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.
• 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 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.’ ”

Context of Numbers 35:34

32And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest. 33This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder. 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.”

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 5:3This command applies to men and women alike. Remove them so they will not defile the camp in which I live among them.”
• Leviticus 20:24But I have promised you, ‘You will possess their land because I will give it to you as your possession—a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from all other people.
• Psalms 135:21The Lord be praised from Zion, for he lives here in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
• Isaiah 57:15The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
• Hosea 9:3You may no longer stay here in the Lord’s land. Instead, you will return to Egypt, and in Assyria you will eat food that is ceremonially unclean.
• 2 Corinthians 6:16And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
• Revelation 21:3I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
• Exodus 25:8“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.
• Exodus 29:45Then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God,
• 1 Kings 6:13I will live among the Israelites and will never abandon my people Israel.”
• Psalms 132:14“This is my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the home I desired.
• Isaiah 8:12“Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.

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