Deuteronomy 19:10 - This is so that innocent blood will not be shed in the middle of your land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, leaving blood guilt on you.
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What does "Deuteronomy 19:10" mean?
Deuteronomy 19:10 is part of a larger section (Deuteronomy 19:1-13) dealing with cities of refuge. In the context of the entire passage, the verse is explaining why these cities of refuge are necessary. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"This is so that innocent blood will not be shed...": This highlights the purpose of the cities of refuge. The goal is to prevent the unjustified killing of someone.
"...in the middle of your land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance...": This emphasizes that the land is a gift from God, and therefore must be treated with respect. Shedding innocent blood pollutes the land. "In the middle of your land" just means in the whole area that God has allotted to them.
"...leaving blood guilt on you.": This is the key consequence to avoid. "Blood guilt" is a heavy burden of responsibility and moral defilement that falls upon the community when innocent blood is shed within its borders. It's not just about individual guilt, but a communal stain that affects the entire society in God's eyes. This guilt can bring divine judgment or misfortune upon the community.
In summary:
The verse underscores the importance of protecting innocent life and preventing unjust killings. The existence of cities of refuge is intended to prevent accidental manslaughter from turning into a cycle of revenge killings (where the relatives of the deceased might pursue the accidental killer out of anger). By providing a safe haven, the cities of refuge prevent further bloodshed and protect the community from incurring the "blood guilt" that would result from the unjustified killing of an innocent person. It emphasizes the community's responsibility to provide a system of justice that avoids escalating violence and prevents the defilement of the land given to them by God.
Deuteronomy 19:10 - This is so that innocent blood will not be shed in the middle of your land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, leaving blood guilt on you.
What does "Deuteronomy 19:10" mean?
Deuteronomy 19:10 is part of a larger section (Deuteronomy 19:1-13) dealing with cities of refuge. In the context of the entire passage, the verse is explaining why these cities of refuge are necessary. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"This is so that innocent blood will not be shed...": This highlights the purpose of the cities of refuge. The goal is to prevent the unjustified killing of someone.
"...in the middle of your land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance...": This emphasizes that the land is a gift from God, and therefore must be treated with respect. Shedding innocent blood pollutes the land. "In the middle of your land" just means in the whole area that God has allotted to them.
"...leaving blood guilt on you.": This is the key consequence to avoid. "Blood guilt" is a heavy burden of responsibility and moral defilement that falls upon the community when innocent blood is shed within its borders. It's not just about individual guilt, but a communal stain that affects the entire society in God's eyes. This guilt can bring divine judgment or misfortune upon the community.
In summary:
The verse underscores the importance of protecting innocent life and preventing unjust killings. The existence of cities of refuge is intended to prevent accidental manslaughter from turning into a cycle of revenge killings (where the relatives of the deceased might pursue the accidental killer out of anger). By providing a safe haven, the cities of refuge prevent further bloodshed and protect the community from incurring the "blood guilt" that would result from the unjustified killing of an innocent person. It emphasizes the community's responsibility to provide a system of justice that avoids escalating violence and prevents the defilement of the land given to them by God.