Joshua 20:1–3
Cities of Refuge Are Established
20 And Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the ⌊Israelites⌋,a saying, ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through the hand of Moses. 3 Anyone who kills a person by accident or unintentionallyb may flee there; they will be for yourselves a refuge from the avenger of blood.
Joshua 20:1–3 — The New International Version (NIV)
1 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 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)
1 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 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)
1 The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: 3 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)
1 The Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. 3 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)
1 The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 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)
1 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to choose the special cities of safety, as I had Moses command you to do. 3 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)
1 And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign you the cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by Moses, 3 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)
1 And Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint for yourselves the cities of refuge, whereof I spoke unto you through Moses, 3 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)
1 The Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Now choose for yourselves the cities of refuge about which I spoke to you through Moses. 3 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)
1 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, 2 “Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 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)
1 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Say to the Israelites, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 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)
1 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua. He said, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to choose the cities to go to for safety, just as I directed you through Moses. 3 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)
1 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,
2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘Designate the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,
3 that the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall become your refuge from the avenger of blood.