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Deuteronomy 21:6

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 21:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;
Deuteronomy 21:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3and it shall be, that the city which is nearest unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
4and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer`s neck there in the valley.
5And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them Jehovah thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah; and according to their word shall every controversy and every stroke be.
6And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;
7and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
8Forgive, O Jehovah, thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and suffer not innocent blood [to remain] in the midst of thy people Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them.
9So shalt thou put away the innocent blood from the midst of thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah.
← Deuteronomy 21:5Deuteronomy 21:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And all the elders of that city that are next unto the slain man, etc.] The whole court of judicature belonging to it, all the magistracy of it; even though there were an hundred of them, Maimonides f270 says: shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: in token of their innocence, and this they did not only for themselves, but for the whole city, being the representatives of it; (see <192606>Psalm 26:6 <402724> Matthew 27:24). Some think that this is a confirmation of the sense embraced by some, that it was a strong stream to which the heifer was brought; and there might be a stream of water here, and a valley also; though it would be no great difficulty to get…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:6 wash their hands: This ancient practice asserted innocence (cp. Matt 27:24); by it the community would declare that it was not responsible for a crime committed in its vicinity.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“wash their hands: Washing the hands was anciently a symbolical action, denoting that the person was innocent of the crime in question. Job 9:30; Psa 19:12, Psa 26:6, Psa 51:2, Psa 51:7, Psa 51:14, Psa 73:13; Jer 2:22; Mat 27:24, Mat 27:25; Heb 9:10 Deuteronomy 21:7”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification