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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally.

Context of Numbers 35:11

9Then the Lord said to Moses: 10“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. 12They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly. 13These six towns you give will be your cities of 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 35:6“Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns.
• Joshua 20:2“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,
• Numbers 35:22“ ‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally
• Exodus 21:13However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate.
• Deuteronomy 4:42to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if they had unintentionally killed a neighbor without malice aforethought. They could flee into one of these cities and save their life.
• Deuteronomy 19:4This is the rule concerning anyone who kills a person and flees there for safety—anyone who kills a neighbor unintentionally, without malice aforethought.

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