Numbers 35:31

31 "'Don't take money to spare the life of a murderer who should be put to death. A murderer must be put to death.

Numbers 35:31 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:31

Moreover, ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a
murderer
Though he would give all his wealth and substance, all his estates and possessions, and whatever he is worth in the world; for all that a man has he will give for his life; but these are not to be taken, nor anything, and everything his friends may offer for him; all is to be rejected, the life of such a man is not to be saved on any consideration:

which is guilty of death;
as he is who kills a man willingly and purposely; but one may be guilty of killing another, and yet not be deserving of death, when it is done ignorantly and accidentally with respect to him, for which reason this clause is added: but he shall be surely put to death; by the order of the civil magistrate; and if this is not done either through want of evidence, or the fault of the judge, or the criminal clemency of the chief governor, God sooner or later will take vengeance on such a person.

Numbers 35:31 In-Context

29 "'These laws are for you from now on, wherever you live.
30 "'If anyone kills a person, the murderer may be put to death only if there are witnesses. No one may be put to death with only one witness.
31 "'Don't take money to spare the life of a murderer who should be put to death. A murderer must be put to death.
32 "'If someone has run to a city of safety, don't take money to let the person go back home before the high priest dies.
33 "'Don't let murder spoil your land. The only way to remove the sin of killing an innocent person is for the murderer to be put to death.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.