New English Translation
Numbers 35:22
22“But if he strikes him suddenly, without enmity, or throws anything at him unintentionally,
Numbers 35:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
- New International Version (NIV)“ ‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally
- English Standard Version (ESV)"But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘However, if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait,
Context of Numbers 35:22
20“But if he strikes him out of hatred or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies, 21or with enmity he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death, for he is a murderer. The avenger of blood must kill the murderer when he meets him. “But if he strikes him suddenly, without enmity, or throws anything at him unintentionally, 23or with any stone large enough that a man could die, without seeing him, and throws it at him, and he dies, even though he was not his enemy nor sought his harm, 24then the community must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these decisions.
Read all of Numbers 35Numbers 35:22 word by word
וְאִם־בְּפֶ֥תַע בְּלֹא־אֵיבָ֖ה הֲדָפ֑וֹ אוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו כָּל־כְּלִ֖י בְּלֹ֥א צְדִיָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Numbers 35:22
- Numbers 35:11you must then designate some towns as towns of refuge for you, to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee.
- 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 19:5Suppose he goes with someone else to the forest to cut wood and when he raises the ax to cut the tree, the ax head flies loose from the handle and strikes his fellow worker so hard that he dies. The person responsible may then flee to one of these cities to save himself.
- Joshua 20:3Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood.
Commentaries on Numbers 35:22
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-25Verses 16-25 The sense is: Inasmuch as to take another man‘s life by any means whatsoever is murder, and exposes the murderer to the penalty of retaliation; so, if the deed is done in hostility, it is in truth actual murder, and the murderer shall be slain; but if it be not done in hostility, then the congregation shall interpose to stop the avenger‘s hand. Numbers 35:19 When he meeteth him - Provided, of course, it were without a city of refuge. Numbers…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. 22-23Sometimes a person died, but the death was not caused by an intentional act of violence. In these cases, the person who caused the death did not plan or mean to kill anyone. The cities of refuge were created as places of safety for people who were responsible for these accidental deaths. These cities protected them until the community could examine the case and decide what was just.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2822-28. But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait, &c.--Under the excitement of a sudden provocation, or violent passion, an injury might be inflicted issuing in death; and for a person who had thus undesignedly committed slaughter, the Levitical cities offered the benefit of full protection. Once having reached the nearest, for one or other of them was within a day's journey of all parts of the…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 35:22
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
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