Exodus 21:13

Contemporary English Version

But if you did not intend to kill someone, and I, the Lord , let it happen anyway, you may run for safety to a place that I have set aside.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
but not if it is unintentional, but God allows it to happen: then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee.

King James Version
And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

Lexham English Bible
But if he did not lie in wait and it was an accident, I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee.

New Century Version
But if a person kills someone accidentally, God allowed that to happen, so the person must go to a place I will choose.

New English Translation
But if he does not do it with premeditation, but it happens by accident, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

Amplified Bible
"However, if he did not lie in wait [for him], but God allowed him to fall into his hand, then I will establish for you a place to which he may escape [for protection until duly tried].

New American Standard Bible
"Yet if he did not lie in wait for him, but God caused him to fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And if a man hath not layed wayte, but God hath offered him into his hande, then I wil appoynt thee a place whither he shall flee.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.

Complete Jewish Bible
If it was not premeditated but an act of God, then I will designate for you a place to which he can flee.

Darby Translation
But if he have not lain in wait, and God have delivered [him] into his hand, I will appoint thee a place to which he shall flee.

Easy-to-Read Version
But if an accident happens, and a person kills someone without planning it, then God allowed that thing to happen. I will choose some special places where people can run to for safety. So that person can run to one of those places.

English Standard Version
But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee.

George Lamsa Translation
But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee.

Good News Translation
But if it was an accident and he did not mean to kill him, he can escape to a place which I will choose for you, and there he will be safe.

Christian Standard Bible®
But if he did not intend any harm, and yet God allowed it to happen, I will appoint a place for you where he may flee.

Literal Translation
But he who does not lie in wait, and God lets fall into his hand, I will appoint a place for you where he may flee.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf he haue not layed wayte for him, but God let him fall in his hande vnawares, then wil I appoynte the a place, where he shal flye vnto.

American Standard Version
And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

Bible in Basic English
But if he had no evil purpose against him, and God gave him into his hand, I will give you a place to which he may go in flight.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
If a man lay not awayte, but God deliuer [him] into his hande, then I wyll poynt thee a place whither he shal flee.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And if a man lie not in wait, but God cause it to come to hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he may flee.

King James Version (1611)
And if a man lye not in wait, but God deliuer him into his hand, then I will appoint thee a place whither hee shall flee:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But as for him that did it not willingly, but God delivered him into his hands, I will give thee a place whither the slayer may flee.

English Revised Version
And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

Berean Standard Bible
If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
forsothe if a man settide not aspies, but God `bitook hym in to hise hondis, Y schal ordeyne a place to thee, whidur he owith to fle.

Young's Literal Translation
as to him who hath not laid wait, and God hath brought to his hand, I have even set for thee a place whither he doth flee.

Update Bible Version
And if a man lies not in wait, but God delivers [him] into his hand; then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if a man shall not lie in wait, but God shall deliver [him] into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

World English Bible
but not if it is unintentional, but God allows it to happen: then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee.

New King James Version
However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

New Living Translation
But if it was simply an accident permitted by God, I will appoint a place of refuge where the slayer can run for safety.

New Life Bible
But if he did not plan to hurt him, but God allowed it to happen, then I will give you a place where he may run to be safe.

New Revised Standard
If it was not premeditated, but came about by an act of God, then I will appoint for you a place to which the killer may flee.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But he who hath not lain in wait, but, God, hath occasioned him to come to his hand, then will I appoint for thee a place, whither he may flee.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he that did not lie in wait for him, but God delivered him into his hands: I will appoint thee a place to which he must flee.

Revised Standard Version
But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.

Contextual Overview

¹² The Lord said: Death is the punishment for murder. ¹³ But if you did not intend to kill someone, and I, the Lord , let it happen anyway, you may run for safety to a place that I have set aside. ¹⁴ If you plan in advance to murder someone, there's no escape, not even by holding on to my altar. You will be dragged off and killed. ¹⁵ Death is the punishment for attacking your father or mother. ¹⁶ Death is the punishment for kidnapping. If you sell the person you kidnapped, or if you are caught with that person, the penalty is death. ¹⁷ Death is the punishment for cursing your father or mother. ¹⁸ Suppose two of you are arguing, and you hit the other with either a rock or your fist, without causing a fatal injury. If the victim has to stay in bed, ¹⁹ and later has to use a stick when walking outside, you must pay for the loss of time and do what you can to help until the injury is completely healed. That's your only responsibility. ²⁰ Death is the punishment for beating to death any of your slaves. ²¹ However, if the slave lives a few days after the beating, you are not to be punished. After all, you have already lost the services of that slave who was your property.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

lie not: Numbers 35:11, Numbers 35:22, Deuteronomy 19:4-6, Deuteronomy 19:11, Micah 7:2

God: 1 Samuel 24:4, 1 Samuel 24:10, 1 Samuel 24:18, 2 Samuel 16:10, Isaiah 10:7

I will appoint: Numbers 35:11, Deuteronomy 4:41-43, Deuteronomy 19:1-3, Deuteronomy 19:9, Joshua 20:2-9

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 19:2 - separate three cities Judges 4:7 - deliver 2 Samuel 14:14 - he devise Daniel 3:14 - true

Cross-References

Genesis 16:10
I will give you a son, who will be called Ishmael, because I have heard your cry for help. And later I will give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them all.

Genesis 17:20
I have heard what you asked me to do for Ishmael, and so I will also bless him with many descendants. He will be the father of twelve princes, and I will make his family a great nation.

Genesis 21:12
But God said, "Abraham, don't worry about your slave woman and the boy. Just do what Sarah tells you. Isaac will inherit your family name,

Genesis 21:18
Help him up and hold his hand, because I will make him the father of a great nation."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And if a man lie not in wait,.... For the life of another to take it away; or does not do it willingly, as the Septuagint version, does not seek after it, nor design it:

but God delivers him into his hand; it being suffered and ordered by the providence of God, without whose knowledge and will nothing comes to pass, even what may seem to be a contingent thing, or matter of chance, to us; or it is so brought about in providence, that one man falls into the hands of another, and his life is taken away by him, though not purposely and maliciously; because, as Aben Ezra expresses it, for another sin which he has committed, and for which he must die in this way, though not intended by the person the more immediate cause of his death:

then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee; and there be safe both from the avenger of blood, and the civil magistrate; which place, while Israel were in the wilderness, was the camp of the Levites, according to Jarchi, or the altar, as follows; but when they were come to Canaan's land, there were cities of refuge appointed for such persons, that killed a man unawares, to flee to, and where they were safe from private vengeance, and falling a sacrifice to public justice.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

There was no place of safety for the guilty murderer, not even the altar of Yahweh. Thus all superstitious notions connected with the right of sanctuary were excluded. Adonijah and Joab 1 Kings 1:50; 1 Kings 2:28 appear to have vainly trusted that the common feeling would protect them, if they took hold of the horns of the altar on which atonement with blood was made Leviticus 4:7. But for one who killed a man “at unawares,” that is, without intending to do it, the law afterward appointed places of refuge, Numbers 35:6-34; Deuteronomy 4:41-43; Deuteronomy 19:2-10; Joshua 20:2-9. It is very probable that there was some provision answering to the cities of refuge, that may have been based upon old usage, in the camp in the Wilderness.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 21:13. I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. — From the earliest times the nearest akin had a right to revenge the murder of his relation, and as this right was universally acknowledged, no law was ever made on the subject; but as this might be abused, and a person who had killed another accidentally, having had no previous malice against him, might be put to death by the avenger of blood, as the nearest kinsman was termed, therefore God provided the cities of refuge to which the accidental manslayer might flee till the affair was inquired into, and settled by the civil magistrate.