New King James Version
Numbers 35:34
34Therefore 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.’ ”
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.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’ ”
- 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 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
32And you shall take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest. 33So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. 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.’ ”
Read all of Numbers 35Numbers 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 5:3You shall put out both male and female; you shall put them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camps in the midst of which I dwell.”
- Leviticus 20:24But I have said to you, “You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples.
- Psalms 135:21Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!
- Isaiah 57:15For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
- Hosea 9:3They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land, But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And shall eat unclean things in Assyria.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
- Revelation 21:3And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
- Exodus 25:8And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
- Exodus 29:45I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God.
- 1 Kings 6:13And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”
- Psalms 132:14“This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
- Isaiah 8:12“Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
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
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries