Deuteronomy 21:8
Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.
Original Language Analysis
עַמְּךָ֣
unto thy people
H5971
עַמְּךָ֣
unto thy people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
2 of 16
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
3 of 16
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 16
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
פָּדִ֙יתָ֙
whom thou hast redeemed
H6299
פָּדִ֙יתָ֙
whom thou hast redeemed
Strong's:
H6299
Word #:
5 of 16
to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְאַל
H408
וְאַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
7 of 16
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּתֵּן֙
and lay
H5414
תִּתֵּן֙
and lay
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
8 of 16
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
הַדָּֽם׃
And the blood
H1818
הַדָּֽם׃
And the blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
9 of 16
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
בְּקֶ֖רֶב
charge
H7130
בְּקֶ֖רֶב
charge
Strong's:
H7130
Word #:
11 of 16
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
עַמְּךָ֣
unto thy people
H5971
עַמְּךָ֣
unto thy people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
12 of 16
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
13 of 16
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Historical Context
Blood guilt was serious matter in ancient Israel. Murder defiled the land (Numbers 35:33) and required cleansing either through executing the murderer or through this ritual when the murderer remained unknown.
This prayer parallels the Day of Atonement cleansing, where God forgave corporate sin and purified the land from accumulated defilement.
Questions for Reflection
- Why do even innocent communities need divine mercy when evil occurs in their territory?
- How does redemption relationship form the basis for requesting God's cleansing?
- What does this prayer teach about blood guilt defiling land beyond individual sin?
- How does proper ritual combined with genuine innocence receive divine forgiveness?
- What does this reveal about corporate responsibility for evil even when individual guilt cannot be assigned?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them. The prayer for mercy acknowledges that even in innocence, the community needs divine grace. Murder in their territory, though not their fault, still defiles the land and grieves God.
The appeal whom thou hast redeemed grounds the request in God's covenant relationship. Israel belongs to God by redemption; this relationship forms the basis for requesting His mercy and cleansing. Redemption creates obligation for both parties.
The request lay not innocent blood...to...charge asks that God not hold the community guilty for this unsolved murder. Though they cannot punish the perpetrator, they seek divine absolution from blood guilt that defiles the land.
The promise the blood shall be forgiven them assures that proper ritual and genuine innocence receive divine pardon. God cleanses from blood guilt when His people approach Him rightly.