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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Joshua 20:2–6

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
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.
And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 2

  1. Deuteronomy 19:2–13Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    2Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it.

    3Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.

    4¶ And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;

    5As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:

    6Lest 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.

    7Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

    8And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;

    9If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:

    10That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.

    11¶ But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:

    12Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

    13Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

  2. Deuteronomy 4:41–43Rank 2 from verse 2
    Open

    41¶ Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;

    42That 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:

    43Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.

  3. Numbers 35:11–24Rank 3 from verse 2
    Open

    11Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

    12And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

    13And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.

    14Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

    15These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.

    16And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

    17And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

    18Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

    19The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

    20But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;

    21Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

    22But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,

    23Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:

    24Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:

  4. Numbers 35:6Rank 4 from verse 2
    Open

    6And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.

  5. Romans 8:1Rank 5 from verse 2
    Open

    1THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

From verse 4

  1. Jeremiah 38:7Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    7¶ Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

  2. Ruth 4:1–2Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    1THEN went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

    2And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

  3. Hebrews 6:18Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

  4. Job 29:7Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    7When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

  5. Job 5:4Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    4His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.

From verse 5

  1. Numbers 35:12Rank 1 from verse 5
    Open

    12And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

  2. Numbers 35:25Rank 2 from verse 5
    Open

    25And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

From verse 6

  1. Numbers 35:12Rank 1 from verse 6
    Open

    12And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

  2. Hebrews 9:26Rank 2 from verse 6
    Open

    26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

  3. Numbers 35:24–25Rank 3 from verse 6
    Open

    24Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:

    25And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Joshua 20:2

COMBINED MEANING

speak

↗

Sense 1: To utter words or articulate sounds, or to use a language. Sense 2: To address or converse with someone. Sense 3: To state, declare, make mention of, or otherwise make a matter known.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

children

↗

Sons or daughters; descendants; or persons likened to children by age, relation, or character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Israel

↗

The name given to Jacob and, by extension, his descendants, their nation, or the people so called.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

appoint

↗

Sense 1: To assign, designate, establish, or set for a particular purpose, office, or time. Sense 2: To supply, allot, furnish, or equip with provisions or equipment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

you

↗

The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

refuge

↗

A shelter, haven, protection, or source of safety to which one flees or trusts.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Bullokar 1616 · Cawdrey 1604

COMBINED MEANING

spake

↗

The past tense of speak: uttered or expressed words, addressed someone, or communicated a matter in words.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Joshua 20:3

COMBINED MEANING

unawares

↗

1. Without knowledge, awareness, or notice. 2. Unintentionally or unwittingly. 3. Unexpectedly.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

unwittingly

↗

Without knowing, intending, realizing, or being aware; ignorantly or accidentally rather than deliberately.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

your

↗

The possessive form of ye or you, ordinarily plural, marking what belongs to, concerns, proceeds from, or stands in relation to the persons addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

refuge

↗

A shelter, haven, protection, or source of safety to which one flees or trusts.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Bullokar 1616 · Cawdrey 1604

COMBINED MEANING

avenger

↗

One who punishes or repays a wrong; in the law of Moses, the avenger of blood.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

blood

↗

Sense 1: The bodily fluid associated with physical life. Sense 2: Life taken, bloodshed, or guilt and responsibility for it. Sense 3: Kindred, shared human descent, or natural human nature. Sense 4: The juice of grapes.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Joshua 20:4

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

stand

↗

Sense 1: To be upright, rise, stop, remain, endure, take or keep a position, be established, withstand, or present oneself before another. Sense 2: A fixed position or state of stopping, as in ‘at a stand’.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

entering

↗

Present-participial or verbal-noun form of enter, meaning to go or come in; to penetrate; to become an ingredient or constituent part; to enter the mind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

declare

↗

To make known, tell, announce, proclaim, explain, show, or state plainly.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

cause

↗

Sense 1: A reason, ground, matter in dispute, or judicial case. Sense 2: As a verb, to make something happen.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ears

↗

Plural form of ear. Sense 1: The organ of hearing. Sense 2: The seed-bearing head of grain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

take

↗

To receive, seize, carry, accept, choose, or lay hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

place

↗

Sense 1: A physical location or room. Sense 2: A position or office. Sense 3: An occasion, circumstance, or passage. Sense 4: To set, fix, locate, or establish.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Joshua 20:5

COMBINED MEANING

avenger

↗

One who punishes or repays a wrong; in the law of Moses, the avenger of blood.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

blood

↗

Sense 1: The bodily fluid associated with physical life. Sense 2: Life taken, bloodshed, or guilt and responsibility for it. Sense 3: Kindred, shared human descent, or natural human nature. Sense 4: The juice of grapes.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

pursue

↗

1. To follow or chase in order to overtake. 2. To seek after and continue earnestly toward an aim.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

deliver

↗

Sense 1: To rescue, save, free, or bring safely out of danger or bondage. Sense 2: To hand over, give up, or place into another's power or possession. Sense 3: To bring forth, convey, declare, or commit something to another. Sense 4: To give birth or be delivered of a child.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hand

↗

Sense 1: The part of the body at the end of the arm. Sense 2: Figuratively, power, possession, aid, or agency.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

smote

↗

1. Struck or dealt a blow to a person or thing with a hand, weapon, instrument, object, or force. 2. Attacked, defeated, slew, destroyed, or devastated a person, army, city, people, or land. 3. Afflicted, injured, or visited with disease, plague, blindness, calamity, or judgment. 4. Of the heart, convicted, troubled, or reproved inwardly.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

unwittingly

↗

Without knowing, intending, realizing, or being aware; ignorantly or accidentally rather than deliberately.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hated

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of hate, meaning to feel strong dislike, aversion, or enmity toward; in comparisons, to love less.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Joshua 20:6

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

stand

↗

Sense 1: To be upright, rise, stop, remain, endure, take or keep a position, be established, withstand, or present oneself before another. Sense 2: A fixed position or state of stopping, as in ‘at a stand’.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

congregation

↗

1. A gathered assembly, company, or community of people, or the people considered together as a body. 2. In the fixed expressions "tabernacle of the congregation" and "tent of the congregation," part of the name of the appointed meeting place.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

judgment

↗

The act, authority, process, cause, or result of judging; discernment, legal hearing, verdict, ordinance, justice, government, vindication, condemnation, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

high

↗

Sense 1: Elevated or far above; great in height, stature, or position; aloft. Sense 2: Elevated or chief in rank, office, power, authority, honor, excellence, or importance. Sense 3: Great in degree, intensity, fullness, or advancement; loud or strongly expressed. Sense 4: Proud, haughty, or self-exalting. Sense 5: Difficult, lofty, or beyond reach or understanding. Sense 6: In high way, a principal or public road; in high place, an elevated site, often used for worship or sacrifice.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

priest

↗

One appointed to sacred service, ministering in things pertaining to God or a deity, especially by offering gifts or sacrifices.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

return

↗

Sense 1: To go, come, send, or give back; to restore, answer, or turn again. Sense 2: The act or time of coming back or recurring.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

house

↗

Sense 1: A building or dwelling. Sense 2: The people of a household or family. Sense 3: A lineage or family line. Sense 4: As a verb, to shelter, lodge, or provide a dwelling for.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fled

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of flee (to run or hasten away, especially from danger or expected evil).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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1THE Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying,

2Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

Selected passage

3That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Selected passage

4And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

Selected passage

5And 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.

Selected passage

6And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

Selected passage

7¶ And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.

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