Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 19:4–10

⁴Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him: ⁵If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life.

⁶Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm. ⁷This is why I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities.

⁸And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you all the land He promised them, ⁹and if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you today, loving the LORD your God and walking in His ways at all times, then you are to add three more cities to these three.

¹⁰Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

Read all of Deuteronomy 19

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Deuteronomy 19:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now this	וְזֶה֙	wə·zeh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
is the situation	דְּבַ֣ר	də·ḇar	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1697 speech, word
regarding the manslayer	הָרֹצֵ֔חַ	hā·rō·ṣê·aḥ	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7523 murder, slay
who	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
flees	יָנ֥וּס	yā·nūs	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5127 flee, escape
to save his life	וָחָ֑י	wā·ḥāy	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H2421 live
having killed	יַכֶּ֤ה	yak·keh	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
his neighbor	רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙	rê·‘ê·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7453 shouting, roar
accidentally	בִּבְלִי־	biḇ·lî-	Preposition-b; Adverb	H1097 wearing out
without	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
intending to harm	שֹׂנֵ֥א	śō·nê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8130 hate
him	ל֖וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular

Deuteronomy 19:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
If	וַאֲשֶׁר֩	wa·’ă·šer	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
he goes	יָבֹ֨א	yā·ḇō	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
into the forest	בַיַּעַר֮	ḇay·ya·‘ar	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3293 wood, forest, thicket
with	אֶת־	’eṯ-	Preposition	H854 with
his neighbor	רֵעֵ֥הוּ	rê·‘ê·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7453 shouting, roar
to cut	לַחְטֹ֣ב	laḥ·ṭōḇ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H2404 cut or gather wood
timber	עֵצִים֒	‘ê·ṣîm	Noun - masculine plural	H6086 tree, trees, wood
and swings	וְנִדְּחָ֨ה	wə·nid·də·ḥāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular	H5080 impel, thrust, banish
his axe	בַגַּרְזֶן֙	ḇag·gar·zen	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1631 axe
to chop down	לִכְרֹ֣ת	liḵ·rōṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H3772 cut off, cut down
a tree	הָעֵ֔ץ	hā·‘êṣ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6086 tree, trees, wood
but the blade flies off	וְנָשַׁ֤ל	wə·nā·šal	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H5394 slip or drop off
the handle	הָעֵ֔ץ	hā·‘êṣ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6086 tree, trees, wood
and strikes	וּמָצָ֥א	ū·mā·ṣā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H4672 attain to, find
and kills	וָמֵ֑ת	wā·mêṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H4191 die
his neighbor	רֵעֵ֖הוּ	rê·‘ê·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7453 shouting, roar
he	ה֗וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
may flee	יָנ֛וּס	yā·nūs	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5127 flee, escape
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
one	אַחַ֥ת	’a·ḥaṯ	Number - feminine singular construct	H259 one
of these	הָאֵ֖לֶּה	hā·’êl·leh	Article; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
cities	הֶעָרִים־	he·‘ā·rîm-	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H5892 excitement
to save his life	וָחָֽי׃	wā·ḥāy	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H2421 live

Deuteronomy 19:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Otherwise	פֶּן־	pen-	Conjunction	H6435 lest
the avenger	גֹּאֵ֨ל	gō·’êl	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H1350 redeem, act as kinsman
of blood	הַדָּ֜ם	had·dām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1818 blood
might pursue	יִרְדֹּף֩	yir·dōp̄	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7291 pursue, chase, persecute
the manslayer	הָרֹצֵ֗חַ	hā·rō·ṣê·aḥ	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7523 murder, slay
in a rage	לְבָבוֹ֒	lə·ḇā·ḇōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3824 inner man, mind, will, heart
overtake him	וְהִשִּׂיג֛וֹ	wə·hiś·śî·ḡōw	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singular	H5381 reach, overtake
if	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
the distance	הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ	had·de·reḵ	Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
is great	יִרְבֶּ֥ה	yir·beh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
and strike him	וְהִכָּ֣הוּ	wə·hik·kā·hū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singular	H5221 smite
dead	נָ֑פֶשׁ	nā·p̄eš	Noun - feminine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
though he	וְלוֹ֙	wə·lōw	Conjunctive waw; Preposition; third person masculine singular
did not	אֵ֣ין	’ên	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
deserve	מִשְׁפַּט־	miš·paṭ-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4941 judgment
to die	מָ֔וֶת	mā·weṯ	Noun - masculine singular	H4194 death
since	כִּ֠י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
he	ה֛וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
did not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
intend any harm	שֹׂנֵ֥א	śō·nê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H8130 hate

Deuteronomy 19:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
This is why	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
I	אָנֹכִ֥י	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
am commanding	מְצַוְּךָ֖	mə·ṣaw·wə·ḵā	Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
you to set apart	תַּבְדִּ֥יל	taḇ·dîl	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H914 be divided, separate
for yourselves	לָֽךְ׃ס	lāḵ	Preposition; second person masculine singular
three	שָׁלֹ֥שׁ	šā·lōš	Number - feminine singular	H7969 a three, triad
cities	עָרִ֖ים	‘ā·rîm	Noun - feminine plural	H5892 excitement

Deuteronomy 19:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And if	וְאִם־	wə·’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
the LORD	יְהוָ֤ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
enlarges	יַרְחִ֞יב	yar·ḥîḇ	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7337 be, or grow, wide, large
your territory	גְּבֻ֣לְךָ֔	gə·ḇul·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1366 border, boundary, territory
as	כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
He swore	נִשְׁבַּ֖ע	niš·ba‘	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7650 swear
to your fathers	לַאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ	la·’ă·ḇō·ṯe·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H1 father
and gives	וְנָ֤תַן	wə·nā·ṯan	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
you	לְךָ֙	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the land	הָאָ֔רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
He promised	דִּבֶּ֖ר	dib·ber	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1696 speak
them	לַאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃	la·’ă·ḇō·ṯe·ḵā	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H1 father

Deuteronomy 19:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and if	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you carefully keep	תִשְׁמֹר֩	ṯiš·mōr	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
these	הַזֹּ֜את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
commandments	הַמִּצְוָ֨ה	ham·miṣ·wāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4687 commandment
I	אָנֹכִ֣י	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
am giving you	מְצַוְּךָ֮	mə·ṣaw·wə·ḵā	Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
today	הַיּוֹם֒	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
loving	לְאַהֲבָ֞ה	lə·’a·hă·ḇāh	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person feminine singular	H157 love
the LORD	יְהוָ֧ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
and walking	וְלָלֶ֥כֶת	wə·lā·le·ḵeṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1980 go, come, walk
in His ways	בִּדְרָכָ֖יו	biḏ·rā·ḵāw	Preposition-b; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
at all times	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
then you are to add	וְיָסַפְתָּ֨	wə·yā·sap̄·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H3254 add
three	שָׁלֹ֣שׁ	šā·lōš	Number - feminine singular	H7969 a three, triad
more	עוֹד֙	‘ō·wḏ	Adverb	H5750 a going round, continuance
cities	עָרִ֔ים	‘ā·rîm	Noun - feminine plural	H5892 excitement
to	עַ֖ל	‘al	Preposition	H5921 height
these	הָאֵֽלֶּה׃	hā·’êl·leh	Article; Pronoun - common plural	H428 these
three	הַשָּׁלֹ֥שׁ	haš·šā·lōš	Article; Number - feminine singular	H7969 a three, triad

Deuteronomy 19:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Thus innocent	נָקִ֔י	nā·qî	Adjective - masculine singular	H5355 clean, free from, exempt
blood	דָּ֣ם	dām	Noun - masculine singular	H1818 blood
will not	וְלֹ֤א	wə·lō	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
be shed	יִשָּׁפֵךְ֙	yiš·šā·p̄êḵ	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8210 pour out, pour
in	בְּקֶ֣רֶב	bə·qe·reḇ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7130 inward part, midst
the land	אַרְצְךָ֔	’ar·ṣə·ḵā	Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H776 earth, land
that	אֲשֶׁר֙	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the LORD	יְהוָ֣ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
your God	אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ	’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H430 God
is giving	נֹתֵ֥ן	nō·ṯên	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
you	לְךָ֖	lə·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular
an inheritance	נַחֲלָ֑ה	na·ḥă·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5159 possession, property, inheritance
so that you will not be	וְהָיָ֥ה	wə·hā·yāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
guilty of bloodshed	דָּמִֽים׃ס	dā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H1818 blood