Deuteronomy 21:1

Deuteronomy 21:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If one be found slain in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:
• New International Version (NIV)If someone is found slain, lying in a field in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who the killer was,
• English Standard Version (ESV)"If in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess someone is found slain, lying in the open country, and it is not known who killed him,
• New King James Version (NKJV)“If anyone is found slain, lying in the field in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed him,

Context of Deuteronomy 21:1

If one be found slain in the land which Yhwh thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him: 2Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain: 3And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

Deuteronomy 21:1 word by word

כִּי־יִמָּצֵ֣א חָלָ֗ל בָּאֲדָמָה֙ אֲשֶׁר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ נֹתֵ֤ן לְךָ֙ לְרִשְׁתָּ֔הּ נֹפֵ֖ל בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה לֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖ע מִ֥י הִכָּֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear

• be foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• slainחָלָלchâlâl · slain: killedH2491
• in the landאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
• which Yhwhיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• thy Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• givethנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• thee to possessיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
• it, lyingנָפַלnâphal · to fall: killH5307
• in the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
• it be not knownיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• who hath slainנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 21:1

• Psalms 5:6Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies: Yhwh will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
• Psalms 9:12When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
• Proverbs 28:17A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
• Isaiah 26:21For, behold, Yhwh cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
• Acts 28:4And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21:1

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The expiation of uncertain murder. (1-9) Respecting a captive taken to wife. (10-14) The first-born not to be disinherited for private affection. (15-17) A stubborn son to be stoned. (18-21) Malefactors not to be left hanging all night. (22-23) Verses 1-9 If a murderer could not be found out, great solemnity is provided for putting away the guilt from the land, as an expression of dread and detesting of that sin. The providence of God has often…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1In contrast to the word translated murder in the Ten Commandments (see study note on 5:17), the Hebrew verb here translated as slain (literally pierced through) shows clear evidence that the death was not from natural causes.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-91-6. If one be found slain ... lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him--The ceremonies here ordained to be observed on the discovery of a slaughtered corpse show the ideas of sanctity which the Mosaic law sought to associate with human blood, the horror which murder inspired, as well as the fears that were felt lest God should avenge it on the country at large, and the pollution which the land was supposed to contract from the effusion…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 21:1

• Church
• Heifer
• Homicide
• Inquest

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Ablution
• Controversy
• Crucifixion
• Divers
• Murder
• Rebellious
• Wrought
• Atonement, Day of

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21

• 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