Bible Strands

Numbers 35:14

Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelite community as they prepare to occupy the land, following the preceding regulations concerning accidental homicide.

The words — The Hebrew verb תִּתְּנוּ (ti.tenû) means "you will give" or "you shall set apart," paired with שָׁלֹשׁ (shelosh, "three") and עָרִים ('arim, "cities") to command the specific allocation of these locations.

The thread — This distribution pattern appears in Deuteronomy 4:41, where Moses sets aside three cities east of the Jordan, and is fulfilled in Joshua 20:7 with the naming of Kedesh, Shechem, and Kiriath.

Why it lands — The text requires the community to actively designate and maintain specific locations for justice, ensuring that accidental killers receive protection while the legal process proceeds.

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

אֵ֣ת׀'et<obj.>שְׁלֹ֣שׁshe.Losh<the> threeהֶעָרִ֗יםhe./'a.Rim<the>/ citiesתִּתְּנוּ֙ti.te.Nuyou will giveמֵעֵ֣בֶרme./'E.verfrom/ [the] other sideלַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןla/i.yar.Denof the/ Jordanוְאֵת֙ve./'Etand/ <obj.>שְׁלֹ֣שׁshe.Losh<the> threeהֶֽעָרִ֔יםhe./'a.Rim<the>/ citiesתִּתְּנ֖וּti.te.Nuyou will giveבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe./'E.retzin/ [the] land ofכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anCanaanעָרֵ֥י'a.Reicities ofמִקְלָ֖טmik.Latrefugeתִּהְיֶֽינָה׃tih.Yei.nahthey will be

King James Version

Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

Cross-references

Places named

Jordan