Deuteronomy 19:5
New International Version
For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life.

New Living Translation
For example, suppose someone goes into the forest with a neighbor to cut wood. And suppose one of them swings an ax to chop down a tree, and the ax head flies off the handle, killing the other person. In such cases, the slayer may flee to one of the cities of refuge to live in safety.

English Standard Version
as when someone goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down a tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live,

Berean Standard Bible
If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.

King James Bible
As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:

New King James Version
as when a man goes to the woods with his neighbor to cut timber, and his hand swings a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies—he shall flee to one of these cities and live;

New American Standard Bible
as when a person goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live.

NASB 1995
as when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies— he may flee to one of these cities and live;

NASB 1977
as when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live;

Legacy Standard Bible
as when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live;

Amplified Bible
as [for example] when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, but the iron head slips off the wooden handle and hits his companion and he dies—the offender may escape to one of these cities and live;

Christian Standard Bible
If, for example, he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber, and his hand swings the ax to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies, that person may flee to one of these cities and live.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber, and his hand swings the ax to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies, that person may flee to one of these cities and live.

American Standard Version
as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbor, so that he dieth; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live:

Contemporary English Version
For example, suppose you and a friend go into the forest to cut wood. You are chopping down a tree with an ax, when the ax head slips off the handle, hits your friend, and kills him. You can run to one of the Safe Towns and save your life.

English Revised Version
as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Suppose two people go into the woods to cut wood. As one of them swings the ax to cut down a tree, the head flies off the handle, hits, and kills the other person. The one who accidentally killed the other person may run to one of these cities and save his life.

Good News Translation
For example, if two of you go into the forest together to cut wood and if, as one of you is chopping down a tree, the ax head comes off the handle and kills the other, you can run to one of those three cities and be safe.

International Standard Version
For instance, he may have accompanied his friend to go to a forest to cut trees. Then he swung his axe to cut some wood, but the ax head flew off the handle and hit his friend, so that he died. The killer may flee to one of these cities to live.

Majority Standard Bible
If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.

NET Bible
Suppose he goes with someone else to the forest to cut wood and when he raises the ax to cut the tree, the ax head flies loose from the handle and strikes his fellow worker so hard that he dies. The person responsible may then flee to one of these cities to save himself.

New Heart English Bible
as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to chop wood, and his hand fetches a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle, and lights on his neighbor, so that he dies; he shall flee to one of these cities and live:

Webster's Bible Translation
As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand maketh a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and falleth upon his neighbor, that he dieth: he shall flee to one of these cities, and live:

World English Bible
as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to chop wood and his hand swings the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and hits his neighbor so that he dies—he shall flee to one of these cities and live.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
even he who comes into a forest with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand has driven with an axe to cut the tree, and the iron has slipped from the wood, and has met his neighbor, and he has died—he flees to one of these cities, and has lived,

Young's Literal Translation
even he who cometh in with his neighbour into a forest to hew wood, and his hand hath driven with an axe to cut the tree, and the iron hath slipped from the wood, and hath met his neighbour, and he hath died -- he doth flee unto one of these cities, and hath lived,

Smith's Literal Translation
And who shall go with his friend into the forest to cut wood, and his hand thrust out with the axe to out down the tree, and the iron slipped from the wood and found his friend, and he died; he shall flee to one of these cities, and he lived:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But to have gone with him to the wood to hew wood, and in cutting down the tree the axe slipped out of his hand, and the iron slipping from the handle struck his friend, and killed him: he shall flee to one of the cities aforesaid, and live:

Catholic Public Domain Version
such that he had gone with him into the forest simply to cut wood, and in cutting down the tree, the axe slipped from his hand, or the iron slipped from the handle, and it struck his friend and killed him: he shall flee to one of the cities stated above, and he shall live.

New American Bible
For example, if someone goes with a neighbor to a forest to cut wood, wielding an ax to cut down a tree, and its head flies off the handle and hits the neighbor a mortal blow, such a person may take refuge in one of these cities and live.

New Revised Standard Version
Suppose someone goes into the forest with another to cut wood, and when one of them swings the ax to cut down a tree, the head slips from the handle and strikes the other person who then dies; the killer may flee to one of these cities and live.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he lifts up his hand with the axe to cut down a tree, the iron head slips from the helve and strikes his neighbor so that he dies; he shall flee to one of these cities, and live;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he who will enter the woods with his companion to cut trees and will raise his hand with an axe to cut wood and the iron will slip off from the wood and it will strike his companion and he will die, this one shall escape into one of these towns and he will live:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And whosoever shall enter with his neighbour into the thicket, to gather wood, if the hand of him that cuts wood with the axe should be violently shaken, and the axe head falling off from the handle should light on his neighbour, and he should die, he shall flee to one of these cities, and live.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Cities of Refuge
4Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him: 5If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life. 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.…

Cross References
Numbers 35:22-25
But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally, / or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him, / then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. ...

Joshua 20:3-5
so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood. / When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before its elders, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them. / Now 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.

Exodus 21:13
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.

1 Kings 2:28-34
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.” ...

2 Samuel 14:14
For we will surely die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life, but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.

Numbers 35:11-12
designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. / You 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.

Joshua 20:9
These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

1 Samuel 24:4-7
So 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 and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. / Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. / So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.” ...

2 Kings 5:18-19
Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.” / “Go in peace,” said Elisha. But after Naaman had traveled a short distance,

Acts 28:4-6
When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” / But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. / The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Hebrews 6:18
Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

Romans 7:1-6
Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? / For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. ...

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Luke 23:34
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

Acts 7:59-60
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” / Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.


Treasury of Scripture

As when a man goes into the wood with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetches a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the helve, and lights on his neighbor, that he die; he shall flee to one of those cities, and live:

head [heb] iron

2 Kings 6:5-7
But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed…

helve [heb] wood

Numbers 35:25
And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

Proverbs 27:12
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Isaiah 32:2
And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

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Deuteronomy 19
1. The cities of refuge
4. The privilege thereof for the manslayer
14. The landmark is not to be removed
15. At least two witnesses are required
16. the punishment of a false witness














For instance, a man may go into the forest
The phrase "for instance" introduces a hypothetical scenario, illustrating the application of the law. The Hebrew word for "man" here is "אִישׁ" (ish), a term often used to denote an individual in a legal or moral context. The "forest" (Hebrew: "יַעַר" - ya'ar) is a place of work and resource gathering, symbolizing the everyday activities of life where accidents can occur. This setting underscores the unpredictability of life and the need for divine laws to address unforeseen circumstances.

with his neighbor
The Hebrew word for "neighbor" is "רֵעַ" (rea), which implies a close relationship, not just a physical proximity. This highlights the communal aspect of ancient Israelite society, where individuals were interconnected and responsible for one another's well-being. The inclusion of a neighbor in this scenario emphasizes the importance of maintaining peace and justice within the community.

to cut wood
Cutting wood was a common and necessary task in ancient times, essential for building, cooking, and warmth. The act of cutting wood symbolizes the mundane yet vital activities that sustain life. It serves as a reminder that even in routine tasks, there is potential for unforeseen danger, necessitating laws that provide protection and justice.

and as he swings his axe to fell a tree
The action of swinging an axe (Hebrew: "גַּרְזֶן" - garzen) is a deliberate and controlled motion, yet it carries inherent risks. The phrase "to fell a tree" indicates a purposeful act that can have unintended consequences. This reflects the broader biblical theme of human intention versus divine sovereignty, where even well-intentioned actions can lead to unexpected outcomes.

the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him
This phrase describes an accidental death, a tragic event that occurs without malice or premeditation. The Hebrew word for "kill" is "נָכָה" (nakah), which in this context refers to an unintentional act. The scenario underscores the need for cities of refuge, as outlined in Mosaic Law, to protect those who cause accidental harm from retribution, emphasizing God's justice and mercy.

Then he may flee to one of these cities and live
The provision to "flee" (Hebrew: "נָס" - nas) to a city of refuge is a divine mandate for the preservation of life. These cities were established as sanctuaries where individuals could seek asylum and await a fair trial. This reflects God's compassion and the value placed on human life, ensuring that justice is tempered with mercy. The ability to "live" signifies not just physical survival but also the opportunity for redemption and restoration within the community.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
וַאֲשֶׁר֩ (wa·’ă·šer)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he goes
יָבֹ֨א (yā·ḇō)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

into the forest
בַיַּעַר֮ (ḇay·ya·‘ar)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3293: A copse of bushes, a forest, honey in the comb

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

his neighbor
רֵעֵ֥הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

to cut
לַחְטֹ֣ב (laḥ·ṭōḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2404: To cut or gather wood

timber
עֵצִים֒ (‘ê·ṣîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

and swings
וְנִדְּחָ֨ה (wə·nid·də·ḥāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5080: To impel, thrust, banish

his ax
בַגַּרְזֶן֙ (ḇag·gar·zen)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1631: An axe

to chop down
לִכְרֹ֣ת (liḵ·rōṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

a tree,
הָעֵ֔ץ (hā·‘êṣ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

but the blade flies off
וְנָשַׁ֤ל (wə·nā·šal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5394: To slip or drop off, draw off, clear away

the handle
הָעֵ֔ץ (hā·‘êṣ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

and strikes
וּמָצָ֥א (ū·mā·ṣā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

and kills
וָמֵ֑ת (wā·mêṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

his neighbor,
רֵעֵ֖הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

he
ה֗וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

may flee
יָנ֛וּס (yā·nūs)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

one
אַחַ֥ת (’a·ḥaṯ)
Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of these
הָאֵ֖לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

cities
הֶעָרִים־ (he·‘ā·rîm-)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

to save his life.
וָחָֽי׃ (wā·ḥāy)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2425: To live, to revive


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 19:5 As when a man goes into (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 19:4
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