Deuteronomy 4:41
New International Version
Then Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan,

New Living Translation
Then Moses set apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River.

English Standard Version
Then Moses set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan,

Berean Standard Bible
Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east

King James Bible
Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;

New King James Version
Then Moses set apart three cities on this side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun,

New American Standard Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east,

NASB 1995
Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east,

NASB 1977
Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east toward the sunrise,

Amplified Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities [of refuge] beyond the Jordan toward the rising of the sun (eastward),

Christian Standard Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities across the Jordan to the east.

American Standard Version
Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising;

English Revised Version
Then Moses separated three cities beyond Jordan toward the sunrising;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Moses set aside three cities on the east side of the Jordan River.

Good News Translation
Then Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan River

International Standard Version
Then Moses designated three cities on the east side of the Jordan,

Majority Standard Bible
Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east

NET Bible
Then Moses selected three cities in the Transjordan, toward the east.

New Heart English Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise;

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Moses set apart three cities on the side of Jordan, towards the sun-rising;

World English Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then Moses separates three cities beyond the Jordan, toward the sun-rising,

Young's Literal Translation
Then Moses separateth three cities beyond the Jordan, towards the sun-rising,

Smith's Literal Translation
Then Moses will separate three cities in the other side of Jordan from the rising of the sun;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Moses set aside three cities beyond the Jordan at the east side,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Moses set aside three cities, across the Jordan toward the eastern region,

New American Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities in the region east of the Jordan,

New Revised Standard Version
Then Moses set apart on the east side of the Jordan three cities
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Moses set apart three cities on this side of the Jordan toward the rising sun;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Then Moshe separated three cities at the crossing of Jordan from the dawning of the sun;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Moses separated three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then Moses separated three cities beyond Jordan on the east,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Cities of Refuge
41Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east 42to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save one’s own life, he could flee to one of these cities:…

Cross References
Joshua 20:1-9
Then the LORD said to Joshua, / “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, / so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood. ...

Numbers 35:9-15
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, / designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. ...

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.

Joshua 21:13-38
So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave these cities, together with their pasturelands: Hebron, a city of refuge for the manslayer, Libnah, / Jattir, Eshtemoa, / Holon, Debir, ...

1 Chronicles 6:57-81
So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, / Hilen, Debir, / Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh, together with their pasturelands. ...

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.

Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Romans 10:13
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Psalm 46:1
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Isaiah 25:4
For You have been a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall,

Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.

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 10:29-37
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” / Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. / Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ...

Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sun rise;

Numbers 35:6,14,15
And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities…

Joshua 20:2-9
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: …

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Deuteronomy 4
1. An exhortation to obedience
41. Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44. Recapitulation














Then Moses set apart
The phrase "Then Moses set apart" indicates a deliberate and divinely guided action. The Hebrew root for "set apart" is "בָּדַל" (badal), which means to separate or distinguish. This action by Moses is not merely administrative but is deeply spiritual, reflecting God's justice and mercy. In the broader biblical context, setting apart is often associated with holiness and divine purpose, as seen in the consecration of priests and the Sabbath. Moses, as a leader, is executing God's command, demonstrating obedience and the importance of following divine instructions.

three cities
The "three cities" refer to the cities of refuge, which were established as part of the Mosaic Law. These cities provided asylum for individuals who had committed unintentional manslaughter, allowing them to escape the avenger of blood until a fair trial could be conducted. The number three signifies completeness and divine order in biblical numerology. Historically, these cities were strategically located to be accessible, emphasizing God's provision for justice and mercy. This reflects the balance between justice and grace, a theme that runs throughout Scripture.

across the Jordan
The phrase "across the Jordan" situates the action geographically and symbolically. The Jordan River is a significant boundary in the Bible, representing transition and new beginnings. For the Israelites, crossing the Jordan marked the transition from the wilderness into the Promised Land. By setting the cities across the Jordan, Moses is preparing for the Israelites' future settlement and ensuring that God's laws are established even before they fully possess the land. This preemptive action underscores the importance of planning and obedience to God's commands.

to the east
"To the east" provides further geographical context, indicating the location of these cities on the eastern side of the Jordan River. In biblical symbolism, the east often represents beginnings and origins, as the sun rises in the east. This directionality can also signify anticipation and preparation for what is to come. Historically, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh settled in this region, and the establishment of cities of refuge here ensured that God's justice system was inclusive and comprehensive, covering all the tribes of Israel. This reflects God's omnipresence and the universality of His laws.

THE APPOINTMENT OF THREE CITIES OF REFUGE.

(41) Then Moses severed.--The word "then" appears to be a note of time. It would seem that the appointment of the three cities of refuge on the eastern side of Jordan actually followed this discourse.

On this side Jordan.--Heb., b' 'eber hay-yarden. The expression is here defined by the words that follow, "toward the sun-rising," and it need not, therefore, be taken to fix the writer's point of view. By itself, the expression would naturally mean, on the other side of Jordan.

(43) Bezer is as yet unidentified.

Ramoth in Gilead, though famous in the history of Israel as the scene of Ahab's death and of the anointing of Jehu (1 Kings 21 and 2 Kings 9), is also as yet unknown.

Golan has given a name to the district of Gaulonitis. But it is as yet also unknown. We may hope that when the survey of Eastern Palestine is concluded, these ancient sites will be recovered.

Verses 41-43. - APPOINTMENT OF THREE CITIES OF REFUGE BEYOND JORDAN. A short historical notice is here inserted, probably because it was during the interval between the first and second addresses of Moses that he carried into effect the Divine command to appoint cities of refuge for the manslayer (Numbers 35:9, etc.; cf. Exodus 21:13). This notice, therefore, is here in its proper place in the order of the narrative. That Moses should, just at this stage, have made this appointment was fitting and proper, seeing he had been urging on the people obedience to the Divine statutes and commandments, and had represented their conquest of the territory of Sihon and Og as an earnest of their ultimate possession of the whole land of the Amorites. By appointing these cities, Moses gave an example of obedience to God's injunction, and, at the same time, not only asserted on the part of Israel a right of proprietorship in this trans-Jordanic territory, but assumed as certain that, on the ether side of Jordan also, the same right of proprietorship should be possessed and exercised by Israel in the fulfilling of the whole law concerning cities of refuge (cf. Deuteronomy 19:1, etc.). That this section belongs properly to Numbers 35, 36, and has been interpolated here by some later hand, is a pure assumption, for which there is no ground. Verse 41. - On this side Jordan; beyond Jordan, more expressly defined as toward the sun rising, viz. on the east of that river.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then
אָ֣ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore

Moses
מֹשֶׁה֙ (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

set aside
יַבְדִּ֤יל (yaḇ·dîl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 914: To be divided, separate

three
שָׁלֹ֣שׁ (šā·lōš)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

cities
עָרִ֔ים (‘ā·rîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

across
בְּעֵ֖בֶר (bə·‘ê·ḇer)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5676: A region across, on the opposite side

the Jordan
הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן (hay·yar·dên)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine

to the east
מִזְרְחָ֖ה (miz·rə·ḥāh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4217: Place of sunrise, the east


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 4:41 Then Moses set apart three cities beyond (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 4:40
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