Numbers 35:27
And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:
Original Language Analysis
וּמָצָ֤א
find
H4672
וּמָצָ֤א
find
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
1 of 16
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
אֹתוֹ֙
H853
אֹתוֹ֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
גֹּאֵ֤ל
And the revenger
H1350
גֹּאֵ֤ל
And the revenger
Strong's:
H1350
Word #:
3 of 16
to redeem (according to the middle eastern law of kinship), i.e., to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his wido
דָּֽם׃
he shall not be guilty of blood
H1818
דָּֽם׃
he shall not be guilty of blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
4 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
מִח֕וּץ
him without
H2351
מִח֕וּץ
him without
Strong's:
H2351
Word #:
5 of 16
properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors
לִגְב֖וּל
the borders
H1366
לִגְב֖וּל
the borders
Strong's:
H1366
Word #:
6 of 16
properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed
עִ֣יר
of the city
H5892
עִ֣יר
of the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
7 of 16
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַ
kill
H7523
הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַ
kill
Strong's:
H7523
Word #:
9 of 16
properly, to dash in pieces, i.e., kill (a human being), especially to murder
גֹּאֵ֤ל
And the revenger
H1350
גֹּאֵ֤ל
And the revenger
Strong's:
H1350
Word #:
10 of 16
to redeem (according to the middle eastern law of kinship), i.e., to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his wido
דָּֽם׃
he shall not be guilty of blood
H1818
דָּֽם׃
he shall not be guilty of blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
11 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
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
The legal principle that the go'el incurred no bloodguilt for killing the manslayer outside refuge presumes the community knew the boundaries and the manslayer's status. This required public records and clear demarcation, preventing accidental violations of sanctuary law.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the avenger's freedom from bloodguilt outside the boundary illustrate the justice of God's wrath upon those who reject Christ?
- What does this verse teach about the dire consequences of leaving the safety of refuge—spiritually, leaving Christ?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood—outside the boundary, the go'el ha-dam lawfully executed the manslayer. The avenger bore no guilt because the fugitive voluntarily left his asylum. This wasn't murder but justice delayed, not denied.
The typology is sobering: Christ is our refuge from divine wrath (Romans 5:9), but those who 'neglect so great salvation' (Hebrews 2:3) or 'draw back' (Hebrews 10:38-39) face the judgment they fled. There is no salvation outside Christ, just as there was no protection outside the city's borders.