BibleWord.ai› Bible› Numbers› Chapter 35› Verse 30

Numbers 35:30

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 35:30 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Numbers 35:30 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 35

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
27and the avenger of blood find him without the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood slay the manslayer; he shall not be guilty of blood,
28because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return into the land of his possession.
29And these things shall be for a statute [and] ordinance unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
30Whoso 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.
31Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.
32And ye shall take no ransom for him that is fled to his city of refuge, that he may come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.
33So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
← Numbers 35:29Numbers 35:31 →
← Full Chapter 35 Numbers Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Whoso killeth any person, etc.] Willingly, and through enmity and malice: the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of two witnesses; which is repeated partly to show, that this law concerning the cities of refuge was not designed to screen a murderer, who was guilty through malice prepense; and partly for the sake of what is added to it, that two witnesses are required in such a case, where a man’s life is at stake, to prove the fact against him; which shows how careful the Lord is, and men should be, of the lives of his creatures, that no man suffer wrongfully; which is repeated again and again, that it might be observed, (see <051706>Deuteronomy 17:6 19:15) but one witness shall not…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“By the mouth of witnesses - i. e. two witnesses, at the least (compare the marginal references). The provisions of this and the following verses protect the enactments of this chapter from abuse. The cities of refuge were not intended to exempt a criminal from deserved punishment. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“35:30 All murderers were condemned to death, but their conviction required a high standard of evidence—the testimony of two or more witnesses (cp. Deut 17:6; 19:15).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Deu 17:6, Deu 17:7, Deu 19:15; Mat 18:16; Joh 8:17, Joh 8:18; Co2 13:1; Ti1 5:19; Heb 10:28; Rev 11:3 Numbers 35:31”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Numbers 35 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification