New American Standard Bible 2020

Deuteronomy 21

Expiation of a Crime

1“Ifכִּי־ki-H3588a person who has been killedחָלָ֗לcha.LalH2491by someoneis foundיִמָּצֵ֣אyi.ma.Tze'H4672lyingנֹפֵ֖לno.FelH5307in the open countryבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הba.sa.DehH7704in the landבָּאֲדָמָה֙ba.'a.da.MahH127whichאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834the Lordיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430is givingנֹתֵ֤ןno.TenH5414you topossessלְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּle.rish.TahH3423, andit is not knownנוֹדַ֖עno.Da'H3045whoמִ֥יmiH4310struckהִכָּֽהוּ׃hi.Ka.huH5221him,

2then your eldersזְקֵנֶ֖יךָze.ke.Nei.chaH2205and your judgesוְשֹׁפְטֶ֑יךָve.sho.fe.Tei.khaH8199shall goוְיָצְא֥וּve.ya.tze.'UH3318outH3318and measureוּמָדְדוּ֙u.ma.de.DuH4058the distanceto the citiesהֶ֣עָרִ֔יםhe.'a.RimH5892whichאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834are aroundסְבִיבֹ֥תse.vi.VotH5439the oneהֶחָלָֽל׃he.cha.LalH2491who was killedH2491.

3And it shall be that the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892which is nearestהַקְּרֹבָ֖הha.ke.ro.VahH7138to the personH2491killedH2491,that is, that the eldersזִקְנֵי֩zik.NeiH2205of that cityהָעִ֨ירha.'IrH5892shall takeוְלָֽקְח֡וּve.la.ke.ChuH3947a heiferעֶגְלַ֣ת'eg.LatH5697of the herdבָּקָ֗רba.KarH1241that has not been workedעֻבַּד֙'u.BadH5647and has 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 they 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 comeH5066forwardH5066,becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588the 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 everyH3605disputeרִ֥יבrivH7379andviolentH5061crimeH5061shall besettledוְעַל־ פִּיהֶ֥םve.'al- pi.HemH5921 H6310by them.

6And allוְכֹ֗לve.KholH3605the eldersזִקְנֵי֙zik.NeiH2205of that cityהָעִ֣ירha.'IrH5892which is nearestהַקְּרֹבִ֖יםha.ke.ro.VimH7138to the personH2491killedH2491shallwashיִרְחֲצוּ֙yir.cha.TzuH7364their handsיְדֵיהֶ֔םye.dei.HemH3027overעַל־'al-H5921the heiferהָעֶגְלָ֖הha.'eg.LahH5697whose neckH6202wasH6202brokenH6202in the valleyבַנָּֽחַל׃va.Na.chalH5158;

7and they shall respondוְעָנ֖וּve.'a.NuH6030and sayוְאָמְר֑וּve.'a.me.RuH559, ‘Our handsיָדֵ֗ינוּya.Dei.nuH3027did not shedשָֽׁפְכוּ֙sha.fe.khahH8210thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088bloodהַדָּ֣םha.DamH1818,norH3808did our eyesוְעֵינֵ֖ינוּve.'ei.Nei.nuH5869seeרָאֽוּ׃ra.'UH7200who did.

8Forgiveכַּפֵּר֩ka.PerH3722Your peopleלְעַמְּךָ֨le.'a.me.KhaH5971Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֤לYis.ra.'ElH3478whomאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834You have redeemedפָּדִ֙יתָ֙pa.Di.taH6299, Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and do not placeתִּתֵּן֙ti.TenH5414the guiltH1818forH1818innocentנָקִ֔יna.KiH5355bloodH1818in the midstבְּקֶ֖רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130of Your peopleעַמְּךָ֣'a.me.KhaH5971Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478.’And the guiltH1818forH1818bloodshedH1818shall beforgivenוְנִכַּפֵּ֥רve.nik.ka.PerH3722them.

9So you shall removeתְּבַעֵ֛רte.va.'ErH1197the guiltH1818forH1818innocentהַנָּקִ֖יha.na.KiH5355bloodהַדָּ֥םha.DamH1818from your midstמִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָmi.kir.Be.chaH7130,whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588you doתַעֲשֶׂ֥הta.'a.SehH6213whatH3477isH3477rightהַיָּשָׁ֖רhai.ya.SharH3477in the eyesבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the Lordיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

Domestic Relations

10“Whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588you goתֵצֵ֥אte.Tze'H3318outH3318to battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֖הla.mil.cha.MahH4421againstעַל־'al-H5921your enemiesH340, andthe Lordיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430handsבְּיָדֶ֖ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027 H5414them overH5414to you and you takeוְשָׁבִ֥יתָve.sha.Vi.taH7617them away captiveשִׁבְיֽוֹ׃shiv.YoH7628,

11and you seeוְרָאִיתָ֙ve.ra.'i.TaH7200among the captivesבַּשִּׁבְיָ֔הba.shiv.YahH7633a beautifulיְפַת־ תֹּ֑אַרye.fat- To.'arH3303 H8389womanאֵ֖שֶׁת'E.shetH802,and areH2836stronglyH2836attractedH2836to her and would takeוְלָקַחְתָּ֥ve.la.kach.TaH3947her as a wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802for yourself,

12then you shall bringוַהֲבֵאתָ֖הּva.ha.ve.TahH935her into your homeבֵּיתֶ֑ךָbei.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, andweepוּבָֽכְתָ֛הu.va.khe.TahH1058for her fatherאָבִ֥יהָ'a.Vi.haH1and motherאִמָּ֖הּ'i.MahH517a fullיָמִ֑יםya.MimH3117monthיֶ֣רַחYe.rachH3391;and afterוְאַ֨חַרve.'A.charH310that you may haveH935relationsH935withH935her and becomeH1166her husbandH1166and she shall be your wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.

14But it shall be, ifאִם־'im-H518you are not pleasedחָפַ֣צְתָּcha.Fatz.taH2654with her, then you shall letH7971her goוְשִׁלַּחְתָּהּ֙ve.shi.lach.TahH7971wherever she wishesלְנַפְשָׁ֔הּle.naf.ShahH5315;and you certainlyוּמָכֹ֥רu.ma.KhorH4376shall not sellתִמְכְּרֶ֖נָּהtim.ke.Re.nahH4376her for moneyבַּכָּ֑סֶףba.Ka.sefH3701,you shall not treatתִתְעַמֵּ֣רtit.'a.MerH6014her asH6014merchandiseH6014,sinceתַּ֖חַת אֲשֶׁ֥רTa.chat 'a.SherH8478 H834you havehumiliatedעִנִּיתָֽהּ׃ 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,and the firstbornהַבְּכ֖וֹרha.be.KhorH1060sonהַבֵּ֥ןha.BenH1121belongs to theunlovedלַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃la.se.ni.'AhH8146,

16then it shall be on the dayבְּיוֹם֙be.yOmH3117that he willsH5157whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834he ownsH1961asH5157anH5157inheritanceH5157to his sonsבָּנָ֔יוba.NavH1121,he is not allowedיוּכַ֗לyu.KhalH3201to treatH1069the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of the lovedהָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔הha.'a.hu.VahH157wifeasH1069theH1069firstbornH1069,at the expenseעַל־ פְּנֵ֥י'al- pe.NeiH5921 H6440of the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of theunlovedהַשְּׂנוּאָ֖הha.se.nu.'AhH8130, who actually isthe firstbornהַבְּכֹֽר׃ha.be.KhorH1060son.

17OnH3588theH3588contraryH3588,he shall acknowledgeיַכִּ֗ירya.KirH5234the firstbornהַבְּכֹ֨רha.be.KhorH1060,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of theunlovedהַשְּׂנוּאָ֜הha.se.nu.'AhH8130wife,by givingלָ֤תֶתLa.tetH5414him a doubleשְׁנַ֔יִםshe.Na.yimH8147portionפִּ֣יpiH6310of everythingבְּכֹ֥לbe.KholH3605thathe ownsיִמָּצֵ֖אyi.ma.Tze'H4672, for he was thebeginningרֵאשִׁ֣יתre.ShitH7225of hisstrengthאֹנ֔וֹ'o.NoH202;to him belongs the rightמִשְׁפַּ֥טmish.PatH4941of the firstbornH1060.

18“Ifכִּֽי־ki-H3588anyH376personH376hasיִהְיֶ֣הyih.YehH1961a stubbornסוֹרֵ֣רso.RerH5637and rebelliousוּמוֹרֶ֔הu.mo.RehH4784sonבֵּ֚ןbenH1121who doesnot obeyשֹׁמֵ֔עַsho.Me.a'H8085 H6963his fatherאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1or his motherאִמּ֑וֹ'i.MoH517,and when they disciplineוְיסְּר֣וּve.yi.se.RuH3256him, he does not listenיִשְׁמַ֖עyish.Ma'H8085to them,

19then his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1and motherוְאִמּ֑וֹve.'i.MoH517shall seizeוְתָ֥פְשׂוּve.Ta.fe.suH8610him, and bringוְהוֹצִ֧יאוּve.ho.Tzi.'uH3318him outH3318to the eldersזִקְנֵ֥יzik.NeiH2205of his cityעִיר֖וֹi.RoH5892at the gatewayשַׁ֥עַרSha.'arH8179of his hometownמְקֹמֽוֹ׃me.ko.MoH4725.

20And they shall sayוְאָמְר֞וּve.'a.me.RuH559to the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of his cityעִיר֗וֹi.RoH5892, ‘Thisזֶה֙zehH2088sonבְּנֵ֤נוּbe.Ne.nuH1121of ours is stubbornסוֹרֵ֣רso.RerH5637and rebelliousוּמֹרֶ֔הu.mo.RehH4784;he does not obeyשֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּsho.Me.a' be.ko.Le.nuH8085 H6963us, he is thoughtlessזוֹלֵ֖לzo.LelH2151and givenH5433toH5433drinkingH5433.’

21Then allכָּל־kol-H3605the menH376of his cityעִיר֤וֹi.RoH5892shall stoneוּ֠רְגָמֻהוּ בָֽאֲבָנִים֙U.re.ga.mu.hu va.'a.va.NimH7275 H68him to deathוָמֵ֔תva.MetH4191; soyou shall eliminateוּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥u.vi.'ar.TaH1197the evilהָרָ֖עha.Ra'H7451from your midstמִקִּרְבֶּ֑ךָmi.kir.Be.chaH7130, andallוְכָל־ve.kholH3605Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478will hearיִשְׁמְע֥וּyish.me.'UH8085about itand fearוְיִרָֽאוּ׃ סve.yi.Ra.'uH3372.

22“Now ifוְכִֽי־ve.khi-H3588a personבְאִ֗ישׁve.'IshH376has committedיִהְיֶ֣הyih.YehH1961a sinחֵ֛טְאchet'H2399carryinga sentenceמִשְׁפַּט־mish.pat-H4941of deathמָ֖וֶתMa.vetH4194and he is putוְהוּמָ֑תve.hu.MatH4191toH4191deathH4191,and you hangוְתָלִ֥יתָve.ta.Li.taH8518him ona treeעֵֽץ׃'EtzH6086,

23his bodyנִבְלָת֜וֹniv.la.ToH5038is not to be leftH3885overnightתָלִ֨יןta.LinH3885on thetreeהָעֵ֗ץha.'EtzH6086,but you shall certainlyקָב֤וֹרka.VorH6912buryתִּקְבְּרֶ֙נּוּ֙tik.be.Re.nuH6912him on the sameהַה֔וּאha.Hu'H1931dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117(forhe who is hangedתָּל֑וּיta.LuiH8518is cursedקִלְלַ֥תki.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.khaH430is givingנֹתֵ֥ןno.TenH5414you as an inheritanceנַחֲלָֽה׃ סna.cha.LahH5159.

Expiation of a Crime

Domestic Relations

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21