Numbers 35:17
New International Version
Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.

New Living Translation
Or if someone with a stone in his hand strikes and kills another person, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death.

English Standard Version
And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.

Berean Standard Bible
Or if anyone has in his hand a stone of deadly size, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.

King James Bible
And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

New King James Version
And if he strikes him with a stone in the hand, by which one could die, and he does die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

New American Standard Bible
And if he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.

NASB 1995
If he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he will die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

NASB 1977
‘And if he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he may die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Legacy Standard Bible
And if he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he would die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Amplified Bible
If he struck his victim down [intentionally] with a stone in hand, which may cause a person to die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall certainly be put to death.

Christian Standard Bible
If anyone has in his hand a stone capable of causing death and strikes another person and he dies, the murderer must be put to death.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If a man has in his hand a stone capable of causing death and strikes another person and he dies, the murderer must be put to death.

American Standard Version
And if he smote him with a stone in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

English Revised Version
And if he smote him with a stone in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a manslayer: the manslayer shall surely be put to death.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

International Standard Version
Furthermore, whoever uses a stone implement to kill someone is to be adjudged a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death.

Majority Standard Bible
Or if anyone has in his hand a stone of deadly size, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.

NET Bible
If he strikes him by throwing a stone large enough that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death.

New Heart English Bible
If he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if he shall smite him by throwing a stone, by which he may die, and he shall die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

World English Bible
If he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if he has struck him with a stone [in] the hand, with which he could die, and he dies, he [is] a murderer: the murderer is certainly put to death.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if with a stone of the hand which he shall die by it he smote him, he the slayer shall die; dying, the slayer shall die.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If he throw a stone, and he that is struck die: he shall be punished in the same manner.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If he will have thrown a stone, and he who has been struck lies dead, then he shall be punished similarly.

New American Bible
If someone strikes another with a death-dealing stone in the hand and death results, that person is a murderer, and the murderer must be put to death.

New Revised Standard Version
Or anyone who strikes another with a stone in hand that could cause death, and death ensues, is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if he struck him with a stone in the hand, so that he might die, and he did die, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if he struck him with a stone in the hand so that he should die, and he died, he is a murderer; he shall certainly be killed.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And if he smote him with a stone in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if he should smite him with a stone thrown from his hand, whereby a man may die, and he thus die, he is a murderer; let the murderer by all means be put to death.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Six Cities of Refuge
16If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death. 17Or if anyone has in his hand a stone of deadly size, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death. 18If anyone has in his hand a deadly object of wood, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.…

Cross References
Exodus 21:12-14
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. / If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. / But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.

Deuteronomy 19:11-13
If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities, / the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die. / You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you.

Genesis 9:6
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

Leviticus 24:17
And if a man takes the life of anyone else, he must surely be put to death.

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Romans 13:9
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Deuteronomy 5:17
You shall not murder.

1 John 3:15
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

Matthew 19:18
“Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,

Mark 10:19
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’”

Luke 18:20
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”

Exodus 20:13
You shall not murder.

1 Timothy 1:9
We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,

Acts 7:58-59
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. / While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”


Treasury of Scripture

And if he smite him with throwing a stone, with which he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

throwing a stone.

Exodus 21:18
And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:

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Blow Causing Death Die Died Dies Dieth Hand Kill Life Murderer Result Smite Smote Someone Stone Strikes Struck Surely Taker Throwing Whereby Wherewith
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Blow Causing Death Die Died Dies Dieth Hand Kill Life Murderer Result Smite Smote Someone Stone Strikes Struck Surely Taker Throwing Whereby Wherewith
Numbers 35
1. Forty-eight cities for the Levites, with their suburbs, and measure thereof
6. Six of them are to be cities of refuge
9. The laws of murder and manslaughter
31. No satisfaction for murder














Or if anyone has in his hand
This phrase emphasizes personal responsibility and intent. The Hebrew word for "hand" (יָד, yad) often symbolizes power or control. In this context, it suggests that the individual has the means and the deliberate choice to use the stone. The hand is a metaphor for action and agency, indicating that the person is not acting accidentally but with purpose.

a stone capable of causing death
The stone here is not just any stone but one that is specifically "capable of causing death." This implies premeditation or at least awareness of the potential lethality of the object. In ancient times, stones were common weapons, and their use in this context underscores the seriousness of the act. The Hebrew word for stone (אֶבֶן, even) is often associated with strength and permanence, highlighting the gravity of using such an object to harm another.

and strikes another person
The act of striking is deliberate and forceful. The Hebrew verb used here (נָכָה, nakah) means to smite or hit with intent to harm. This action is not passive or accidental; it is a conscious decision to inflict injury. The phrase underscores the aggressor's culpability and the intentional nature of the violence.

and he dies
The consequence of the action is death, which is the ultimate and irreversible outcome. This phrase highlights the severity of the crime and the finality of the victim's fate. In the biblical context, life is sacred, and taking a life is a grave offense against God's creation.

the murderer must surely be put to death
This is a clear mandate for justice, reflecting the principle of lex talionis, or the law of retribution ("an eye for an eye"). The Hebrew phrase used here (מוֹת יוּמָת, mot yumat) is emphatic, indicating that the death penalty is not just permissible but required. This reflects the seriousness with which God views the sanctity of life and the need for justice to be served. In the broader biblical narrative, this underscores the importance of upholding moral order and the consequences of sin.

(17) And if he smite . . . --Better, And if he smote . . .

With throwing a stone.--Literally, with a stone of the hand--i.e., a stone held in the hand, whether thrown or used as the "weapon of wood" of Numbers 35:18.

And he die.--Better, and he died.

Verse 17. - With throwing a stone, wherewith he may die. Literally, "with a stone of the hand, by which one may die," i.e., a stone which is suitable for striking or throwing, and apt to inflict a mortal wound.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Or if
וְאִ֡ם (wə·’im)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

anyone has in his hand
יָד֩ (yāḏ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

a stone
בְּאֶ֣בֶן (bə·’e·ḇen)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 68: A stone

of deadly size,
יָמ֨וּת (yā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

and he strikes
הִכָּ֛הוּ (hik·kā·hū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

and kills another,
וַיָּמֹ֖ת (way·yā·mōṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

he is a murderer;
רֹצֵ֣חַֽ (rō·ṣê·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7523: To dash in pieces, kill, to murder

the murderer
הָרֹצֵֽחַ׃ (hā·rō·ṣê·aḥ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7523: To dash in pieces, kill, to murder

must surely be put to death.
מ֥וֹת (mō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT Law: Numbers 35:17 If he struck him with a stone (Nu Num.)
Numbers 35:16
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