶ֣הyih.YehH1961a sinחֵ֛טְאchet'H2399worthyמִשְׁפַּט־mish.pat-H4941of deathמָ֖וֶתMa.vetH4194and he is putוְהוּמָ֑תve.hu.MatH4191to deathH4191,and you hangוְתָלִ֥יתָve.ta.Li.taH8518him on a treeעֵֽץ׃'EtzH6086,

23his corpseנִבְלָת֜וֹniv.la.ToH5038shall not hangH3885all nightH3885on the treeהָעֵ֗ץha.'EtzH6086,but you shall surelyקָב֤וֹרka.VorH6912buryתִּקְבְּרֶ֙נּוּ֙tik.be.Re.nuH6912him on the sameהַה֔וּאha.Hu'H1931dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117(forhe who is hangedתָּל֑וּיta.LuiH8518isaccursedקִלְלַ֥תki.LatH7045of Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430), so that youdo not defileתְטַמֵּא֙te.ta.Me'H2930your landאַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔'ad.Ma.te.khaH127whichאֲשֶׁר֙'a.SherH834the Lordיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givesנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414you as an inheritanceנַחֲלָֽה׃ סna.cha.LahH5159.

Expiation of a Crime

Domestic Relations

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21