Bible Encyclopedias
Manslayer

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

man´slā - ẽr ( מרצּח , meraccēaḥ , from רצח , rācacḥ ( Numbers 35:6 , Numbers 35:12 ); ἀνδροφόνος , androphónos (1 Timothy 1:9 )): A term employed with reference to both premeditated and accidental or justifiable killing. In the latter case, an asylum was granted (Numbers 35:6 , Numbers 35:12 ) until the death of the high priest, after which the slayer was allowed to "return into the land of his possession" (Numbers 35:28 ). The cases in which the manslayer was to be held clearly immune from the punishment imposed on willful killing were: (1) death by a blow in a sudden quarrel (Numbers 35:22 ); (2) death by anything thrown at random (Numbers 35:22 , Numbers 35:23 ); (3) death by the blade of an axe flying from the handle (Deuteronomy 19:5 ). Among the cases in which one would be held responsible for the death of another, is to be counted the neglectful act of building a house without a parapet (Deuteronomy 22:8 ).

Manslaughter , as a modern legal term, is employed to distinguish unpremeditated killing from coldblooded murder, but formerly (2 Esdras 1:26) it was used in a more general sense. See MURDER .