The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.
Parallel translations
- WEB The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death.
- KJV The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.
- NKJV The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
- NASB The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he himself shall put him to death when he meets him.
- NLT The victim’s nearest relative is responsible for putting the murderer to death. When they meet, the avenger must put the murderer to death.
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 avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death upon meeting him. The near kinsman carries out the just sentence against a convicted murderer.
Overview
The avenger of blood, a kinsman responsible for justice, executed the lawful penalty after guilt was established, not in unchecked vengeance. This role functioned within the system of trial and refuge to ensure justice without lawlessness. The seriousness of bloodguilt here points to the ultimate justice of God, satisfied for sinners through the blood of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Josh 20:5Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not surrender the manslayer into his hand, because that man killed his neighbor accidentally without prior malice.
- Josh 20:3so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
- Num 35:21or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.
- Deut 19:12the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.
- Deut 19:6Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm.
- Num 35:27and the avenger of blood finds him outside of his city of refuge and kills him, then the avenger will not be guilty of bloodshed
- Num 35:12You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
- Num 35:24then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 35:19 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
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