The Meaning of Joshua 20:5 Explained

Joshua 20:5

KJV: And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

YLT: 'And when the redeemer of blood doth pursue after him, then they do not shut up the man-slayer into his hand, for without knowledge he hath smitten his neighbour, and is not hating him hitherto;

Darby: And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; for he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not previously.

ASV: And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unawares, and hated him not beforetime.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if the avenger  of blood  pursue  after  him, then they shall not deliver  the slayer  up into his hand;  because he smote  his neighbour  unwittingly,  and hated  him not beforetime. 

What does Joshua 20:5 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 20:5 mean?

And if pursues the avenger of blood him and not they shall deliver - the slayer into his hand because without intention he struck his neighbor but not did hate he him formerly beforehand
וְכִ֨י יִרְדֹּ֜ף גֹּאֵ֤ל הַדָּם֙ אַֽחֲרָ֔יו וְלֹֽא־ יַסְגִּ֥רוּ אֶת־ הָרֹצֵ֖חַ בְּיָד֑וֹ כִּ֤י בִבְלִי־ דַ֙עַת֙ הִכָּ֣ה רֵעֵ֔הוּ וְלֹֽא־ שֹׂנֵ֥א ה֛וּא ל֖וֹ מִתְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם

וְכִ֨י  And  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יִרְדֹּ֜ף  pursues 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
גֹּאֵ֤ל  the  avenger 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: גְּאוּלִים 
Sense: to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman.
הַדָּם֙  of  blood 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
וְלֹֽא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יַסְגִּ֥רוּ  they  shall  deliver 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סָגוּר 
Sense: to shut, close.
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.
הָרֹצֵ֖חַ  the  slayer 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָצַח  
Sense: to murder, slay, kill.
בְּיָד֑וֹ  into  his  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
כִּ֤י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
בִבְלִי־  without 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: בְּלִי 
Sense: wearing out adv of negation.
דַ֙עַת֙  intention 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.
הִכָּ֣ה  he  struck 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
רֵעֵ֔הוּ  his  neighbor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
וְלֹֽא־  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שֹׂנֵ֥א  did  hate 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
מִתְּמ֥וֹל  formerly 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: תְּמֹול  
Sense: before, before that time, beforetime, heretofore, of late, of old, these days, time(s) past, yesterday, day before yesterday, recently, formerly.
שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם  beforehand 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שִׁלְשֹׁום  
Sense: day before yesterday, three days ago.

What are the major concepts related to Joshua 20:5?

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