Numbers 35:22
New International Version
“’But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally

New Living Translation
“But suppose someone pushes another person without having shown previous hostility, or throws something that unintentionally hits another person,

English Standard Version
“But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait

Berean Standard Bible
But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally,

King James Bible
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,

New King James Version
‘However, if he pushes him suddenly without enmity, or throws anything at him without lying in wait,

New American Standard Bible
‘But if he pushed him suddenly, without hostility, or threw any object at him without malicious intent,

NASB 1995
‘But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or threw something at him without lying in wait,

NASB 1977
‘But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or threw something at him without lying in wait,

Legacy Standard Bible
‘But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity or threw something at him without lying in wait,

Amplified Bible
‘But if he pushed the victim suddenly, not in enmity, or threw anything at him without malicious intent,

Christian Standard Bible
“But if anyone suddenly pushes a person without hostility or throws any object at him without malicious intent

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if anyone suddenly pushes a person without hostility or throws any object at him without malicious intent

American Standard Version
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him anything without lying in wait,

English Revised Version
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him any thing without lying in wait,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But suppose you accidentally kill someone who wasn't your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but didn't mean to kill him.

Good News Translation
"But suppose you accidentally kill someone you do not hate, whether by pushing him down or by throwing something at him.

International Standard Version
"But if he pushed him suddenly without hatred, or if he hurled something in his direction without waiting in ambush,

Majority Standard Bible
But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally,

NET Bible
"But if he strikes him suddenly, without enmity, or throws anything at him unintentionally,

New Heart English Bible
"'But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait,

Webster's Bible Translation
But if he shall thrust him suddenly without enmity, or shall have cast upon him any thing without laying in wait,

World English Bible
“‘But if he shoved him suddenly without hostility, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if, in an instant, without enmity, he has pushed him, or has cast any instrument at him without lying in wait,

Young's Literal Translation
'And if, in an instant, without enmity, he hath thrust him through, or hath cast at him any instrument, without lying in wait;

Smith's Literal Translation
And if suddenly, not in enmity, he thrust him, or cast upon him any instrument in not lying in wait,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if by chance medley, and without hatred,

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if by chance, and without hatred

New American Bible
However, if someone pushes another without malice aforethought, or without lying in ambush throws some object at another,

New Revised Standard Version
But if someone pushes another suddenly without enmity, or hurls any object without lying in wait,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him anything without lying in wait,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if he struck him suddenly without hatred or threw at him any implement without treachery.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him any thing without lying in wait,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if he should thrust him suddenly, not through enmity, or cast any thing upon him, not from an ambuscade,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Six Cities of Refuge
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. 22But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally, 23or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him,…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 19:4-6
Now 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: / 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. / Otherwise, 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.

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 14:5-7
“What troubles you?” the king asked her. “Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead. / And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. / Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”

Leviticus 4:2
“Tell the Israelites to do as follows with one who sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s commandments and does what is forbidden by them:

Leviticus 5:15
“If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.

Acts 3:17
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.

Acts 17:30
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

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.

1 Timothy 1:13
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.

Hebrews 9:7
But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Romans 7:15-20
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. / And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good. / In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. ...

1 John 3:15
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast on him any thing without laying of wait,

Numbers 35:11
Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

Exodus 21:13
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.

Deuteronomy 19:5
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:

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Cast Design Enmity Hate Hostility Hurled Instant Instrument Lying Pushed Shoves Someone Something Stabbed Suddenly Threw Throws Thrust Unintentionally Wait Wound
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Cast Design Enmity Hate Hostility Hurled Instant Instrument Lying Pushed Shoves Someone Something Stabbed Suddenly Threw Throws Thrust Unintentionally Wait Wound
Numbers 35
1. Forty-eight cities for the Levites, with their suburbs, and measure thereof
6. Six of them are to be cities of refuge
9. The laws of murder and manslaughter
31. No satisfaction for murder














But if anyone
This phrase introduces a conditional scenario, emphasizing the universality of the law. The Hebrew word for "anyone" (אִישׁ, 'ish) is often used to denote a man or person, highlighting that the law applies to all individuals, regardless of status. This reflects the biblical principle of equality before God's law, underscoring that justice is impartial and applies to everyone.

pushes a person suddenly
The act of "pushes" (דָּחַף, dāḥap̄) in Hebrew suggests a forceful action, yet the context here is accidental rather than premeditated. The word "suddenly" (פִּתְאֹם, pit'om) indicates an unexpected or abrupt action. This phrase sets the stage for understanding the difference between intentional harm and accidental actions, which is crucial in the biblical legal system. It reflects the importance of intent in determining guilt or innocence, a principle that resonates throughout the Scriptures.

without hostility
The Hebrew term for "hostility" (אֵיבָה, 'eybah) conveys enmity or animosity. The absence of hostility implies that the action was not driven by malice or ill will. This distinction is vital in biblical law, as it differentiates between manslaughter and murder. The concept of intent is central to the justice system outlined in the Torah, emphasizing that God judges the heart and motives, not just the outward actions.

or throws an object at him unintentionally
The act of "throws" (שָׁלַךְ, shālak) involves casting or hurling something, which could result in harm. The key term here is "unintentionally" (בְּלֹא־צְדִיָּה, b'lo-tz'diyah), meaning without premeditation or deliberate intent. This phrase further clarifies the nature of accidental harm, reinforcing the idea that the law distinguishes between deliberate and accidental actions. It highlights the biblical principle of mercy and justice, where unintentional acts are treated with understanding and provision for refuge, as seen in the cities of refuge established for such cases.

(22, 23) But if he thrust him suddenly . . . --See Deuteronomy 19:4-5, where the meaning of the law is illustrated.

Verse 22. - Without enmity.... without laying of wait. These expressions seem intended to limit mercy to cases of pure accident, such as that quoted in Deuteronomy 19:5. Neither provocation nor any other "extenuating circumstances" are taken into account, nor what we now speak of as absence of premeditation. The want of these finer distinctions, as well as the short and simple list of farm injuries given, show the rudeness of the age for which these regulations were made.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But if anyone
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

pushes a person
הֲדָפ֑וֹ (hă·ḏā·p̄ōw)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1920: To thrust, drive, push

suddenly,
בְּפֶ֥תַע (bə·p̄e·ṯa‘)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 6621: A wink, moment

without
בְּלֹא־ (bə·lō-)
Preposition-b | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

hostility,
אֵיבָ֖ה (’ê·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 342: Hostility

or
אוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

unintentionally
בְּלֹ֥א (bə·lō)
Preposition-b | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

hits him
הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ (hiš·lîḵ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

with an
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

object,
כְּלִ֖י (kə·lî)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus


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OT Law: Numbers 35:22 But if he thrust him suddenly without (Nu Num.)
Numbers 35:21
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