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Green's Literal Translation

Numbers 35:16

And if he strikes him with an instrument of iron, and he dies, he is a murderer; dying the murderer shall die.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Homicide;   Iron;   Punishment;   Refuge;   Thompson Chain Reference - Murder;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Cities of Refuge;   Homicide;   Metals;   Murder;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Murder;   Punishments;   Refuge, Cities of;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Kill, Killing;   Kinsman-Redeemer;   Motives;   Murder;   Punishment;   Easton Bible Dictionary - City;   Copper;   Murder;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Pentateuch;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Avenger;   Capital Punishment;   Cities of Refuge;   Crimes and Punishments;   Murder;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Clean and Unclean;   Kin;   Numbers, Book of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Refuge, Cities of;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Levi;   Refuge;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Law of Moses;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Iron;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Assassination;   Homicide;   Iron (1);   Murder;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Asylum;   Avenger of Blood;   Capital Punishment;   Iron;   Priestly Code;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
King James Version
And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Lexham English Bible
"‘But if he hit him with an object of iron, so that he dies, the killer must surely be put to death.
English Standard Version
"But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.
New Century Version
"‘Anyone who uses an iron weapon to kill someone is a murderer. He must be put to death.
New English Translation
"But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death.
Amplified Bible
'But if he struck his victim down [intentionally] with an iron object so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall certainly be put to death.
New American Standard Bible
'But if he struck him with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And if one smite another with an instrument of yron that hee die, hee is a murtherer, and the murtherer shall die the death.
Legacy Standard Bible
‘But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Contemporary English Version
The 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
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘However, if he hits him with an iron implement and thus causes his death, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.
Darby Translation
And if he have smitten him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall certainly be put to death.
Easy-to-Read Version
"If you use an iron weapon to kill someone, you are a murderer, and you must die.
George Lamsa Translation
But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he might die, and he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Good News Translation
"If, however, any of you use a weapon of iron or stone or wood to kill someone, you are guilty of murder and are to be put to death.
Christian Standard Bible®
“If anyone strikes a person with an iron object and death results, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He yt smyteth eny man wt an yron weapo, yt he dye, the same is a murthurer, & shal dye the death.
American Standard Version
But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Bible in Basic English
But if a man gives another man a blow with an iron instrument, causing his death, he is a taker of life and is certainly to be put to death.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And if any man smyte another with an instrument of iron that he dye, then is he a murtherer, and the murtherer shall dye for it.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
King James Version (1611)
And if he smite him with an instrument of Iron, (so that he die,) hee is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if he should smite him with an iron instrument, and the man should die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death.
English Revised Version
But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a manslayer: the manslayer shall surely be put to death.
Berean Standard Bible
If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If ony man smytith a man with yrun, and he that is smytun is deed, `the smyter schal be gilti of mansleyng, and he schal die.
Young's Literal Translation
`And if with an instrument of iron he hath smitten him, and he dieth, he [is] a murderer: the murderer is certainly put to death.
Update Bible Version
But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
Webster's Bible Translation
And if he shall smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he shall die, he [is] a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
World English Bible
But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
New King James Version
"But if he strikes him with an iron implement, so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
New Living Translation
"But if someone strikes and kills another person with a piece of iron, it is murder, and the murderer must be executed.
New Life Bible
‘But if he killed him with an iron object, then he is guilty. For sure the killer will be put to death.
New Revised Standard
But anyone who strikes another with an iron object, and death ensues, is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, then, with an instrument of iron, he smote him, and he died, a manslayer, he is, - a manslayer, shall surely die.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If any man strike with iron, and he die that was struck: he shall be guilty of murder, and he himself shall die.
Revised Standard Version
"But if he struck him down with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.
THE MESSAGE
"But if the killer has used an iron object, that's just plain murder; he's obviously a murderer and must be put to death.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Contextual Overview

9 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 10 Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 then you shall choose cities to be cities of refuge for you, so that the manslayer may flee there, he that kills a person through error. 12 And the cities shall be to you for refuge from the kinsman avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. 13 As to the cities which you shall give six shall be cities of refuge for you. 14 You shall give three of the cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three of the cities in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities shall be for a refuge to the sons of Israel, and to an alien, and to a sojourner in their midst, that any person who kills anyone unawares may flee there. 16 And if he strikes him with an instrument of iron, and he dies, he is a murderer; dying the murderer shall die. 17 And if he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which he dies, and he dies, he is a murderer; dying the murderer shall die. 18 And if he strikes him with a wooden instrument in the hand, by which he dies, and he dies, he is a murderer; dying the murderer shall die.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if he smite: Numbers 35:22-24, Deuteronomy 19:11-13

the: Numbers 35:30-33, Genesis 9:5, Genesis 9:6, Exodus 21:12-14, Leviticus 24:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:13 - General Exodus 21:18 - a stone Deuteronomy 17:8 - between blood Matthew 5:21 - and

Cross-References

Genesis 3:16
He said to the woman, I will greatly increase your sorrow and your conception; you shall bear sons in sorrow, and your desire shall be toward your husband; and he shall rule over you.
Genesis 35:19
And Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath, it is Bethlehem.
Genesis 48:7
And I, when I came from Padan, Rachel died on me in the land of Canaan in the way, with only a little way to come to Ephrath. And I buried her there in the way to Ephrath, it being Bethlehem.
Ruth 1:2
And the name of the man was Elimelech; and the name of his wife Naomi. And the name of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites from Bethlehem-judah. And they came into the fields of Moab, and remained there.
2 Kings 5:19
And he said to him, Go in peace. And he went away a little way from him.
1 Chronicles 2:19
And Azubah died; and Caleb took to himself Ephrath, and she bore to him Hur.
Psalms 132:6
Lo, we have heard of it at Ephratah; we found it in the fields of the forest;
Micah 5:2
And you, Bethlehem Ephratah, being least among the thousands of Judah, out of you He shall come forth to Me to become One ruling in Israel; and His goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.
Matthew 2:1
And when Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men arrived from the east to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:16
Then seeing that he was mocked by the wise men, Herod was greatly enraged, and having sent, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he exactly asked from the wisemen.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die,.... As with an hatchet, hammer, sword, knife, c.

he is a murderer the instrument used by him, and with which he smote, shows that he had a bad design, and intended to kill, or he would never have smitten a man with such an instrument:

the murderer shall surely be put to death; be condemned to death, and be executed, by the order of the civil magistrate, according to the law in Genesis 9:6 and not be allowed the benefit of a city of refuge.

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.


 
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