New International Version
Numbers 35:20
20If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die
Numbers 35:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;
- English Standard Version (ESV)And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died,
- New King James Version (NKJV)If he pushes him out of hatred or, while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies,
- New Living Translation (NLT)So if someone hates another person and waits in ambush, then pushes him or throws something at him and he dies, it is murder.
Context of Numbers 35:20
18Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 19The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death. If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die 21or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet. 22“ ‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally
Read all of Numbers 35Numbers 35:20 word by word
וְאִם־בְּשִׂנְאָ֖ה יֶהְדָּפֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו בִּצְדִיָּ֖ה וַיָּמֹֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Numbers 35:20
- Genesis 4:5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
- 2 Samuel 3:27Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.
- 2 Samuel 13:22And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.
- 2 Samuel 20:10Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.
- 1 Kings 2:5“Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
- Proverbs 26:24Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
- Proverbs 28:17Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.
- Luke 4:29They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.
- Exodus 21:14But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.
- Deuteronomy 19:11But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor, and then flees to one of these cities,
- 1 Samuel 18:10The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand
- 1 Samuel 19:9But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre,
- 1 Samuel 20:1Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?”
- 1 Samuel 23:7Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”
- 1 Samuel 24:11See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.
- Psalms 10:7His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
Commentaries on Numbers 35:20
- 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. 15-24The Old Testament clearly distinguishes between intentional murder and accidental killing (35:11, 22–23; Exodus 21:12–14; compare Numbers 15:22–31). Murder required a penalty of execution, but an accidental death did not. Murder required a penalty of execution, but an accidental death did not. If a person used a weapon, this showed malicious intent (a plan to harm someone).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2116-21. If he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, &c.--Various cases are here enumerated in which the Goel or avenger was at liberty to take the life of the murderer; and every one of them proves a premeditated purpose.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 35:20
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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