Deuteronomy 19:6 - Christian Standard Bible Anglicised Otherwise, the avenger of blood in the heat of his anger might pursue the one who committed manslaughter, overtake him because the distance is great, and strike him dead. Yet he did not deserve to die, since he did not previously hate his neighbour. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer while his [mind and] heart are hot with anger and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him even though the slayer was not worthy of death, since he had not been at enmity with him previously. American Standard Version (1901) lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. Common English Bible Otherwise, the blood avenger will chase after the killer out of rage and—especially if the distance to one of these cities is too far—might catch and kill him, even though a death sentence was not in order because the killer didn’t have prior malice toward the other. Catholic Public Domain Version Otherwise, perhaps the near relative of him whose blood was shed, impelled by his grief, might pursue and apprehend him, unless the way is too long, and he might strike down the life of him who is not guilty unto death, since he had demonstrated that he had no prior hatred against him who was slain. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Lest perhaps the next kinsman of him whose blood was shed, pushed on by his grief should pursue, and apprehend him, if the way be too long: and take away the life of him who is not guilty of death, because he is proved to have had no hatred before against him that was slain. |
Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, “Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will eliminate the heir! ” They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on earth.’
You will have the cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the one who kills someone will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
If, for example, he goes into the forest with his neighbour to cut timber, and his hand swings the axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes his neighbour so that he dies, that person may flee to one of these cities and live.
This is why I am commanding you to set apart three cities for yourselves.
‘If anyone is found guilty of an offence deserving the death penalty and is executed, and you hang his body on a tree,
And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not hand the one who committed manslaughter over to him, for he killed his neighbour accidentally and did not hate him beforehand.