Deuteronomy - 19:13



13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away the innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with you.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Deuteronomy 19:13.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Thine eye shall not spare him; and thou shalt put away innocent blood from Israel, that it may be well with thee.
Thy eye shall not pity him, but thou shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may be well with thee.
thine eye hath no pity on him, and thou hast put away the innocent blood from Israel, and it is well with thee.
Have no pity on him, so that Israel may be clear from the crime of putting a man to death without cause, and it will be well for you.
Non parcet oculus tuus ei, et auferes sanguinem innocentem ex Israele, et bene erit tibi.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Thine (g) eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away [the guilt of] innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
(g) Then whoever pardons murder, goes against the word of God.

Thine eye shall not pity him,.... This is not said to the avenger of blood, who is not to be supposed to have any pity or compassion on such a person, but to the elders, judges, and civil magistrates of the city to which he belonged, who took cognizance of his case; these were to show him no favour on account of his being a citizen, a neighbour, a relation or friend, or a rich man, or on any account whatever; but without favour or affection were to judge him and put him to death as a murderer; see Numbers 35:21,
but thou shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel; by which they would be defiled, and be liable to punishment for it; see Numbers 35:33, the Targum of Jonathan is,"shall put away those that shed innocent blood out of Israel;''put them away by death:
that it may go well with thee; with the whole land and its inhabitants, and with the city particularly, and the magistrates, and men of it, to which the murderer condemned to death belonged, being continued in the enjoyment of all temporal blessings and mercies.

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