Keraia
Deuteronomy 21

Deuteronomy 21:6

Atonement for an Unsolved Murder · Deuteronomy 21:1–9
Read Deuteronomy 21

Translations

Modern
Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,
Traditional
And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:
Literal
And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain one shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley,
Latin
Et venient majores natu civitatis illius ad interfectum, lavabuntque manus suas super vitulam, quæ in valle percussa est,

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,

Notes

Deuteronomy 21:6

wash their hands: In the ancient world, people sometimes washed their hands to show they were innocent. This action showed that they were not guilty of wrongdoing (compare Matthew 27:24).

In this case, the community washed their hands to declare that they were not responsible for the crime. The crime had taken place near them, but they had not committed it.

Deuteronomy 21:3–8

A family member seeking revenge could not blame the entire community (19:6–7; Numbers 35:16–29).

Deuteronomy 21:1–9

The guilt of murder was usually removed through the death of the murderer (19:11–13; Numbers 35:30–34). However, if the murderer was unknown, the guilt could still be removed by using this ritual.

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Biblical Concept of Law Bloodguilt Covenant Deuteronomy, Book of

Topics

Ablution of the Hands, As a Token of Innocency Blood: Shedding of Human: Mode of Clearing Those Accused of Church: Rules of Discipline In, Mosaic and Christian Government: Municipal: Devolving Upon a Local Senate and Executive officers Hand: Washing of, a Symbol of Innocency Heifer: An Atonement for Murder Homicide: Felonious, or Murder Innocency: Signified by Washing the Hands Inquest: General Scriptures Concerning Murder: Mode of Clearing Those Suspected of Purification: Washing Hands in Water, Symbolical of Innocency The Hands were Washed in Token of Innocency Washing of Hands, a Token of Innocence