Deuteronomy 4:42

Verse

to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities:

American Standard Version (1901)

that the manslayer might flee thither, that slayeth his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in time past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:

Bible in Basic English

To which anyone causing the death of his neighbour in error and not through hate, might go in flight; so that in one of these towns he might be kept from death:

Douay-Rheims 1899

That any one might flee to them who should kill his neighbour unwillingly, and was not his enemy a day or two before, and that he might escape to some one of these cities:

Free Bible Version

where a person could run to after accidentally killing someone without deliberate hatred. To save their life they could run to one of these towns:

Geneva Bible 1599

That the slayer should flee thither, which had killed his neighbour at vnwares, and hated him not in time past, might flee, I say, vnto one of those cities, and liue:

King James (Authorized) Version

That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:

One Unity Resource Bible

that the man slayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unawares, and didn’t hate him in time past; and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:

Translation for Translators

If someone accidentally killed another person, a person who had not been his enemy previously, he could escape to one of those cities. He would be safe/protected in one of those cities because the people there would protect him.

Unlocked Literal Bible

so that anyone might flee to one of them if he killed another person accidentally, without being his enemy previously. By fleeing to one of these cities, he might survive.

Noah Webster Bible

That the slayer might flee thither, who should kill his neighbor unawares, and when he had not hated him in times past; and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:

World English Bible

that the man slayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally and didn’t hate him in time past, and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:

Young's Literal Translation

for the fleeing thither of the man-slayer, who slayeth his neighbour unknowingly, and he is not hating him heretofore, and he hath fled unto one of these cities, and he hath lived:

Context

Cities of Refuge

⁴¹Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east ⁴²to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities:⁴³Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.

Sermons

Running Away in Times of Crisis

David Wilkerson

Summary

Deuteronomy 4:42 discusses the concept of cities of refuge, which were designated as safe havens for individuals who unintentionally caused the death of another person. These cities provided protection from avengers seeking retribution, allowing the accused to have a fair trial rather than facing immediate punishment. This verse reflects God's justice tempered with mercy, ensuring that even in times of tragedy, there was a provision for grace and a chance for redemption. It underscores the importance of upholding fairness and compassion in the legal system, pointing to the value of second chances and the opportunity for reconciliation in the midst of human error.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

That the slayer might flee thither,.... For refuge; the slayer of a man, but not any slayer, but which should kill his neighbour unawares; by accident to him, without any design and intention to kill him; ignorantly, as the Septuagint version; and so Onkelos: and hated him not in times past; it having never appeared that there had been a quarrel between them, and that the slayer had shown any enmity to the man slain any time before the fact, or bore a grudge against him, or spite unto him: and that, fleeing unto one of these cities, he might live; in peace and safety unto his own death, or unto the death of the high priest, when he was released from his confinement to the city of his refuge, and might return to his tribe, house, family, and possessions.