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Numbers 35:11

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the manslayer which killeth any person unwittingly may flee thither.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer that killeth any person unwittingly may flee thither.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Then ye shall appoint for you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, who killeth any person at unawares.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— then ye shall appoint for yourselves cities: cities of refuge shall they be for you; that a manslayer may flee thither, who without intent smiteth a person mortally.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— then shall ye find for you, convenient cities, cities of refuge, shall they be unto you,—and the manslayer, who hath slain a person, by mistake, shall flee thither.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— and have prepared to yourselves cities—cities of refuge they are to you—then fled thither hath a man-slayer, smiting a person unawares,
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— Determine what cities shall be for the refuge of fugitives, who have shed blood against their will.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Ye shall appoint you cities, to bee cities of refuge for you, that the slayer, which slayeth any person vnwares, may flee thither.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Then ye shall appoint you cities, to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither which killeth any person at vnawares.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— Then you shall select for yourselves cities to he cities of refuge for you; that the person who kills someone unawares may flee there.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— And ye shall appoint to yourselves cities: they shall be to you cities of refuge for the slayer to flee to, every one who has killed another unintentionally.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Then ye shall appoint 7136
{7136} Prime
קָרָה
qarah
{kaw-raw'}
A primitive root; to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively to bring about; specifically to impose timbers (for roof or floor).
z8689
<8689> Grammar
Stem - Hiphil (See H8818)
Mood - Perfect (See H8816)
Count - 2675
you cities 5892
{5892} Prime
עִיר
`iyr
{eer}
From H5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post).
to be x1961
(1961) Complement
הָיָה
hayah
{haw-yaw'}
A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary).
cities 5892
{5892} Prime
עִיר
`iyr
{eer}
From H5782 a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post).
of refuge 4733
{4733} Prime
מִקְלָט
miqlat
{mik-lawt'}
From H7038 in the sense of taking in; an asylum (as a receptacle).
for you; that the slayer 7523
{7523} Prime
רָצַח
ratsach
{raw-tsakh'}
A primitive root; properly to dash in pieces, that is, kill (a human being), especially to murder.
z8802
<8802> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Participle Active (See H8814)
Count - 5386
may flee 5127
{5127} Prime
נוּס
nuwc
{noos}
A primitive root; to flit, that is, vanish away (subside, escape; causatively chase, impel, deliver).
z8804
<8804> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Perfect (See H8816)
Count - 12562
thither, x8033
(8033) Complement
שָׁם
sham
{shawm}
A primitive particle (rather from the relative H0834); there (transfered to time) then; often thither, or thence.
which killeth 5221
{5221} Prime
נָכָה
nakah
{naw-kaw'}
A primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively).
z8688
<8688> Grammar
Stem - Hiphil (See H8818)
Mood - Participle (See H8813)
Count - 857
any person 5315
{5315} Prime
נֶפֶשׁ
nephesh
{neh'-fesh}
From H5314; properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental).
at unawares. 7684
{7684} Prime
שְׁגָגָה
sh@gagah
{sheg-aw-gaw'}
From H7683; a mistake or inadvertent transgression.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Numbers 35:11

_ _ that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares — The practice of Goelism, that is, of the nearest relation of an individual who was killed being bound to demand satisfaction from the author of his death, existed from a very remote antiquity (Genesis 4:14; Genesis 27:45). It seems to have been an established usage in the age of Moses; and although in a rude and imperfect state of society, it is a natural and intelligible principle of criminal jurisprudence, it is liable to many great abuses; the chief of the evils inseparable from it is that the kinsman, who is bound in duty and honor to execute justice, will often be precipitate — little disposed, in the heat of passion or under the impulse of revenge, to examine into the circumstances of the case, to discriminate between the premeditated purpose of the assassin and the misfortune of the unintentional homicide. Moreover, it had a tendency, not only to foster a vindictive spirit, but in case of the Goel being unsuccessful in finding his victim, to transmit animosities and feuds against his descendants from one generation to another. This is exemplified among the Arabs in the present day. Should an Arab of one tribe happen to kill one of another tribe, there is “blood” between the tribes, and the stain can only be wiped out by the death of some individual of the tribe with which the offense originated. Sometimes the penalty is commuted by the payment of a stipulated number of sheep or camels. But such an equivalent, though offered, is as often refused, and blood has to be repaid only by blood. This practice of Goelism obtained among the Hebrews to such an extent that it was not perhaps expedient to abolish it; and Moses, while sanctioning its continuance, was directed, by divine authority, to make some special regulations, which tended both to prevent the unhappy consequences of sudden and personal vengeance, and, at the same time, to afford an accused person time and means of proving his innocence. This was the humane and equitable end contemplated in the institution of cities of refuge. There were to be six of these legalized asyla, three on the east of Jordan, both because the territory there was equal in length, though not in breadth, to Canaan, and because it might be more convenient for some to take refuge across the border. They were appointed for the benefit, not of the native Israelites only, but of all resident strangers.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

See commentary on Numbers 35:9-34.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Numbers 35:11

Unawares — Not wilfully, designedly or maliciously, but through mistake or indiscretion.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

[[no comment]]

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
ye shall appoint:
As the goel, or kinsman, had a right to avenge the death of his relation, by slaying the murderer wherever he found him, the appointment of these cities was a humane institution for the protection of the involuntary homicide; for they were designed only for the protection of such
Numbers 35:6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites [there shall be] six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.
Joshua 20:2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

unawares:
Heb. by error,
Numbers 35:22-23 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait, ... Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing [him] not, and cast [it] upon him, that he die, and [was] not his enemy, neither sought his harm:
Exodus 21:13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver [him] into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
Deuteronomy 4:42 That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:
Deuteronomy 19:4-5 And this [is] the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; ... As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Ex 21:13. Nu 35:6, 22. Dt 4:42; 19:4. Jsh 20:2.

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