Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “’Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death. New Living Translation Also, you must never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to death. English Standard Version Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. Berean Standard Bible You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death. King James Bible Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. New King James Version Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. New American Standard Bible Moreover, you shall not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is condemned to death, but he must be put to death. NASB 1995 ‘Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. NASB 1977 ‘Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. Legacy Standard Bible Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. Amplified Bible Moreover, you shall not accept a ransom [in exchange] for the life of a murderer guilty and sentenced to death; but he shall certainly be put to death. Christian Standard Bible You are not to accept a ransom for the life of someone who is guilty of murder; he must be put to death. Holman Christian Standard Bible You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of killing someone; he must be put to death. American Standard Version Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. Contemporary English Version You cannot give someone money to escape the death penalty; you must pay with your own life! English Revised Version Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a manslayer, which is guilty of death: but he shall surely be put to death. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Never accept a cash payment in exchange for the life of a convicted murderer who has been given the death penalty. Murderers must be put to death. Good News Translation Murderers must be put to death. They cannot escape this penalty by the payment of money. International Standard Version You are to receive no ransom for the life of a killer who is guilty of murder; instead, he is to die. Majority Standard Bible You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death. NET Bible Moreover, you must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; he must surely be put to death. New Heart English Bible "'Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. Webster's Bible Translation Moreover, ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. World English Bible “‘Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death. He shall surely be put to death. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd you take no atonement for the life of a murderer who [is] condemned to die, for he is certainly put to death; Young's Literal Translation And ye take no atonement for the life of a murderer who is condemned -- to die, for he is certainly put to death; Smith's Literal Translation Ye shall not take expiation for the soul of a slayer, he who was guilty to die, for dying, he shall die. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims Bible31You shall not take money of him that is guilty of blood, but he shall die forthwith. Catholic Public Domain Version You shall not accept money from him who is guilty of blood, and he shall be put to death promptly. New American Bible You will not accept compensation in place of the life of a murderer who deserves to die, but that person must be put to death. New Revised Standard Version Moreover you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer who is subject to the death penalty; a murderer must be put to death. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleMoreover you shall not accept a bribe for the life of a slayer, who is guilty of death; but he shall be surely put to death. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you shall not receive a bribe for the person of a killer who is condemned to death, but he shall certainly be killed. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. Brenton Septuagint Translation And ye shall not accept ransoms for life from a murderer who is worthy of death, for he shall be surely put to death. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Six Cities of Refuge…30If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness. 31You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death. 32Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.… Cross References 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. 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. Leviticus 24:17 And if a man takes the life of anyone else, he must surely 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. Deuteronomy 19:21 You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot. 2 Samuel 12:13-14 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. / Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.” 1 Kings 2:28-34 When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.” ... 2 Kings 24:4 and also for the innocent blood he had shed. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was unwilling to forgive. Psalm 106:38 They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Proverbs 28:17 A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him. Isaiah 1:21 See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers! Ezekiel 7:23 Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence. Ezekiel 18:10-13 Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things, / though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife. / He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. ... 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. Matthew 26:52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Treasury of Scripture Moreover you shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. moreover Genesis 9:5,6 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man… Exodus 21:14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. Deuteronomy 19:11-13 But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: … guilty of death. Jump to Previous Accept Atonement Condemned Death Deserves Die Life Murderer Price Ransom Reward Right Satisfaction SurelyJump to Next Accept Atonement Condemned Death Deserves Die Life Murderer Price Ransom Reward Right Satisfaction SurelyNumbers 35 1. Forty-eight cities for the Levites, with their suburbs, and measure thereof6. Six of them are to be cities of refuge 9. The laws of murder and manslaughter 31. No satisfaction for murder You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer In ancient Israel, the concept of justice was deeply rooted in the law given by God. The prohibition against accepting a ransom for a murderer underscores the sanctity of life and the seriousness of taking it unlawfully. This reflects the principle of "an eye for an eye" found in Exodus 21:23-25, emphasizing that justice should be proportional and not subject to financial manipulation. The idea of a ransom, or a payment to avoid punishment, was common in other ancient Near Eastern cultures, but Israel was called to a higher standard of justice that did not allow for the wealthy to escape the consequences of their actions. who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites who received and communicated God's laws, including those concerning justice and the cities of refuge. 2. Israelites The people to whom the laws were given, living in the wilderness at the time of this instruction. 3. Cities of Refuge Designated places where individuals who committed unintentional manslaughter could seek asylum until a fair trial. 4. Murderer An individual who intentionally takes another person's life, subject to the death penalty according to the law. 5. Ransom A payment or offering that could be used in other contexts to redeem or save a life, but explicitly prohibited here for murderers. Teaching Points The Sanctity of LifeThe command underscores the value God places on human life. Murder is a grave sin because it destroys a life made in God's image. Justice and Mercy While God is merciful, His justice requires that certain sins, like murder, have serious consequences. This balance is crucial in understanding God's character. The Role of the Law The law served to maintain order and justice among the Israelites, pointing to the need for a Savior who fulfills the law perfectly. The Inviolability of Justice Accepting a ransom for a murderer would undermine justice. This principle teaches us the importance of upholding justice in our communities. The Heart of the Law While the law addresses external actions, Jesus teaches us to examine our hearts, where sin begins. We must guard against anger and hatred.(31, 32) Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer . . . --The Israelites were not allowed to make terms with the relatives of the man who had been slain, as is not unfrequently the case at the present time; nor were they permitted to allow the man who had slain any one unintentionally to return home from the city of refuge before the death of the high priest, on the payment of a sum of money by way of compensation.Verse 31. - Ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer. The passion for vengeance is both bad and good, and is therefore to be carefully purified and restrained; but when the desire for vengeance can be appeased by a money payment, it has become wholly bad, and is only a despicable form of covetousness which insults the justice it pretends to invoke. Such payments or "ransoms" are permitted by the Koran, and have been common among most semi-civilized peoples, notably amongst our old English ancestors. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew You are notוְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no to accept תִקְח֥וּ (ṯiq·ḥū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 3947: To take a ransom כֹ֙פֶר֙ (ḵō·p̄er) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3724: A cover, a village, bitumen, the henna plant, a redemption-price for the life לְנֶ֣פֶשׁ (lə·ne·p̄eš) Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion of a murderer רֹצֵ֔חַ (rō·ṣê·aḥ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7523: To dash in pieces, kill, to murder who אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that deserves רָשָׁ֖ע (rā·šā‘) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person to die; לָמ֑וּת (lā·mūṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 4191: To die, to kill he must surely be put to death. מ֖וֹת (mō·wṯ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Links Numbers 35:31 NIVNumbers 35:31 NLT Numbers 35:31 ESV Numbers 35:31 NASB Numbers 35:31 KJV Numbers 35:31 BibleApps.com Numbers 35:31 Biblia Paralela Numbers 35:31 Chinese Bible Numbers 35:31 French Bible Numbers 35:31 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 35:31 Moreover you shall take no ransom (Nu Num.) |
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