Then they must say, ‘Our hands did not shed this person’s blood, nor did we see it happen.
Parallel translations
- WEB They shall answer and say, “Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
- KJV And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
- BSB and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.
- NKJV Then they shall answer and say, ‘Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it.
- NASB and they shall respond and say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see who did.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The elders publicly testify that they neither shed this blood nor witnessed the crime. Their oath formally clears the community of guilt.
Overview
This declaration accompanies the hand-washing rite over the heifer. By solemnly affirming their innocence, the elders distance the town from the unsolved murder so that the land is not left bloodguilty. The passage underscores how seriously Israel was to treat the value of human life made in God's image, and how even unintended or unknown sin required addressing before the LORD.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Job 21:21–23For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
- Num 5:19–28The priest shall cause her to swear, and shall tell the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you haven’t gone aside to uncleanness, being under your husband, be free from this water of bitterness that brings a curse.
- Job 21:31–34Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?
- 2 Sam 16:8Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!”
- Ps 7:3–4Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 21:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.