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Young's Literal Translation

Numbers 35:16

`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.

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.
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 speaketh unto Moses, saying, 10 `Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, When ye are passing over the Jordan to the land of Canaan, 11 and have prepared to yourselves cities -- cities of refuge they are to you -- then fled thither hath a man-slayer, smiting a person unawares, 12 and the cities have been to you for a refuge from the redeemer, and the man-slayer doth not die till his standing before the company for judgment. 13 `As to the cities which ye give -- six [are] cities of refuge to you; 14 the three of the cities ye give beyond the Jordan, and the three of the cities ye give in the land of Canaan; cities of refuge they are. 15 To sons of Israel, and to a sojourner, and to a settler in their midst, are these six cities for a refuge, for the fleeing thither of any one smiting a person unawares. 16 `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. 17 `And if with a stone [in] the hand, wherewith he dieth, he hath smitten him, and he dieth, he [is] a murderer: the murderer is certainly put to death. 18 `Or with a wooden instrument [in] the hand, wherewith he dieth, he hath smitten him, and he dieth, he [is] a murderer: the murderer is certainly put to death.

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
Unto the woman He said, `Multiplying I multiply thy sorrow and thy conception, in sorrow dost thou bear children, and toward thy husband [is] thy desire, and he doth rule over thee.'
Genesis 35:19
and Rachel dieth, and is buried in the way to Ephratha, which [is] Bethlehem,
Genesis 48:7
`And I -- in my coming in from Padan-[Aram] Rachel hath died by me in the land of Canaan, in the way, while yet a kibrath of land to enter Ephrata, and I bury her there in the way of Ephrata, which [is] Bethlehem.'
Ruth 1:2
And the name of the man [is] Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites from Beth-Lehem-Judah; and they come into the fields of Moab, and are there.
2 Kings 5:19
And he saith to him, `Go in peace.' And he goeth from him a kibrath of land,
1 Chronicles 2:19
And Azubah dieth, and Caleb taketh to him Ephrath, and she beareth to him Hur.
Psalms 132:6
`Lo, we have heard it in Ephratah, We have found it in the fields of the forest.
Micah 5:2
And thou, Beth-Lehem Ephratah, Little to be among the chiefs of Judah! From thee to Me he cometh forth -- to be ruler in Israel, And his comings forth [are] of old, From the days of antiquity.
Matthew 2:1
And Jesus having been born in Beth-Lehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, lo, mages from the east came to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, having seen that he was deceived by the mages, was very wroth, and having sent forth, he slew all the male children in Beth-Lehem, and in all its borders, from two years and under, according to the time that he inquired exactly from the mages.

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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