So you shall put away the innocent blood from among you, when you shall do that which is right in Yahweh’s eyes.
Parallel translations
- KJV So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.
- BSB So you shall purge from among you the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.
- ESV So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.
- NKJV So you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord.
- NASB So you shall remove the guilt for innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
- NLT By following these instructions, you will do what is right in the Lord’s sight and will cleanse the guilt of murder from your community.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
By following God's prescribed procedure, Israel purges the guilt of innocent blood from among them. Doing right in God's eyes removes defilement.
Overview
This concluding verse summarizes the purpose of the whole rite: to put away bloodguilt by obedient action that is right in Yahweh's eyes. It teaches that justice and atonement are not optional but essential to keeping the covenant community holy before God. The pattern of removing evil through prescribed obedience foreshadows the perfect righteousness and once-for-all cleansing accomplished in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Deut 19:12–13then the elders of his city shall send and bring him there, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
- Deut 13:18when you listen to Yahweh your God’s voice, to keep all his commandments which I command you today, to do that which is right in Yahweh your God’s eyes.
- 2 Kgs 10:30–31Yahweh said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to Ahab’s house according to all that was in my heart, your descendants shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”
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 21:9 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.