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Joshua 20:1–3

Cities of Refuge Are Established

20 And Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, “Speak to the Israelites,a saying, ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through the hand of Moses. Anyone who kills a person by accident or unintentionallyb may flee there; they will be for yourselves a refuge from the avenger of blood.

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Joshua 20:1–3 — The New International Version (NIV)

Then the Lord said to Joshua: “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:1–3 — English Standard Version (ESV)

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:1–3 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:1–3 — New Living Translation (NLT)

The Lord said to Joshua, “Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed.

Joshua 20:1–3 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:1–3 — New Century Version (NCV)

Then the Lord said to Joshua: “Tell the Israelites to choose the special cities of safety, as I had Moses command you to do. If a person kills someone accidentally and without meaning to kill him, that person may go to a city of safety to hide. There the killer will be safe from the relative who has the duty of punishing a murderer.

Joshua 20:1–3 — American Standard Version (ASV)

And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign you the cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by Moses, that the manslayer that killeth any person unwittingly and unawares may flee thither: and they shall be unto you for a refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:1–3 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

And Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint for yourselves the cities of refuge, whereof I spoke unto you through Moses, that the slayer who unwittingly without intent smiteth any one mortally may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:1–3 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

The Lord said to Joshua, “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Now choose for yourselves the cities of refuge about which I spoke to you through Moses. Choose them so that anyone who unintentionally kills someone may run to them. They will be a place of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death. 

Joshua 20:1–3 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, “Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:1–3 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, “Say to the Israelites, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person without intent or by mistake may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:1–3 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

Then the Lord spoke to Joshua. He said, “Tell the people of Israel to choose the cities to go to for safety, just as I directed you through Moses. Anyone who kills a person by accident can run there for safety. So can anyone who kills a person without meaning to. The one who is charged with murder will be kept safe from the nearest male relative of the person who was killed.

Joshua 20:1–3 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,

that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood.


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