👉 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;
Explanation: Okay, letâs break down Deuteronomy 19:4. Itâs a pretty important verse about responsibility and justice. Hereâs the explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that if someone kills another person, they must flee to safety. But there's a crucial catch â they must do this because they were angry or hated the person before they killed them. Letâs unpack it piece by piece: âAnd this is the case of the slayerâŚâ This tells us weâre talking about someone who has committed murder (killing another human being). ââŚwhich shall flee thither, that he may live:â This means they must leave the area where they killed the person. It's a command to escape. âWhoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;â This is the key part. Letâs break it down further: âWhosoâŚâ This means "whoever" or "that whoever..." ââŚkilleth his neighbourâŚâ This is a direct reference to killing someone who isn't your neighbor â someone you donât know, or who lives in a different place. "...ignorant..." This is the important part! It means they killed the person without thinking about it. They werenât careful and didnât consider that their actions might be wrong. ââŚwhom he hated not in time past;â This means they haven't been angry or hateful towards this person for a long time. It suggests there was a reason for the anger, but it doesnât excuse the act of killing. So, what does it mean practically? The verse essentially says that killing someone you hate, without thinking about it, is wrong. It's a warning against rash actions and encourages careful thought before taking a life. It emphasizes the importance of considering the consequences of your actions. Why is this important in the Bible? This verse highlights several key themes: Responsibility: We are responsible for our actions, especially when we harm others. Thoughtfulness: It stresses that violence should be avoided and carefully considered. Justice: It points towards a moral obligation to seek justice â to make amends for wrongdoing. In short, Deuteronomy 19:4 is a reminder to think before you act, especially when anger or hatred might be the cause of your actions. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you some examples of situations where this principle applies? Compare it to another relevant Bible passage?