So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it.
- BSB Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
- NKJV So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.
- NASB So you shall not defile the land in which you live; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
- NLT This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder.
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
Shed blood pollutes the land, and only the blood of the murderer can atone for it. Unpunished bloodguilt defiles the whole nation.
Overview
Murder defiles the land itself, and no atonement is possible except through the just execution of the one who shed innocent blood. This reveals the deep moral pollution that sin and violence bring upon a community and the necessity of righteous judgment. Ultimately the principle that 'without the shedding of blood there is no remission' finds its resolution at the cross, where Christ's blood cleanses what we could never atone for (Hebrews 9:22).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Luke 11:50–51That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
- Ps 106:38And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
- Ezek 22:24–27Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
- Matt 23:31–35Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
- Hos 4:2–3By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
- Gen 9:6Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
- Lev 18:25And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
- Isa 26:21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
- 2 Kgs 23:26Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.
- 2 Kgs 24:4And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.
- Mic 4:11Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
- Deut 21:23His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
- Ps 106:28They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
- Deut 21:1–8If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:
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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 35:33 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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