Deuteronomy 21:6

Deuteronomy 21:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:
• English Standard Version (ESV)And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“The elders of the town must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken.

Context of Deuteronomy 21:6

4and lead it down to a valley that has not been plowed or planted and where there is a flowing stream. There in the valley they are to break the heifer’s neck. 5The Levitical priests shall step forward, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister and to pronounce blessings in the name of the Lord and to decide all cases of dispute and assault. Then all the elders of the town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, 7and they shall declare: “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. 8Accept this atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, Lord, and do not hold your people guilty of the blood of an innocent person.” Then the bloodshed will be atoned for,

Deuteronomy 21:6 word by word

וְכֹ֗ל זִקְנֵי֙ הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֔וא הַקְּרֹבִ֖ים אֶל־הֶחָלָ֑ל יִרְחֲצוּ֙ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם עַל־הָעֶגְלָ֖ה הָעֲרוּפָ֥ה בַנָּֽחַל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And all the eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
• of that cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• nextקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
• unto the slainחָלָלchâlâl · slain: killedH2491
• shall washרָחַץrâchats · to wash: washH7364
• their handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• over the heiferעֶגְלָה‛eglâh · heiferH5697
• that is beheadedעָרַף‛âraph · to break the neckH6202
• in the valleyנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: valleyH5158

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 21:6

• Job 9:30Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder,
• Psalms 19:12But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
• Psalms 26:6I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord,
• Psalms 51:2Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
• Psalms 73:13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
• Jeremiah 2:22Although you wash yourself with soap and use an abundance of cleansing powder, the stain of your guilt is still before me,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
• Matthew 27:24When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
• Hebrews 9:10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Shall wash their hands over the heifer - Washing the hands, in reference to such a subject as this, was a rite anciently used to signify that the persons thus washing were innocent of the crime in question. It was probably from the Jews that Pilate learned this symbolical method of expressing his innocence.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6wash their hands: In the ancient world, people sometimes washed their hands to show they were innocent. This action showed that they were not guilty of wrongdoing (compare Matthew 27:24). In this case, the community washed their hands to declare that they were not responsible for the crime. The crime had taken place near them, but they had not committed it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-91-6. If one be found slain ... lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him--The ceremonies here ordained to be observed on the discovery of a slaughtered corpse show the ideas of sanctity which the Mosaic law sought to associate with human blood, the horror which murder inspired, as well as the fears that were felt lest God should avenge it on the country at large, and the pollution which the land was supposed to contract from the effusion…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 21:6

• Ablution
• Church
• Government
• Hand
• Heifer
• Homicide
• Innocency
• Inquest
• Purification
• Washing

In the dictionaries

• Ablution
• Controversy
• Crucifixion
• Divers
• Heifer
• Murder
• Purification
• Rebellious
• Wrought
• Atonement, Day of

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21

• 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