^21:12²⁷ “Whoever strikes someone²⁸ so that he dies²⁹ must surely be put to death.³⁰^21:13But if he does not do it with premeditation,³¹ but it happens by accident,³² then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. ^21:14But if a man willfully attacks his neighbor to kill him cunningly,³³ you will take him even from my altar that he may die.

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Footnotes

27 The underlying point of this section remains vital today: The people of God must treat all human life as sacred.
28 The construction uses a Hiphil participle in construct with the noun for “man” (or person as is understood in a law for the nation): “the one striking [of] a man.” This is a casus pendens (independent nominative absolute); it indicates the condition or action that involves further consequence ( §116.w).
29 The Hebrew word וָמֵת (vamet) is a Qal perfect with vav consecutive; it means “and he dies” and not “and killed him” (which require another stem). Gesenius notes that this form after a participle is the equivalent of a sentence representing a contingent action ( §112.n). The word shows the result of the action in the opening participle. It is therefore a case of murder or manslaughter.
30 See A. Phillips, “Another Look at Murder,” 28 (1977): 105–26.
31 Heb “if he does not lie in wait” ( similar).
32 Heb “and God brought into his hand.” The death is unintended, its circumstances outside human control.
33 The word עָרְמָה (’ormah) is problematic. It could mean with prior intent, which would be connected with the word in Prov 8:5, 12 which means “understanding” (or “prudence”—fully aware of the way things are). It could be connected also to an Arabic word for “enemy” which would indicate this was done with malice or evil intentions (U. Cassuto, Exodus, ). The use here seems parallel to the one in Josh 9:4, an instance involving intentionality and clever deception.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death. However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate. But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Whoever strikes a person so that he dies must be put to death. But if he did not intend any harm, and yet God allowed it to happen, I will appoint a place for you where he may flee. If a person schemes and willfully acts against his neighbor to murder him, you must take him from my altar to be put to death.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Anyone who assaults and kills another person must be put to death. But if it was simply an accident permitted by God, I will appoint a place of refuge where the slayer can run for safety. However, if someone deliberately kills another person, then the slayer must be dragged even from my altar and be put to death.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“ ‘Whoever strikes someone and he dies will surely be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait and it was an accident, I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. But if a man schemes against his neighbor to kill him by treachery, you will take him from my altar to die.

KJV 1900King James Version

He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

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