Numbers 35:11

Numbers 35:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.
• New International Version (NIV)select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee.
• English Standard Version (ESV)then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there.
• New King James Version (NKJV)then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there.

Context of Numbers 35:11

9Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 10“Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you cross over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, you must then designate some towns as towns of refuge for you, to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee. 12And they must stand as your towns of refuge from the avenger in order that the killer may not die until he has stood trial before the community. 13These towns that you must give shall be your six towns for refuge.

Numbers 35:11 word by word

וְהִקְרִיתֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ עָרִ֔ים עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָ֥ס שָׁ֙מָּה֙ רֹצֵ֔חַ מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then ye shall appointקָרָהqârâh · to meetH7136
• you citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• of refugeמִקְלָטmiqlâţ · refugeH4733
• for you; that the slayerרָצַחrâtsach · to murderH7523
• may fleeנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
• thither, which killethנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• any personנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: personH5315
• at unawaresשְׁגָגָהshegâgâh · sin of errorH7684

Cross-references for Numbers 35:11

• Numbers 35:6Now from these towns that you will give to the Levites you must select six towns of refuge to which a person who has killed someone may flee. And you must give them forty-two other towns.
• Joshua 20:2“Have the Israelites select the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses.
• Numbers 35:22“But if he strikes him suddenly, without enmity, or throws anything at him unintentionally,
• Exodus 21:13But if he does not do it with premeditation, but it happens by accident, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.
• Deuteronomy 4:42Anyone who accidentally killed someone without hating him at the time of the accident could flee to one of those cities and be safe.
• Deuteronomy 19:4Now this is the law pertaining to one who flees there in order to live, if he has accidentally killed another without hating him at the time of the accident.

Commentaries on Numbers 35:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Ye shall appoint - cities of refuge - The cities of refuge among the Israelites were widely different from the asyla among the Greeks and Romans, as also from the privileged altars among the Roman Catholics. Those among the Hebrews were for the protection of such only as had slain a person involuntarily. The temples and altars among the latter often served for the protection of the most profligate characters. Cities of refuge among the Hebrews were…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. 6-34Six of the Levites’ towns had a special purpose. They served as cities of refuge. A city of refuge was a place where a person could run for safety after accidentally killing someone. These cities show the humanitarian (care for human life) side of Hebrew law (see also Deuteronomy 4:41–43; 19:1–13; Joshua 20). These six towns offered protection when someone killed accidentally or unintentionally (compare Exodus 21:12–14). The 48 towns given to the Levites…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-3411. that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares--The practice of Goelism, that is, of the nearest relation of an individual who was killed being bound to demand satisfaction from the author of his death, existed from a very remote antiquity (Ge 4:14; 27:45). It seems to have been an established usage in the age of Moses; and although in a rude and imperfect state of society, it is a natural and intelligible principle of criminal…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 35:11

• Homicide
• Refuge

In the dictionaries

• Cities of Refuge
• City
• Congregation
• Refuge, Cities of
• Testify
• Amorites
• Appoint
• Assassination
• Courts, Judicial
• 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