Cities of Refuge and Witnesses
Deuteronomy 19
Moses instructs Israel to set apart cities of refuge for anyone who kills another person unintentionally, distinguishing such cases from premeditated murder, which still carries the penalty of death. He also forbids moving a neighbor's boundary marker and forbids condemning anyone on the testimony of a single witness.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW when the Lord thy God hath destroyed the nations, whose land thy God giveth thee, and you have taken possession of it, and dwelt in their cities, and in their houses,
BrentonAnd when the Lord thy God shall have destroyed the nations, which God gives thee, even the land, and ye shall inherit them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses,
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀφανίσῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὰ ἔθνη, ἃ ὁ Θεὸς δίδωσί σοι τὴν γῆν, καὶ κατακληρονομήσητε αὐτοὺς, καὶ κατοικήσητε ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις αὐτῶν,
KJVWhen the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;
JPSWhen the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou dost succeed them, and dwell in their cities, and in their houses;
2
Thomsonthou shalt set apart for thyself three cities, in the midst of that thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Brentonthou shalt separate for thyself three cities in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God gives thee.
Greekτρεῖς πόλεις διαστελεῖς σεαυτῷ ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς σου, ἧς Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι.
KJVThou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
JPSthou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy GOD giveth thee to possess it.
3
ThomsonMake straight the way for thee, and divide into three districts, the bounds of thy land which the Lord thy God parcelleth out to thee; and in each district let there be a place of refuge for the slayer.
BrentonTake a survey of thy way, and thou shalt divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God apportions to thee, into three parts, and there shall be there a refuge for every manslayer.
GreekΣτόχασαί σοι τὴν ὁδὸν, καὶ τριμεριεῖς τὰ ὅρια τῆς γῆς σου, ἣν καταμερίζει σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, καὶ ἔσται καταφυγὴ παντὶ φονευτῇ.
KJVThou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.
JPSThou shalt prepare thee the way, and divide the borders of thy land, which the LORD thy God causeth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee thither.
4
ThomsonAnd this shall be the ordinance for every slayer who may flee thither, and live. Whosoever shall smite his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past;
BrentonAnd this shall be the ordinance of the manslayer, who shall flee thither, and shall live, whosoever shall have smitten his neighbour ignorantly, whereas he hated him not in times past.
GreekΤοῦτο δὲ ἔσται τὸ πρόσταγμα τοῦ φονευτοῦ, ὃς ἂν φύγῃ ἐκεῖ, καὶ ζήσεται, ὃς ἂν πατάξῃ τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰδῶς, καὶ οὗτος οὐ μισῶν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς χθὲς καὶ τρίτης.
KJVAnd this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;
JPSAnd this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in time past;
5
Thomsonfor instance whosoever shall go with his neighbour into the forest to collect wood, and the hand of him who is cutting the wood with an axe being drawn back, the iron shall slip from the helve, and accidentally fall on his neighbour, and he die; such a one shall flee with speed to one of the cities, and live.
BrentonAnd whosoever shall enter with his neighbour into the thicket, to gather wood, if the hand of him that cuts wood with the axe should be violently shaken, and the axe head falling off from the handle should light on his neighbour, and he should die, he shall flee to one of these cities, and live.
GreekΚαὶ ὅς ἐὰν εἰσέλθῃ μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον εἰς τὸν δρυμὸν συναγαγεῖν ξύλα, καὶ ἐκκρουσθῇ ἡ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ τῇ ἀξίνῃ κόπτοντος τὸ ξύλον, καὶ ἐκπεσὸν τὸ σιδήριον ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου τύχῃ τοῦ πλησίον, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, οὗτος καταφεύξεται εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων, καὶ ζήσεται.
KJVAs when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
JPSas when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live;
6
ThomsonLest the avenger of blood pursuing, because his heart is inflamed, should overtake him, if the way be too long, and slay him, though he is not guilty of death, because he hated him not in time past;
BrentonLest the avenger of blood pursue after the slayer, because his heart is hot, and overtake him, if the way be too long, and slay him, though there is to this man no sentence of death, because he hated him not in time past.
GreekἽνα μὴ διώξας ὁ ἀγχιστεύων τοῦ αἵματος ὀπίσω τοῦ φονεύσαντος, ὅτι παρατεθέρμανται τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ καταλάβῃ αὐτὸν, ἐὰν μακροτέρα ἠ· ἡ ὁδὸς, καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχήν· καὶ τούτῳ οὐκ ἔστι κρίσις θανάτου, ὅτι οὐ μισῶν ἦν αὐτὸν πρὸ τῆς χθὲς, οὐδὲ πρὸ τῆς τρίτης.
KJVLest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
JPSlest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not deserving of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
7
Thomsonfor this cause I give thee this charge, saying, Thou shalt set apart three cities for thyself.
BrentonTherefore I charge thee, saying, Thou shalt separate for thyself three cities.
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, λέγων, τρεῖς πόλεις διαστελεῖς σεαυτῷ.
KJVWherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.
JPSWherefore I command thee, saying: ‘Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.’
8
ThomsonAnd when the Lord thy God shall enlarge thy borders, as He hath sworn to thy fathers, and the Lord hath given thee all the land which He promised to give thy fathers,
BrentonAnd if the Lord shall enlarge thy borders, as he sware to thy fathers, and the Lord shall give to thee all the land which he said he would give to thy fathers;
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἐμπλατύνῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὰ ὅριά σου, ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσε τοῖς πατράσι σου, καὶ δῷ σοι Κύριος πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, ἣν εἶπε δοῦναι τοῖς πατράσι σου,
KJVAnd if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;
JPSAnd if the LORD thy God enlarge thy border, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which He promised to give unto thy fathers—
9
Thomsonif thou wilt hearken to do all the commands which I this day give thee in charge, to love the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways continually; thou shalt add three cities more for thyself, besides these three,
Brentonif thou shalt hearken to do all these commands, which I charge thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways continually; thou shalt add for thyself yet three cities to these three.
Greekἐὰν ἀκούσῃς ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας, ἃς ἐγὼ ἐντέλλομαί σοι σήμερον, ἀγαπᾷν Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου, πορεύεσθαι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας· προσθήσεις σεαυτῷ ἔτι τρεῖς πόλεις πρὸς τὰς τρεῖς ταύτας.
KJVIf thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:
JPSif thou shalt keep all this commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in His ways—then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three;
10
Thomsonso that guiltless blood may not be shed in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for a possession.
BrentonSo innocent blood shall not be spilt in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit, and there shall not be in thee one guilty of blood.
GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἐκχυθήσεται αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῇ γῇ, ἡ· Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι ἐν κλήρῳ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ αἵματι ἔνοχος.
KJVThat innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.
JPSthat innocent blood be not shed in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.
11
ThomsonBut there must not be among you one guilty of blood. If therefore there be among you a man who hateth his neighbour, and who shall lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him so that he die, and flee to one of these cities;
BrentonBut if there should be in thee a man hating his neighbour, and he should lay wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him, that he die, and he should flee to one of these cities,
GreekἘὰν δὲ γένηται ἐν σοὶ ἄνθρωπος μισῶν τὸν πλησίον, καὶ ἐνεδρεύσῃ αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐπαναστῇ ἐπʼ αὐτὸν, καὶ πατάξῃ αὐτοῦ ψυχὴν, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ, καὶ φύγῃ εἰς μίαν τῶν πόλεων τούτων·
KJVBut if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
JPSBut if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die; and he flee into one of these cities;
12
Thomsonthe senate of his city shall send and take him thence, and deliver him into the hands of the avenger of blood, and he shall be put to death.
Brentonthen shall the elders of his city send, and take him thence, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the avengers of blood, and he shall die.
Greekκαὶ ἀποστελοῦσιν ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ, καὶ λήμψονται αὐτὸν ἐκεῖθεν, καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς χεῖρας τῶν ἀγχιστευόντων τοῦ αἵματος, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται.
KJVThen the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
JPSthen the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
13
ThomsonThine eye shall not spare him. So shalt thou purge away guiltless blood from Israel, and it shall be well with thee.
BrentonThine eye shall not spare him; so shalt thou purge innocent blood from Israel, and it shall be well with thee.
GreekΟὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, καὶ καθαριεῖς τὸ αἷμα τὸ ἀναίτιον ἐξ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ εὖ σοι ἔσται.
KJVThine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
JPSThine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
14
ThomsonThou shalt not remove the boundaries of thy neighbour, which thy fathers have settled at the distribution of the inheritances, which were given thee to possess in the land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee by lot.
BrentonThou shalt not move the landmarks of thy neighbour, which thy fathers set in the inheritance, in which thou hast obtained a share in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit.
GreekΟὐ μετακινήσεις ὅρια τοῦ πλησίον, ἃ ἔστησαν οἱ πατέρες σου ἐν τῇ κληρονομίᾳ, ᾗ κατεκληρονομήθης ἐν τῇ γῇ, ἣν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι ἐν κλήρῳ.
KJVThou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
JPSThou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit, in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
15
ThomsonOne witness shall not be sufficient to testify against a man for any iniquity, or any crime, or any sin, which he may commit. By the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, everything shall be established.
BrentonOne witness shall not stand to testify against a man for any iniquity, or for any fault, or for any sin which he may commit; by the mouth of two witnesses, or by the mouth of three witnesses, shall every word be established.
GreekΟὐκ ἐμμενεῖ μάρτυς εἷς μαρτυρῆσαι κατὰ ἀνθρώπου κατὰ πᾶσαν ἀδικίαν, καὶ κατὰ πᾶν ἁμάρτημα, καὶ κατὰ πᾶσαν ἁμαρτίαν, ἣν ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ· ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων, καὶ ἐπὶ στόματος τριῶν μαρτύρων, στήσεται πᾶν ῥῆμα.
KJVOne witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
JPSOne witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth; at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.
16
ThomsonAnd if a false witness rise up against a man, and accuse him of any crime,
BrentonAnd if an unjust witness rise up against a man, alleging iniquity against him;
GreekἘὰν δὲ καταστῇ μάρτυς ἄδικος κατὰ ἀνθρώπου, καταλέγων αὐτοῦ ἀσέβειαν·
KJVIf a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
JPSIf an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to bear perverted witness against him;
17
Thomsonthe two men between whom is the controversy, shall stand before the Lord, and before the priests, and before the judges, who may be in those days.
Brentonthen shall the two men between whom the controversy is, stand before the Lord, and before the priests, and before the judges, who may be in those days.
Greekκαὶ στήσονται οἱ δύο ἄνθρωποι οἷς ἐστιν αὐτοῖς ἡ ἀντιλογία, ἔναντι Κυρίου, καὶ ἔναντι τῶν ἱερέων, καὶ ἔναντι τῶν κριτῶν, οἳ ἂν ὦσιν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις·
KJVThen both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
JPSthen both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days.
18
ThomsonAnd when the judges have made a strict examination, if the false witness hath testified falsehoods, and risen up against his brother;
BrentonAnd the judges shall make diligent inquiry, and, behold, if an unjust witness has borne unjust testimony; and has stood up against his brother;
GreekΚαὶ ἐξετάσωσιν οἱ κριταὶ ἀκριβῶς, καὶ ἰδοὺ μάρτυς ἄδικος ἐμαρτύρησεν ἄδικα, ἀντέστη κατὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ·
KJVAnd the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
JPSAnd the judges shall inquire diligently; and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
19
Thomsonyou shall do to him as he wickedly thought to do to his brother. So thou shalt remove the evil from among you; and the rest, when they hear, will be afraid, and thenceforth proceed no more to commit such evil among you.
Brentonthen shall ye do to him as he wickedly devised to do against his brother, and thou shalt remove the evil from yourselves.
GreekΚαὶ ποιήσετε αὐτῷ ὃν τρόπον ἐπονηρεύσατο ποιῆσαι κατὰ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξαρεῖς τὸ πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν.
KJVThen shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
JPSthen shall ye do unto him, as he had purposed to do unto his brother; so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
20
Thomson—
BrentonAnd the rest shall hear and fear, and do no more according to this evil thing in the midst of you.
GreekΚαὶ οἱ ἐπίλοιποι ἀκούσαντες φοβηθήσονται, καὶ οὐ προσθήσουσιν ἔτι ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τὸ πονηρὸν τοῦτο ἐν ὑμῖν.
KJVAnd those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
JPSAnd those that remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of thee.
21
ThomsonThine eye shall not pity him; life for life; eye for eye; tooth for tooth; hand for hand; foot for foot.
BrentonThine eye shall not spare him: thou shalt exact life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
GreekΟὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἐπʼ αὐτῷ· ψυχὴν ἀντὶ ψυχῆς, ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ, ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος, χεῖρα ἀντὶ χειρὸς, πόδα ἀντὶ ποδός.
KJVAnd thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
JPSAnd thine eye shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.