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THE MESSAGE

Numbers 35:16

"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.

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.
Literal Translation
And if he strikes him with an instrument of iron, and he dies, he is a murderer; dying the murderer shall die.
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.
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 God spoke to Moses: "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them, When you cross the River Jordan into the country of Canaan, designate your asylum-cities, towns to which a person who accidentally kills someone can flee for asylum. They will be places of refuge from the avenger so that the alleged murderer won't be killed until he can appear before the community in court. Provide six asylum-cities. Designate three of the towns to the east side of the Jordan, the other three in Canaan proper—asylum-cities for the People of Israel, for the foreigner, and for any occasional visitors or guests—six asylum-cities to run to for anyone who accidentally kills another. 16 "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. 17 "Or if he has a rock in his hand big enough to kill and the man dies, that's murder; he's a murderer and must be put to death. 18 "Or if he's carrying a wooden club heavy enough to kill and the man dies, that's murder; he's a murderer and must be put to death. 19 "In such cases the avenger has a right to kill the murderer when he meets him—he can kill him on the spot. 20"And if out of sheer hatred a man pushes another or from ambush throws something at him and he dies, or angrily hits him with his fist and kills him, that's murder—he must be put to death. The avenger has a right to kill him when he gets him. 22"If, however, he impulsively pushes someone and there is no history of hard feelings, or he impetuously picks up something and throws it, or he accidentally drops a stone tool—a maul or hammer, say—and it hits and kills someone he didn't even know was there, and there's no suspicion that there was bad blood between them, the community is to judge between the killer and the avenger following these guidelines. It's the task of the community to save the killer from the hand of the avenger—the community is to return him to his asylum-city to which he fled. He must stay there until the death of the High Priest who was anointed with the holy oil. But if the murderer leaves the asylum-city to which he has fled, and the avenger finds him outside the borders of his asylum-city, the avenger has a right to kill the murderer. And he's not considered guilty of murder. 28 "So it's important that he stay in his asylum-city until the death of the High Priest. After the death of the High Priest he is free to return to his own place. 29 "These are the procedures for making judgments from now on, wherever you live. 30 "Anyone who kills another may be executed only on the testimony of eyewitnesses. But no one can be executed on the testimony of only one witness.

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 told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you."
Genesis 35:19
Rachel died and was buried on the road to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem. Jacob set up a pillar to mark her grave. It is still there today, "Rachel's Grave Stone."
2 Kings 5:19
Elisha said, "Everything will be all right. Go in peace." But he hadn't gone far when Gehazi, servant to Elisha the Holy Man, said to himself, "My master has let this Aramean Naaman slip through his fingers without so much as a thank-you. By the living God , I'm going after him to get something or other from him!" And Gehazi took off after Naaman. Naaman saw him running after him and jumped down from his chariot to greet him, "Is something wrong?"
Psalms 132:6
Remember how we got the news in Ephrathah, learned all about it at Jaar Meadows? We shouted, "Let's go to the shrine dedication! Let's worship at God's own footstool!"
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem, David's country, the runt of the litter— From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel. He'll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished. Meanwhile, Israel will be in foster homes until the birth pangs are over and the child is born, And the scattered brothers come back home to the family of Israel. He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God 's strength, centered in the majesty of God -Revealed. And the people will have a good and safe home, for the whole world will hold him in respect— Peacemaker of the world!
Matthew 2:1
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod's kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."
Matthew 2:16
Herod, when he realized that the scholars had tricked him, flew into a rage. He commanded the murder of every little boy two years old and under who lived in Bethlehem and its surrounding hills. (He determined that age from information he'd gotten from the scholars.) That's when Jeremiah's sermon was fulfilled: A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and much lament. Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace, Her children gone, dead and buried.

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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