Numbers 35:19

19 The blood avenger himself will put the killer to death; he must put him to death when meeting him.

Numbers 35:19 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:19

The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer
Not only shall have power to do it, but, as it seems, should be obliged to do it; be the executioner of the murderer; but not before his case has been heard, examined, tried, and judged; wherefore the Targum of Jonathan adds,

``in judgment,''

that is, as Onkelos explains it,

``when he is condemned by judgment,''

the court of judicature:

when he meeteth him he shall slay him;
the first opportunity he has, even though, as Jarchi says, if he meets him in the midst of one of the cities of refuge, and no judgment is passed on him.

Numbers 35:19 In-Context

17 And if he hit him with a stone in the hand, by which he will die, and he does die, he [is] a killer; the killer must surely be put to death.

18 Or if he hit him with a wooden object, by which he will die, and he does die, he [is] a killer; the killer must surely be put to death.

19 The blood avenger himself will put the killer to death; he must put him to death when meeting him.

20 If he shoves him in hatred, or he throws something at him with intention, and he dies,

21 or if he hits him in hostility with his hand, and he dies, the one that struck him will put to death the killer when meeting him.