King James Version

Deuteronomy 19:6

Lest 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.

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Hebrew

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פֶּןpenthat...notפֵּןconjunction — “that...not”H6435properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest(lest) (peradventure), that...not.יִרְדֹּף֩yirdofchaseרָדַףverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “chase”, an unfinished actionH7291to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by)chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r).גֹּאֵ֨לgoelavengerגָּאַלverb, qal, participle, construct — “avenger”, a verb used as a describing wordH1350to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)[idiom] in any wise, [idiom] at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk(-man), purchase, ransom, redeem(-er), revenger.הַדָּ֜םhadamthe blood , innocentדָּםdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the blood , innocent”, the ordinary formH1818blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood)blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent.אַחֲרֵ֣יachareafterאַחַרpreposition — “after”H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, the…הָרֹצֵ֗חַharotsechathe murderרָצַחdefinite article, verb, qal, participle, absolute — “the murder”, a verb used as a describing wordH7523properly, to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murderput to death, kill, (man-) slay(-er), murder(-er).כִּיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…יֵחַם֮yechambe hotיָחַםverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be hot”, an unfinished actionH3179probably to be hot; figuratively, to conceiveget heat, be hot, conceive, be warm.לְבָבוֹ֒levavvobreastלֵבָבnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “breast”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3824the heart (as the most interior organ);[phrase] bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-) heart(-ed), midst, mind, [idiom] unawares, understanding.וְהִשִּׂיג֛וֹvehisigvoand reachנָשַׂגconjunction, verb, hiphil, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and reach”, a completed action in a sequenceH5381to reach (literally or figuratively)ability, be able, attain (unto), (be able to, can) get, lay at, put, reach, remove, wax rich, [idiom] surely, (over-) take (hold of, on, upon).כִּֽיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…יִרְבֶּ֥הyirbehincreaseרָבָהverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “increase”, an unfinished actionH7235to increase (in whatever respect)(bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for H7232 (רָבַב)), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, incre…הַדֶּ֖רֶךְhaderekhthe alongדֶּרֶךְdefinite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “the along”, the ordinary formH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).וְהִכָּ֣הוּvehikahvand strikeנָכָהconjunction, verb, hiphil, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and strike”, a completed action in a sequenceH5221to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.נָ֑פֶשׁnafeshcreatureנֶפֶשׁnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “creature”, the ordinary formH5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally,…וְלוֹ֙velvoand toוְלוֹ֙conjunction, preposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and to”and toאֵ֣יןeynelseאַיִןparticle, negative — “else”H369a non-entity; generally used as a negative particleelse, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן).מִשְׁפַּטmishpatlawמִשְׁפָּטnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “law”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4941properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style[phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right,…מָ֔וֶתmavetdeadמָוֶתnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “dead”, the ordinary formH4194death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin(be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d).כִּ֠יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…לֹ֣אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…שֹׂנֵ֥אsonehateשָׂנֵאverb, qal, participle, absolute — “hate”, a verb used as a describing wordH8130to hate (personally)enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, [idiom] utterly.ה֛וּאhuas for herהוּאpronoun, personal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “as for her”H1931he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or arehe, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.ל֖וֹlvotoל֖וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to”toמִתְּמ֥וֹלmitmolfrom yesterdayתְּמוֹלpreposition, adverb — “from yesterday”H8543properly, ago, i.e. a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before yesterday[phrase] before (-time), [phrase] these (three) days, [phrase] heretofore, [phrase] time past, yesterday.שִׁלְשֽׁוֹםshilshomexcellent thingsשִׁלְשׁוֹםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “excellent things”, the ordinary formH8032trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday[phrase] before (that time, -time), excellent things (from the margin), [phrase] heretofore, three days, [phrase] time past.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

lest 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.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

lest 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 worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

Young’s Literal Translation

lest the redeemer of blood pursue after the man-slayer when his heart is hot, and hath overtaken him (because the way is great), and hath smitten him — the life, and he hath no sentence of death, for he is not hating him heretofore;

World English Bible

Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the man slayer while hot anger is in his heart and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him mortally, even though he was not worthy of death, because he didn’t hate him in time past.

Darby Translation

lest 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 worthy of death, since he hated him not previously.

Douay-Rheims

Lest perhaps the next kinsman of him whose blood was shed, pushed on by his grief should pursue, and apprehend him. if the way be too long, and take away the life of him who is not guilty of death, because he is proved to have had no hatred before against him that was slain.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Lest 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.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἵνα 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.