Numbers 35:30
New International Version
“’Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

New Living Translation
“All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

English Standard Version
“If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Berean Standard Bible
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.

King James Bible
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

New King James Version
Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty.

New American Standard Bible
If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

NASB 1995
‘If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

NASB 1977
‘If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘If anyone strikes down a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the mouth of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Amplified Bible
‘If anyone kills a person [intentionally], the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of [two or more] witnesses; but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of [only] one witness.

Christian Standard Bible
“If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death based on the word of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of one witness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death based on the word of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of one witness.

American Standard Version
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.

Contemporary English Version
Death is the penalty for murder. But no one accused of murder can be put to death unless there are at least two witnesses to the crime.

English Revised Version
Whoso killeth any person, the manslayer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Whoever kills another person will be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of more than one witness. No one can be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

Good News Translation
"Those accused of murder may be found guilty and put to death only on the evidence of two or more witnesses; the evidence of one witness is not sufficient to support an accusation of murder.

International Standard Version
"Every murderer of a human being is to be executed only according to testimony given by multiple witnesses. A single witness is not to result in a death sentence.

Majority Standard Bible
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.

NET Bible
"Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be put to death by the testimony of witnesses; but one witness cannot testify against any person to cause him to be put to death.

New Heart English Bible
"'Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

World English Bible
“‘Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain based on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify alone against any person so that he dies.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Whoever strikes a person, by the mouth of witnesses [one] slays the murderer; and one witness does not testify against a person to cause [him] to die.

Young's Literal Translation
whoso smiteth a person, by the mouth of witnesses doth one slay the murderer; and one witness doth not testify against a person -- to die.

Smith's Literal Translation
Every one striking a soul by the mouth of witnesses, he shall slay the slayer: and one witness shall not testify against a soul to die.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The murderer shall be punished by witnesses: none shall be condemned upon the evidence of one man.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The punishment of a murderer shall be based upon testimony; but no one shall be condemned upon the testimony of only one person.

New American Bible
Whenever someone kills another, the evidence of witnesses is required to kill the murderer. A single witness does not suffice for putting a person to death.

New Revised Standard Version
If anyone kills another, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses; but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of a single witness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whosoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but just one witness shall not testify against any person that he may be put to death.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Everyone who will kill a person, the murderer will be killed through the mouth of witnesses, and one witness shall not testify against a soul that he would be put to death.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whoever kills a man, thou shalt slay the murderer on the testimony of witnesses; and one witness shall not testify against a soul that he should die.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Six Cities of Refuge
29This will be a statutory ordinance for you for the generations to come, wherever you live. 30If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness. 31You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 17:6
On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but he shall not be executed on the testimony of a lone witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Matthew 18:16
But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

Hebrews 10:28
Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

John 8:17
Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

1 Timothy 5:19
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Acts 7:58
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Acts 6:13
where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

1 Kings 21:13
And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

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.

1 Samuel 14:45
But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

2 Samuel 1:16
For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

2 Kings 10:6
Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city.

Leviticus 24:14
“Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole assembly stone him.

Exodus 21:12
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

Deuteronomy 17:6,7
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death…

Deuteronomy 19:15
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Matthew 18:16
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

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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














Anyone who kills a person
This phrase sets the context for the legal and moral framework of ancient Israel regarding the sanctity of life. The Hebrew word for "kills" is "נָכָה" (nakah), which implies a deliberate act of striking or smiting. This highlights the seriousness with which the act of taking a life is regarded in the biblical text. The sanctity of life is a foundational principle in the Judeo-Christian ethic, reflecting the belief that humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

is to be put to death
The phrase underscores the gravity of murder in the biblical legal system. The Hebrew term "מוּת" (muth) is used here, indicating a divine mandate for capital punishment in cases of murder. This reflects the principle of justice and retribution, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. The death penalty for murder serves as a deterrent and a means of purging evil from the community (Deuteronomy 19:19).

as a murderer
The term "murderer" in Hebrew is "רֹצֵחַ" (rotzeach), which specifically refers to one who unlawfully takes a life with intent. This distinction is crucial, as it differentiates between accidental killing (manslaughter) and premeditated murder. The biblical law provides cities of refuge for those who commit manslaughter, emphasizing the importance of intent and justice (Numbers 35:11-15).

only on the testimony of witnesses
This phrase highlights the importance of due process and the requirement of multiple witnesses in capital cases. The Hebrew word for "witnesses" is "עֵדִים" (edim), which implies a legal testimony that is credible and corroborated. This requirement is rooted in the principle of establishing truth and preventing false accusations, as seen in Deuteronomy 19:15, which states that a matter must be established by two or three witnesses.

But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness
This clause reinforces the necessity of multiple witnesses to ensure justice and prevent wrongful execution. The biblical legal system places a high value on the integrity of the judicial process, recognizing human fallibility and the potential for false testimony. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus emphasizes the need for multiple witnesses in matters of church discipline (Matthew 18:16).

(30) By the mouth of witnesses.--The number of witnesses is not here specified. In Deuteronomy 17:6 it is ordained that the crime of idolatry should be punished with death "at the mouth of two witnesses, or of three witnesses;" and in Deuteronomy 19:15 it is ordained in general terms that "one witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established."

Verse 30. - By the mouth of witnesses, i.e., of two at least (cf. Deuteronomy 17:6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

kills
מַ֨כֵּה־ (mak·kêh-)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5221: To strike

a person,
נֶ֔פֶשׁ (ne·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

the murderer
יִרְצַ֖ח (yir·ṣaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7523: To dash in pieces, kill, to murder

is to be put to death
הָרֹצֵ֑חַ (hā·rō·ṣê·aḥ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7523: To dash in pieces, kill, to murder

on the testimony
לְפִ֣י (lə·p̄î)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

of [multiple] witnesses.
עֵדִ֔ים (‘ê·ḏîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

But no
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

one
בְנֶ֖פֶשׁ (ḇə·ne·p̄eš)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

is to be put to death
לָמֽוּת׃ (lā·mūṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

based on the testimony
יַעֲנֶ֥ה (ya·‘ă·neh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

of a lone
אֶחָ֔ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

witness.
וְעֵ֣ד (wə·‘êḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince


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OT Law: Numbers 35:30 Whoever kills any person the murderer shall (Nu Num.)
Numbers 35:29
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