Numbers 35:34

Numbers 35:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.’ ”
• New Living Translation (NLT)You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.”

Context of Numbers 35:34

32“ ‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest. 33“ ‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’ ”

Numbers 35:34 word by word

וְלֹ֧א תְטַמֵּ֣א אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ יֹשְׁבִ֣ים בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ן בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה שֹׁכֵ֕ן בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Defileטָמֵאţâmê' · to defileH2930
• not therefore the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• which ye shall inhabitיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• whereinתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• I dwellשָׁכַןshâkan · to dwellH7931
• for I the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Numbers 35:34

• Numbers 5:3Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”
• Leviticus 20:24But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.
• Psalms 135:21Praise be to the Lord from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.
• Isaiah 57:15For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
• Hosea 9:3They will not remain in the Lord’s land; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
• 2 Corinthians 6:16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
• Revelation 21:3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
• Exodus 25:8“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
• Exodus 29:45Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
• 1 Kings 6:13And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”
• Psalms 132:14“This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
• Isaiah 8:12“Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.

Commentaries on Numbers 35:34

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 34For I the Lord dwell … - An emphatic protest against all enactment or relaxation of laws by men for their own private convenience.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. 34The Lord lived among the people of Israel while the Tent of Meeting (the tabernacle) was in the center of the Hebrew camp (see chapters 1–4). This meant that they must not defile their land. They could not ignore God’s commands. They also could not fail to carry out justice as the law required (compare 5:1–4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 29-3429-34. these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations--The law of the blood-avenger, as thus established by divine authority, was a vast improvement on the ancient practice of Goelism. By the appointment of cities of refuge, the manslayer was saved, in the meantime, from the blind and impetuous fury of vindictive relatives; but he might be tried by the local court, and, if proved guilty on sufficient evidence…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• City
• Congregation
• Refuge, Cities of
• Testify
• Amorites
• Courts, Judicial

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