If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.
Parallel translations
- WEB but not if it is unintentional, but God allows it to happen: then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee.
- KJV And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
- ESV But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee.
- NKJV However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.
- NASB Yet if he did not lie in wait for him, but God caused him to fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.
- NLT But if it was simply an accident permitted by God, I will appoint a place of refuge where the slayer can run for safety.
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
For an unintentional killing that God allowed to happen, He would appoint a place of refuge. The law distinguished accident from murder and provided mercy.
Overview
God carefully separates accidental death from intentional murder, providing a place of asylum for the former (later the cities of refuge, Num. 35). This reflects justice tempered with mercy, weighing the heart's intent. These cities of refuge foreshadow Christ, the true refuge to whom sinners flee for safety (Heb. 6:18).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Josh 20:2–9“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses,
- 1 Sam 24:18And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
- 1 Sam 24:4So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
- Deut 19:1–13When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land He is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their cities and houses,
- 1 Sam 24:10Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
- Deut 4:41–43Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east
- Num 35:10–34“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
- 2 Sam 16:10But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”
- Mic 7:2The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net.
- Isa 10:7But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 21:13 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.