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Numbers 35:31

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 35:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.
Numbers 35:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 35

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
34And thou shalt not defile the land which ye inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell: for I, Jehovah, dwell in the midst of the children of Israel.
← Numbers 35:30Numbers 35:32 →
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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
“Moreover, ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, etc.] Though he would give all his wealth and substance, all his estates and possessions, and whatever he is worth in the world; for all that a man has he will give for his life; but these are not to be taken, nor anything, and everything his friends may offer for him; all is to be rejected, the life of such a man is not to be saved on any consideration: which is guilty of death; as he is who kills a man willingly and purposely; but one may be guilty of killing another, and yet not be deserving of death, when it is done ignorantly and accidentally with respect to him, for which reason this clause is added: but he shall be…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“No satisfaction - Rather, ransom (see Exodus 21:30). The permission to demand pecuniary compensation for murders (expressly sanctioned by the Koran) undoubtedly mitigates, in practice, the system of private retaliation; but it does so by sacrificing the principle named in Numbers 35:12, Numbers 35:33. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“35:31-32 The payment of a ransom (monetary compensation) to free a convicted murderer from execution was prohibited, since the death penalty was required (cp. 2 Sam 21:2-9). Similarly, the slayer in an involuntary manslaughter could not pay a ransom to get around his confinement in a city of refuge.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Moreover: Gen 9:5, Gen 9:6; Exo 21:14; Deu 19:11-13; Sa2 12:13; Kg1 2:28-34; Psa 51:14 guilty of death: Heb. faulty to die Numbers 35:32”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification