Numbers 35:16

16 “ ‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.

Numbers 35:16 in Other Translations

16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

16 "But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death.

16 “But if someone strikes and kills another person with a piece of iron, it is murder, and the murderer must be executed.

16 "But if the killer has used an iron object, that's just plain murder; he's obviously a murderer and must be put to death.

16 But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

16 "But if any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

16 "If anyone strikes a person with an iron object and death results, he is a murderer; the murderer must be put to death.

16 " 'Suppose a person uses an iron object to hit and kill someone. Then he is a murderer. He must be put to death.

Numbers 35:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:16

And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he
die
As with an hatchet, hammer, sword, knife, &c.

he is a murderer;
the instrument used by him, and with which he smote, shows that he had a bad design, and intended to kill, or he would never have smitten a man with such an instrument:

the murderer shall surely be put to death;
be condemned to death, and be executed, by the order of the civil magistrate, according to the law in ( Genesis 9:6 ) and not be allowed the benefit of a city of refuge.

Numbers 35:16 In-Context

14 Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge.

15 These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.

16 “ ‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.

17 Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.

18 Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 21:12; Leviticus 24:17