Bible/Deuteronomy/19

Deuteronomy 19:6

19:5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: head: Heb. iron helve: Heb. wood lighteth: Heb. findeth
Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. slay: Heb. smite him in life in: Heb. from yesterday the third day

KJV

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Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the man slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him mortally; even though he was not worthy of death, because he didn’t hate him in time past.

Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

19:7 Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

What does Deuteronomy 19:6 mean?

Deuteronomy 19:6 is a verse in the book of Deuteronomy, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include גָּאַל (gâʼal), דָּם (dâm), רָדַף (râdaph). It connects to 17 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Lest
the
avengerגָּאַלgâʼal/gaw-al'/H1350to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)
of
the
bloodדָּםdâm/dawm/H1818blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood)
pursueרָדַףrâdaph/raw-daf'/H7291to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by)
the
slayer,אַחַרʼachar/akh-ar'/H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
whileכִּיkîy/kee/H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
his
heartלֵבָבlêbâb/lay-bawb'/H3824the heart (as the most interior organ);
is
hot,יָחַםyâcham/yaw-kham'/H3179probably to be hot; figuratively, to conceive
and
overtakeנָשַׂגnâsag/naw-sag'/H5381to reach (literally or figuratively)
him,
because
the
wayדֶּרֶךְderek/deh'-rek/H1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
is
long,רָבָהrâbâh/raw-baw'/H7235to increase (in whatever respect)
and
slayנָכָהnâkâh/naw-kaw'/H5221to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
him;נֶפֶשׁnephesh/neh'-fesh/H5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
whereas
he
was
not
worthyמִשְׁפָּטmishpâṭ/mish-pawt'/H4941properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style
of
death,מָוֶתmâveth/maw'-veth/H4194death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
inasmuch
asכִּיkîy/kee/H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
he
hatedשָׂנֵאsânêʼ/saw-nay'/H8130to hate (personally)
him
not
in
timeתְּמוֹלtᵉmôwl/tem-ole'/H8543properly, ago, i.e. a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before yesterday
past.שִׁלְשׁוֹםshilshôwm/shil-shome'/H8032trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday
slay:
Heb.
smite
him
in
life
in:
Heb.
from
yesterday
the
third
day

Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:6

HENRY_FULL · Deuteronomy 19:6
2" Moses at this chapter comes to the particular statues which he had to give in charge to Israel, and he begins with those which relate to the worship of God, and particularly those which explain the second commandment, about which God is in a special manner jealous. I. They must utterly destroy all relics and remains of idolatry, ver. 1-3 . II. They must keep close to the tabernacle, ver. 4, 5 . The former precept was intended to prevent all false worship, the latter to preserve the worship God had instituted. By this latter law, 1. They are commanded to bring all their offerings to the altar of God, and all their holy things to the place which he should choose, ver. 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 18, 26-28 . 2. They are forbidden, in general, to do as they now did in the wilderness ( ver. 8-11 ), and as the Canaanites had done ( ver. 29-32 ), and, in particular, to eat the hallowed things at their own houses ( ver. 13 , 17 , 18 ), or to forsake the instituted ministry, ver. 19 . 3. They are permitted to eat flesh as common food at their own houses, provided they do not eat the blood, ver. 15, 16 , and again, ver. 20-26 .

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 23:24

Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

Exodus 34:12

Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:

Numbers 22:41

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.

Numbers 33:51

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;

Numbers 33:52

Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

Deuteronomy 7:5

But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. their images: Heb. their statues, or, pillars

Deuteronomy 7:25

The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 7:26

Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Judges 2:2

And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

2 Kings 16:4

And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

2 Kings 17:10

And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: images: Heb. statues

2 Kings 17:11

And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:

2 Kings 23:13

And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. the mount: that is, the mount of Olives

Jeremiah 3:6

The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

Ezekiel 20:28

For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

Ezekiel 20:29

Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. I said: or, I told them what the high place was, or, Bamah

Hosea 4:13

They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

Topics

Avenger of BloodHomicide

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Deuteronomy 19:6.

Deuteronomy 28:45

Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

Deuteronomy 32:30

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

Exodus 14:9

But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

Exodus 15:9

The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. destroy: or, repossess

Genesis 44:4

And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

Joshua 2:5

And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

Joshua 20:5

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

Leviticus 25:49

Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.

Frequently asked questions

What does Deuteronomy 19:6 say?

Deuteronomy 19:6 (King James Version) reads: "Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. slay: Heb. smite him in life in: Heb. from yesterday the third day"

Is Deuteronomy 19:6 in the Old or New Testament?

Deuteronomy 19:6 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Deuteronomy.

Reflect

As you read Deuteronomy 19:6, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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19:5Read all of Deuteronomy 1919:7