Deuteronomy 21:7
And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.
Original Language Analysis
וְעָנ֖וּ
And they shall answer
H6030
וְעָנ֖וּ
And they shall answer
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 11
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
יָדֵ֗ינוּ
Our hands
H3027
יָדֵ֗ינוּ
Our hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
3 of 11
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
לֹ֤א
H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 11
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָֽׁפְכָה֙
have not shed
H8210
שָֽׁפְכָה֙
have not shed
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
5 of 11
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 11
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַדָּ֣ם
this blood
H1818
הַדָּ֣ם
this blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
7 of 11
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
הַזֶּ֔ה
H2088
וְעֵינֵ֖ינוּ
neither have our eyes
H5869
וְעֵינֵ֖ינוּ
neither have our eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
9 of 11
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Historical Context
Public declarations by community leaders carried legal and religious weight in ancient Israel. Elders represented the city corporately, and their word stood for the entire community's testimony.
False declaration would constitute perjury before God and humans, bringing judgment rather than cleansing.
Questions for Reflection
- Why is innocence defined as both not doing evil and not concealing knowledge of it?
- What does public official declaration teach about corporate accountability?
- How does invoking divine witness create accountability for truthfulness?
- What distinguishes genuine innocence from mere ritual protestation?
- Why must communities publicly declare their efforts to prevent and address evil?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. The explicit declaration our hands have not shed this blood addresses potential direct involvement. The elders declare that neither they nor their city's citizens committed the murder knowingly.
The addition neither have our eyes seen it extends the declaration to knowledge and witness. They testify that they have no information about the murder - neither perpetrated it nor witnessed it nor concealed knowledge of it.
This twofold declaration covers both commission and knowledge, protecting the community from guilt by direct action or guilty knowledge. Innocence requires not merely not doing evil but not knowing and concealing it.
The public, official nature of this declaration creates accountability. False declaration would bring guilt upon the community. This oath-like statement invokes divine witness that they speak truth.