The Meaning of Deuteronomy 4:42 Explained

Deuteronomy 4:42

KJV: That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:

YLT: for the fleeing thither of the man-slayer, who slayeth his neighbour unknowingly, and he is not hating him heretofore, and he hath fled unto one of these cities, and he hath lived:

Darby: that the manslayer might flee thither, who should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not previously, that fleeing to one of these cities, he might live:

ASV: that the manslayer might flee thither, that slayeth his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in time past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That the slayer  might flee  thither, which should kill  his neighbour  unawares,  and hated  him not in times  past;  and that fleeing  unto one  of these  cities  he might live: 

What does Deuteronomy 4:42 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 4:32-49 - Israel's Peculiar Privileges
Every argument that love and wisdom, the great past and the miracles of the Exodus could suggest, was brought to bear on the hearts of the chosen people, fortifying them against the temptations to backsliding. They were bidden to ask from ancient history and from one end of heaven to another, if any such wonders had ever been known in the history of the nations. But it must be sorrowfully confessed that memory and wonder are not enough to permanently fortify the heart against the insidious entrance of evil. Only the Holy Spirit can do that, Romans 8:1-4; Galatians 5:16.
So eager is the divine heart that none should perish but that all should come to repentance, that guide-posts to refuge are carefully multiplied. Here again their names and locations are specified, lest any should not have met with former notifications, Numbers 35:6; Numbers 35:14; 2 Peter 3:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 4

1  An exhortation to obedience
41  Moses appoints the three cities of refuge on that side of Jordan
44  Recapitulation

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 4:42 mean?

that might flee there the manslayer who kills - his neighbor not knowing and he without having hated him in time past that by fleeing to one of cities these and might live
לָנֻ֨ס שָׁ֜מָּה רוֹצֵ֗חַ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִרְצַ֤ח אֶת־ רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ בִּבְלִי־ דַ֔עַת וְה֛וּא לֹא־ שֹׂנֵ֥א ל֖וֹ מִתְּמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשׁ֑וֹם וְנָ֗ס אֶל־ אַחַ֛ת מִן־ הֶעָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖ל וָחָֽי

לָנֻ֨ס  that  might  flee 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
רוֹצֵ֗חַ  the  manslayer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָצַח  
Sense: to murder, slay, kill.
יִרְצַ֤ח  kills 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָצַח  
Sense: to murder, slay, kill.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙  his  neighbor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
דַ֔עַת  knowing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.
וְה֛וּא  and  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
לֹא־  without 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שֹׂנֵ֥א  having  hated 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
שִׁלְשׁ֑וֹם  time  past 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שִׁלְשֹׁום  
Sense: day before yesterday, three days ago.
וְנָ֗ס  that  by  fleeing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נוּס  
Sense: to flee, escape.
אַחַ֛ת  one 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
הֶעָרִ֥ים  cities 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הָאֵ֖ל  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵל  
Sense: these, those.
וָחָֽי  and  might  live 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.