Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 19:4
Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him:
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites in the plains of Moab, outlining the legal parameters for the cities of refuge immediately after commanding the preparation of roads in Deuteronomy 19:3.
The words — הָ/רֹצֵ֔חַ (ha./ro.Tze.ach) identifies the killer, and יָנ֥וּס (ya.Nus) specifies the mandated action to flee.
The thread — The provision for an accidental killer to seek sanctuary appears in Numbers 35:15 and Deuteronomy 4:42, establishing a consistent legal boundary for unintentional homicide.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to separate accidental death from premeditated murder, mandating that the law preserve the life of one who acted without malicious intent.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;
Cross-references
- Numbers 35:15 These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
- Deuteronomy 4:42 to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities:
- Genesis 31:2 And Jacob saw from the countenance of Laban that his attitude toward him had changed.
- Deuteronomy 19:6 Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm.
- Joshua 3:4 But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”
- 1 Chronicles 11:2 Even in times past, while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
- Isaiah 30:33 For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.