Numbers 35:24

Contemporary English Version

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances;

King James Version
Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:

Lexham English Bible
then the community will judge between the striker and between the blood avenger according to these ordinances.

English Standard Version
then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules.

New Century Version
If that happens, the community must judge between the relative of the dead person and the killer, according to these rules.

New English Translation
then the community must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these decisions.

Amplified Bible
then the congregation shall judge between the offender and the blood avenger according to these ordinances.

New American Standard Bible
then the congregation shall judge between the one who fatally struck the victim and the blood avenger in accordance with these ordinances.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the Congregation shall iudge betweene the slayer and the auenger of blood according to these lawes.

Legacy Standard Bible
then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the blood avenger according to these legal judgments.

Complete Jewish Bible
Then the community is to judge between the one who struck him and the next-of-kin avenger in accordance with these rules;

Darby Translation
then the assembly shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these judgments;

Easy-to-Read Version
If that happens, the community must decide what to do. The court must decide if a member of the dead person's family can kill you.

George Lamsa Translation
Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the avenger of the blood according to these judgments;

Good News Translation
In such cases the community shall judge in your favor and not in favor of the dead person's relative who is seeking revenge.

Christian Standard Bible®
the assembly is to judge between the person who kills someone and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.

Literal Translation
then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood, by these judgments.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
the shal the cogregacion iudge betwene him yt hath comytted ye slaughter, and the auenger of bloude, in soch cases.

American Standard Version
then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances;

Bible in Basic English
Then let the meeting of the people be judge between the man responsible for the death and him who has the right of punishment for blood, acting by these rules:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then the congregation shal iudge betweene the slayer and the reuenger of blood, according to these lawes.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances;

King James Version (1611)
Then the Congregation shall iudge betweene the slayer, and the reuenger of blood, according to these iudgements.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
then the assembly shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood, according to these judgments.

English Revised Version
then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these judgments:

Berean Standard Bible
then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and this is preued in heryng `of the puple, and the questioun of blood is discussid bitwixe the smytere and the kynesman,

Young's Literal Translation
then have the company judged between the smiter and the redeemer of blood, by these judgments.

Update Bible Version
then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances;

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments:

World English Bible
then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances;

New King James Version
then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments.

New Living Translation
If this should happen, the community must follow these regulations in making a judgment between the slayer and the avenger, the victim's nearest relative:

New Life Bible
then the people will decide by these Laws between the killer and the one who wants to punish him.

New Revised Standard
then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these ordinances;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
then shall the assembly judge, between him that smote and the blood-redeemer, - according to these regulations;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And this be proved in the hearing of the people, and the cause be debated between him that struck, and the next of kin:

Revised Standard Version
then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these ordinances;

New American Standard Bible (1995)
then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the blood avenger according to these ordinances.

Contextual Overview

⁹ The Lord then told Moses ¹⁰ to tell the people of Israel: After you have crossed the Jordan River and are settled in Canaan, ¹¹ choose Safe Towns, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can run for protection. ¹² If the victim's relatives think it was murder, they might try to take revenge. Anyone accused of murder can run to one of these Safe Towns for protection and not be killed before a trial is held. ¹³ There are to be six of these Safe Towns, ¹⁴ three on each side of the Jordan River. ¹⁵ They will be places of protection for anyone who lives in Israel and accidentally kills someone. ¹⁶The Lord said: Suppose you hit someone with a piece of iron or a large stone or a dangerous wooden tool. If that person dies, then you are a murderer and must be put to death ¹⁹ by one of the victim's relatives. He will take revenge for his relative's death as soon as he finds you. ²⁰Or suppose you get angry and kill someone by pushing or hitting or by throwing something. You are a murderer and must be put to death by one of the victim's relatives.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Numbers 35:12, Joshua 20:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:1 - the judgments Numbers 35:19 - General Deuteronomy 19:11 - But if any

Cross-References

Genesis 35:16
Jacob and his family had left Bethel and were still a long way from Ephrath, when the time came for Rachel's baby to be born.

Genesis 35:18
Rachel was at the point of death, and right before dying, she said, "I'll name him Benoni." But Jacob called him Benjamin.

Genesis 35:19
Rachel was buried beside the road to Ephrath, which is also called Bethlehem.

Genesis 35:22
During their time there, Jacob's oldest son Reuben slept with Bilhah, who was one of Jacob's other wives. And Jacob found out about it.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then the congregation,.... That is, the court of judicature, assembled together to hear and try this cause:

shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood; shall hear what both have to say, and pass sentence:

according to these judgments; these judicial laws and rules of judgment before delivered, exemplified in various cases.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The sense is: Inasmuch as to take another man’s life by any means whatsoever is murder, and exposes the murderer to the penalty of retaliation; so, if the deed is done in hostility, it is in truth actual murder, and the murderer shall be slain; but if it be not done in hostility, then the congregation shall interpose to stop the avenger’s hand.

Numbers 35:19

When he meeteth him - Provided, of course, it were without a city of refuge.

Numbers 35:24

The case of the innocent slayer is here contemplated. In a doubtful case there would necessarily have to be a judicial decision as to the guilt or innocence of the person who claimed the right of asylum.

Numbers 35:25

The homicide was safe only within the walls of his city of refuge. He became a virtual exile from his home. The provisions here made serve to mark the gravity of the act of manslaughter, even when not premeditated; and the inconveniences attending on them fell, as is right and fair, upon him who committed the deed.

Unto the death of the high priest - The atoning death of the Saviour cast its shadow before on the statute-book of the Law and on the annals of Jewish history. The high priest, as the head and representative of the whole chosen family of sacerdotal mediators, as exclusively entrusted with some of the chief priestly functions, as alone privileged to make yearly atonement within the holy of holies, and to gain, from the mysterious Urim and Thummim, special revelations of the will of God, was, preeminently, a type of Christ. And thus the death of each successive high priest presignified that death of Christ by which the captives were to be freed, and the remembrance of transgressions made to cease.