The Meaning of Joshua 20:2 Explained

Joshua 20:2

KJV: Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

YLT: 'Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, Give for you cities of refuge, as I have spoken unto you by the hand of Moses,

Darby: Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint for yourselves the cities of refuge, whereof I spoke unto you through Moses,

ASV: Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign you the cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by Moses,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Speak  to the children  of Israel,  saying,  Appoint out  for you cities  of refuge,  whereof I spake  unto you by the hand  of Moses: 

What does Joshua 20:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Joshua 20:1-9 - Cities Of Refuge
These arrangements carried out Numbers 35:9-34. Remember the distinction between deliberate murder and unintentional homicide. Only those who had committed the latter were eligible for refuge.
The fugitive told his story at the gate and was admitted provisionally, Joshua 20:4. His case was afterward investigated by the citizens or their delegates; and if his story were found correct, he might stay till the death of the high priest. This functionary was a type of our Lord; and thus the death of each high priest pre-signified that death by which captive souls are freed and the remembrance of sin made to cease.
The cities were placed so as to be within easy access from all parts of the country. See Proverbs 18:10; Hebrews 6:18. It is an urgent question for us all, Are we within the city, the walls and bulwarks of which are salvation? [source]

Chapter Summary: Joshua 20

1  God commands
7  and the children of Israel appoint the six cities of refuge

What do the individual words in Joshua 20:2 mean?

speak to the sons of Israel saying Appoint for yourselves - cities of refuge of which I spoke to you through Moses
דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר תְּנ֤וּ לָכֶם֙ אֶת־ עָרֵ֣י הַמִּקְלָ֔ט אֲשֶׁר־ דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בְּיַד־ מֹשֶֽׁה

דַּבֵּ֛ר  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
בְּנֵ֥י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
תְּנ֤וּ  Appoint 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לָכֶם֙  for  yourselves 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
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.
עָרֵ֣י  cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הַמִּקְלָ֔ט  of  refuge 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִקְלָט  
Sense: refuge, asylum.
אֲשֶׁר־  of  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי  I  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בְּיַד־  through 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
מֹשֶֽׁה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.