Features Pricing Bible Library Churches About Sign in Begin

Numbers 35:33

So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

Numbers 35:33 · King James Version

Meaning

This verse emphasizes the importance of maintaining purity and justice within the land where one resides. It warns against polluting the land with violence or shedding innocent blood, as it defiles the very ground on which people live. The verse highlights the idea that the shedding of blood creates a stain on the land that cannot be easily removed. The only way to cleanse the land of this defilement is by holding the one responsible for the bloodshed accountable. In biblical times, the shedding of blood was seen as a serious offense that required atonement through bloodshed. This verse serves as a reminder to uphold justice, prevent violence, and maintain the sanctity of the land in order to live in harmony and righteousness.

Theological Overview

In this verse, the concept of bloodshed and its consequences is discussed in a theological context. The importance of maintaining the holiness of the land where the people reside is emphasized, as it is believed that the shedding of blood pollutes the land. This pollution cannot be cleansed by ordinary means, but only by the shedding of the blood of the one who committed the act. This principle reflects the seriousness with which bloodshed is viewed in the Bible, as it is seen as a defilement that requires atonement. Furthermore, the emphasis on the shedding of blood to cleanse the land highlights the belief in the necessity of sacrificial offerings to make amends for sins committed. Overall, this verse serves as a reminder of the spiritual significance of bloodshed and the need for atonement to restore purity and holiness to the land.

Numbers 35:33 in other translations

American Standard Version

So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

World English Bible

“‘So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it.

Douay-Rheims

Defile not the land of your habitation, which is stained with the blood of the innocent: neither can it otherwise be expiated, but by his blood that hath shed the blood of another.

Geneva Bible (1599)

So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye shall dwell: for blood defileth the land: and the land cannot be clensed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.