Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version and they shall declare: “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. New Living Translation Then they must say, ‘Our hands did not shed this person’s blood, nor did we see it happen. English Standard Version and they shall testify, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it shed. Berean Standard Bible and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. King James Bible And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. New King James Version Then they shall answer and say, ‘Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it. New American Standard Bible and they shall respond and say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see who did. NASB 1995 and they shall answer and say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. NASB 1977 and they shall answer and say, ‘Our hands have not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. Legacy Standard Bible and they shall answer and say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. Amplified Bible and they shall respond, and say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. Christian Standard Bible They will declare, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood; our eyes did not see it. Holman Christian Standard Bible They will declare, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood; our eyes did not see it. American Standard Version and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Contemporary English Version and say, "We had no part in this murder, and we don't know who did it. English Revised Version and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then they must make this formal statement: "We didn't commit this murder, and we didn't witness it. Good News Translation and say, 'We did not murder this one, and we do not know who did it. International Standard Version and they are to make this declaration: 'Our hands didn't shed this blood, nor were we witnesses to the crime. Majority Standard Bible and they shall declare, ?Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. NET Bible Then they must proclaim, "Our hands have not spilled this blood, nor have we witnessed the crime. New Heart English Bible and they shall answer and say, "Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Webster's Bible Translation And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. World English Bible They shall answer and say, “Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand they have answered and said, Our hands have not shed this blood, and our eyes have not seen— Young's Literal Translation and they have answered and said, Our hands have not shed this blood, and our eyes have not seen -- Smith's Literal Translation And they answered and said, Our hands poured not out this blood, and our eyes saw not. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd shall say: Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. Catholic Public Domain Version And they shall say: ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. New American Bible and shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, and our eyes did not see the deed. New Revised Standard Version and they shall declare: “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor were we witnesses to it. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen the victim. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they shall answer and they shall say: 'Our hand has not shed this blood and our eyes have not seen. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they shall speak and say: 'Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Brenton Septuagint Translation and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, and our eyes have not seen it. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder…6Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken, 7and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it. 8Accept this atonement, O LORD, for Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, and do not hold the shedding of innocent blood against them.” And the bloodshed will be atoned for.… Cross References Numbers 35:33-34 Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. / Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.” Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind. Psalm 19:12-13 Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. / Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression. 1 Samuel 26:9-11 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” / David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. / But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.” 2 Samuel 3:28-29 Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. / May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” 1 Kings 2:31-33 And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed. / The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. / Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.” Isaiah 1:15-16 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. / Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! Jeremiah 2:34-35 Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things / you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him. Hosea 4:2-3 Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. / Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear. Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.” Acts 18:6 But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Acts 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. Romans 3:25-26 God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. / He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus. 1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. Treasury of Scripture And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Numbers 5:19-28 And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: … 2 Samuel 16:8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Job 21:21-23 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? … Jump to Previous Blood Death Declare Eyes Hands Shed Speak Testify WorkJump to Next Blood Death Declare Eyes Hands Shed Speak Testify WorkDeuteronomy 21 1. The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder10. The usage of a captive taken to wife 15. The firstborn is not to be disinherited upon private affection 18. A rebellious son is to be stoned to death 22. The malefactor must not hang all night on a tree and they shall declare This phrase refers to the elders of the city nearest to where a slain person is found. In the context of ancient Israel, the elders held significant authority and responsibility for maintaining justice and righteousness within their community. Their declaration is a formal statement, emphasizing the importance of communal accountability and the pursuit of justice. This reflects the broader biblical principle of leaders being accountable for the spiritual and moral state of their people, as seen in passages like Ezekiel 34:1-10. Our hands did not shed this blood nor did our eyes see it Persons / Places / Events 1. Elders of the CityThese are the leaders or representatives of the city who are responsible for making judgments and decisions on behalf of the community. In the context of Deuteronomy 21, they play a crucial role in the ritual of atonement for an unsolved murder. 2. Priests, the sons of Levi The Levitical priests are involved in the ritual process, as they are the ones who minister before the Lord and are responsible for spiritual matters, including atonement and purification. 3. The Nearest City This refers to the city closest to where an unsolved murder has occurred. The elders of this city are responsible for performing the ritual to atone for the bloodshed. 4. The Heifer A young cow that has not been worked or yoked, used in the ritual of atonement. It is brought to a valley with running water and its neck is broken as part of the ceremony. 5. The Valley with Running Water A specific location where the ritual takes place. The running water symbolizes cleansing and life, and the valley is a place set apart for this solemn act. Teaching Points The Sanctity of LifeThe ritual underscores the value God places on human life and the seriousness of bloodshed. It reminds us to uphold the sanctity of life in our communities and personal lives. Community Responsibility The involvement of the city's elders highlights the communal responsibility for justice and righteousness. We are called to be active participants in maintaining justice and addressing wrongs in our communities. The Need for Atonement The ritual points to the necessity of atonement for sin and wrongdoing. It foreshadows the ultimate atonement through Christ, encouraging us to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Symbolism of Cleansing The use of running water in the ritual symbolizes cleansing and renewal. This invites us to reflect on the cleansing power of God's grace in our lives. Role of Leadership The elders' role in the ritual emphasizes the importance of godly leadership. Leaders are called to act justly and guide their communities in accordance with God's laws.Verses 7, 8. - This act they were to accompany with a solemn declaration of their innocence of this crime, and of their entire ignorance of the perpetrator of it; and with an earnest cry to God that the sin which had been done might be forgiven. Be merciful... unto; be propitiated towards (literally, cover, כַּפֵּר לְעַמְך; for the phrase, כַּפֵר לְ, see Leviticus 1:4). And lay not innocent blood; the blood of the innocent man who has been slain. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew and they shall declare,וְעָנ֖וּ (wə·‘ā·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6030: To answer, respond “Our hands יָדֵ֗ינוּ (yā·ḏê·nū) Noun - fdc | first person common plural Strong's 3027: A hand did not לֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no shed שָֽׁפְכוּ֙ (šā·p̄ə·ḵū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out this הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that blood, הַדָּ֣ם (had·dām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed nor did לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no our eyes וְעֵינֵ֖ינוּ (wə·‘ê·nê·nū) Conjunctive waw | Noun - cdc | first person common plural Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain see it. רָאֽוּ׃ (rā·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7200: To see Links Deuteronomy 21:7 NIVDeuteronomy 21:7 NLT Deuteronomy 21:7 ESV Deuteronomy 21:7 NASB Deuteronomy 21:7 KJV Deuteronomy 21:7 BibleApps.com Deuteronomy 21:7 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 21:7 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 21:7 French Bible Deuteronomy 21:7 Catholic Bible OT Law: Deuteronomy 21:7 And they shall answer and say Our (Deut. De Du) |