Numbers 35:28
in Numbers 35because the manslayer must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only after the death of the high priest may he return to the land he owns.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return into the land of his possession.
KJV
Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.
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This verse in Numbers 35
Commentary
5 notes on this verseWhat does it mean that a homicide returns for absolution after the death of the high priest, except that the human race, which brought death upon itself by sinning, receives absolution for its guilt after the death of the true priest, namely, our Redeemer?
This site's exposition
come without the border of the city
on Numbers 35:26-28
Protection has a boundary and the manslayer keeps inside it or loses it, and John Gill reports the Jewish writers counting the measured suburbs as part of the refuge. Verse 28 states the term a second time within four verses, which is where the weight of the passage sits. What the death of the high priest gives back is named as well, the land of his possession, so the release restores property and not only liberty.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
What does it mean that the manslayer, absolved after the death of the high priest, returns to his own land, except that the human race, which by sinning brought death upon itself, after the death of the true priest, namely our Redeemer, is loosed from …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
How can we expect to be saved if we neglect the salvation, which is indeed a great salvation! Here is a great deal of good gospel couched under the type and figure of the cities of refuge; and to them the apostle seems to allude when he speaks of our fleeing for refuge to the hope set before is ( Heb. vi.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest,....
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֣י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| בְעִ֤יר | veir | in [the] city of | H5892 → | 1090 times |
| מִקְלָטוֹ֙ | miklato | refuge his | H4733 → | 20 times |
| יֵשֵׁ֔ב | yeshev | he will remain | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| עַד־ | ʾad- | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| מ֖וֹת | mot | [the] death of | H4194 → | 156 times |
| הַכֹּהֵ֣ן | hakohen | the priest | H3548 → | 750 times |
| הַגָּדֹ֑ל | hagadol | <the> great | H1419 → | 526 times |
| וְאַחֲרֵ֥י | veacharei | and after | H310 → | 715 times |
| מוֹת֙ | mot | [the] death of | H4194 → | 156 times |
| הַכֹּהֵ֣ן | hakohen | the priest | H3548 → | 750 times |
| הַגָּדֹ֔ל | hagadol | <the> great | H1419 → | 526 times |
| יָשׁוּב֙ | yashuv | he will return | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| הָרֹצֵ֔חַ | harotzeach | the killer | H7523 → | 47 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אֶ֖רֶץ | ʾeretz | [the] land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃ | ʾachuzato | possession his | H272 → | 66 times |
כִּ֣יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
בְעִ֤ירin [the] city of
veirH5892 →1090 times
מִקְלָטוֹ֙refuge his
miklatoH4733 →20 times
יֵשֵׁ֔בhe will remain
yeshevH3427 →1079 times
עַד־until
ʾad-H5704 →1261 times
מ֖וֹת[the] death of
motH4194 →156 times
הַכֹּהֵ֣ןthe priest
hakohenH3548 →750 times
הַגָּדֹ֑ל<the> great
hagadolH1419 →526 times
וְאַחֲרֵ֥יand after
veachareiH310 →715 times
מוֹת֙[the] death of
motH4194 →156 times
הַכֹּהֵ֣ןthe priest
hakohenH3548 →750 times
הַגָּדֹ֔ל<the> great
hagadolH1419 →526 times
יָשׁוּב֙he will return
yashuvH7725 →1056 times
הָרֹצֵ֔חַthe killer
harotzeachH7523 →47 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
אֶ֖רֶץ[the] land of
ʾeretzH776 →2504 times
אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃possession his
ʾachuzatoH272 →66 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 3:14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.
it leads to
- Hebrews 3:6
But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.
- Hebrews 6:11
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
- Hebrews 12:10
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- 1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.
- Hebrews 3:6
Through
Hebrews 10:39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
it leads to
- 1 John 5:5
Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
- 1 Peter 1:5
who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
- 1 John 5:5
Through
Acts 11:23When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Numbers
This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Pacian of Barcelona, Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 6 and Paterius, EXPOSITION OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT, NUMBERS 24.