New English Translation
Numbers 35:15
15These six towns will be places of refuge for the Israelites, and for the foreigner, and for the settler among them, so that anyone who kills any person accidentally may flee there.
Numbers 35:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.
- New International Version (NIV)These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.
- English Standard Version (ESV)These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.
- New King James Version (NKJV)These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there.
Context of Numbers 35:15
13These towns that you must give shall be your six towns for refuge. 14“You must give three towns on this side of the Jordan, and you must give three towns in the land of Canaan; they must be towns of refuge. These six towns will be places of refuge for the Israelites, and for the foreigner, and for the settler among them, so that anyone who kills any person accidentally may flee there. 16“But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. 17If he strikes him by throwing a stone large enough that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death.
Read all of Numbers 35Numbers 35:15 word by word
לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֤ר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔ם תִּהְיֶ֛ינָה שֵׁשׁ־הֶעָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לְמִקְלָ֑ט לָנ֣וּס שָׁ֔מָּה כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- These sixשֵׁשׁshêsh shishshâh · sixH8337
- citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- shall be a refugeמִקְלָטmiqlâţ · refugeH4733
- for the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and for the strangerגֵּרgêr gêyr · sojournerH1616
- and for the sojournerתּוֹשָׁבtôshâb tôshâb · sojournerH8453
- amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- them: that every one that killethנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
- any personנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: personH5315
- unawaresשְׁגָגָהshegâgâh · sin of errorH7684
- may fleeנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
Cross-references for Numbers 35:15
- Numbers 15:16One law and one custom must apply to you and to the resident foreigner who lives alongside you.’”
- Exodus 12:49The same law will apply to the person who is native-born and to the foreigner who lives among you.”
- Leviticus 24:22There will be one regulation for you, whether a foreigner or a native citizen, for I am the Lord your God.’”
- Romans 3:29Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!
- Galatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female – for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
Commentaries on Numbers 35:15
- 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. 15the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them … anyone: The same law applied equally to everyone. Israel had one standard of justice for everyone. This was unlike many societies that had different laws for citizens and noncitizens (see also Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16–17; 1 Timothy 5:21; James 2:2–4).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 35:15
In the dictionaries
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries