Deuteronomy 21:6

Verse

Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,

American Standard Version (1901)

And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

Bible in Basic English

And all the responsible men of that town which is nearest to the dead man, washing their hands over the cow whose neck was broken in the valley,

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the ancients of that city shall come to the person slain, and shall wash their hands over the heifer that was killed in the valley,

Free Bible Version

Then all the elders of the town nearest the body are to wash their hands in the stream over the dead cow, saying,

Geneva Bible 1599

And all the Elders of that citie that came neere to the slayne man, shall wash their hands ouer the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

King James (Authorized) Version

And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

One Unity Resource Bible

All the elders of that city, who are nearest to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. (Maftir ·Conclusion·)

Translation for Translators

The elders from the closest town must wash their hands over the young cow whose neck was broken,

Unlocked Literal Bible

All the elders of the city that is the nearest to the killed man must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

Noah Webster Bible

And all the elders of that city that are next to the slain man , shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

World English Bible

All the elders of that city which is nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.

Young's Literal Translation

and all the elders of that city, who are near unto the slain one, do wash their hands over the heifer which is beheaded in the valley,

Context

Atonement for an Unsolved Murder

⁵And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault.⁶Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,⁷and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.

Summary

In this verse, the elders of the city near the slain man are required to perform a ritual to atone for the shedding of innocent blood when the murderer is unknown. This act demonstrates the importance of acknowledging and addressing sin, even when the perpetrator is unidentified. The ritual underscores the value of human life and the need for justice and reconciliation in the community. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of violence and the responsibility to seek forgiveness and restoration in the sight of God.

Commentary

John Gill
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

And all the elders of that city that are next unto the slain man,.... The whole court of judicature belonging to it, all the magistracy of it; even though there were an hundred of them, Maimonides (x) says: shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: in token of their innocence, and this they did not only for themselves, but for the whole city, being the representatives of it; see Psa 26:6. Some think that this is a confirmation of the sense embraced by some, that it was a strong stream to which the heifer was brought; and there might be a stream of water here, and a valley also; though it would be no great difficulty to get from the city, which was near, a sufficient quantity of water to wash the hands of the elders with. This may denote the purification of sin by the blood of Christ, when it is confessed over him; and shows that priests and elders, ministers of the word, as well as others, stand in need of it; and that even those concerned in the death of Christ shared in the benefits of it. (x) Hilchot Rotzeach, c. 9. sect. 3.

Deuteronomy 21:6

Atonement for an Unsolved Murder

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,

American Standard Version (1901)

And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

Bible in Basic English

And all the responsible men of that town which is nearest to the dead man, washing their hands over the cow whose neck was broken in the valley,

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the ancients of that city shall come to the person slain, and shall wash their hands over the heifer that was killed in the valley,

Free Bible Version

Then all the elders of the town nearest the body are to wash their hands in the stream over the dead cow, saying,

Geneva Bible 1599

And all the Elders of that citie that came neere to the slayne man, shall wash their hands ouer the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

King James (Authorized) Version

And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

One Unity Resource Bible

All the elders of that city, who are nearest to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. (Maftir ·Conclusion·)

Translation for Translators

The elders from the closest town must wash their hands over the young cow whose neck was broken,

Unlocked Literal Bible

All the elders of the city that is the nearest to the killed man must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

Noah Webster Bible

And all the elders of that city that are next to the slain man , shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

World English Bible

All the elders of that city which is nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.

Young's Literal Translation

and all the elders of that city, who are near unto the slain one, do wash their hands over the heifer which is beheaded in the valley,

Deuteronomy 21:6

Verse

Context

Atonement for an Unsolved Murder

Summary

Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Deuteronomy 21:6

Atonement for an Unsolved Murder

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes