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Numbers 35:15

in Numbers 35

These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that every one that killeth any person unwittingly may flee thither.

KJV

These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

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This verse in Numbers 35

Commentary

4 notes on this verse

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

So in Christ Jesus no difference in made between Greek and Jew; even the sons of the stranger that by faith flee to Christ shall be safe in him. Even the suburbs or borders of the city were a sufficient security to the offender,

This site's exposition

Select three cities across the Jordan

on Numbers 35:14-15

Moses severs the eastern three himself at Deuteronomy 4:41-43, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan, before he dies. Joshua 20:7-8 names the western three, Kedesh, Shechem and Hebron. Verse 15 opens all six to the stranger and the sojourner on the same terms as the Israelite.

This site's exposition

for the foreigner or stranger among them

Joshua 20:9 repeats the provision when the cities are set apart, "for all the Israelites and foreigners among them". Protection turns on the deed alone, whatever the slayer's birth. Matthew Henry adds that even the pasturelands of the city were security enough for the offender.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

These six cities shall be a refuge both for the children of Israel and for the stranger,....

The words behind it

16 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • לִבְנֵ֣יfor [the] people of

    livneiH1121 →4930 times

  • יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לIsrael

    yisraelH3478 →2507 times

  • וְלַגֵּ֤רand for the sojourner

    velagerH1616 →92 times

  • וְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙and for the resident alien

    velatoshavH8453 →

  • בְּתוֹכָ֔םin midst of them

    betokhamH8432 →418 times

  • תִּהְיֶ֛ינָהthey will become

    tihyeinahH1961 →3559 times

  • שֵׁשׁ־[the] six

    shesh-H8337 →216 times

  • הֶעָרִ֥יםthe cities

    hearimH5892 →1090 times

  • הָאֵ֖לֶּה<the> these

    haelehH428 →746 times

  • לְמִקְלָ֑ט<into> a refuge

    lemiklatH4733 →20 times

  • לָנ֣וּסto flee

    lanusH5127 →159 times

  • שָׁ֔מָּהthere towards

    shamahH8033 →834 times

  • כָּל־any

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • מַכֵּה־[one who] strikes down

    makeh-H5221 →499 times

  • נֶ֖פֶשׁ<of> a person

    nefeshH5315 →754 times

  • בִּשְׁגָגָֽה׃by inadvertence

    bishgagahH7684 →19 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

7 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Samuel 14:14For surely we will die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.9 worksJoshua 20:9These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.7 worksNumbers 15:16The same law and the same ordinance will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing with you.”3 worksGalatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.2 worksRomans 3:29Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,2 worksExodus 12:49The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.”2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
Leviticus 24:22You are to have the same standard of law for the foreign resident and the native; for I am the LORD your God.’”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Galatians 3:28

    There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

    it leads to

    • Colossians 3:11

      Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 1 Corinthians 12:12–13

      The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.

    • Romans 3:29–30

      Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

    • Galatians 5:6

      For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

    • Romans 10:12–15

      For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,

  • Through

    Exodus 12:49

    The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.”

    it leads to

    • Numbers 15:15–16

      The assembly is to have the same statute both for you and for the foreign resident; it is a permanent statute for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Numbers 15:29

      You shall have the same law for the one who acts in error, whether he is a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    Leviticus 24:22

    You are to have the same standard of law for the foreign resident and the native; for I am the LORD your God.’”

    it leads to

    • Numbers 9:14

      If a foreigner dwelling among you wants to observe the Passover to the LORD, he is to do so according to the Passover statute and its ordinances. You are to apply the same statute…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

Where this verse is studied

About Numbers

The Brazen Serpent, Anthony van Dyck, 1618 to 1620. Public domain.
The Brazen Serpent, Anthony van Dyck, 1618 to 1620. Public domain.
Numbers: the study guide →Read Numbers 35 →

This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); MannaFest exposition, Berean Standard Bible, Numbers 35 read with Joshua 20 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Numbers 35 →