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Deuteronomy 21:6

“And all the elders of that city who are nearest to the slain one shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the stream,”

Deuteronomy 21:6 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

6

Allusion · Matthew 27:24

Go to Matthew 27:24

Both texts join washing one’s hands and declaring oneself innocent of someone’s blood. In Deuteronomy 21:6-9 the elders of the city nearest to a person slain by an unknown killer do it.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • יִרְחֲצוּyirjatsuH7364ἀπενίψατοapenipsatoG633“wash, bathe”
  • יְדֵיyedeH3027χεῖραςcheirasG5495“hand”
  • נָקִיnakiH5355ἈθῷόςAthōiosG121“innocent”
  • דָּםdamH1818αἵματοςhaimatosG129“blood”

Deuteronomy 21:6, word by word

the eldersזִקְנֵיzikne

elder

The senior men who led a city or the people.

Where else “zikne” appears
cityעִירir

city

A settled place protected by a wall, with a gate and houses.

Where else “ir” appears
who are nearestקְּרֹבִיםkerovim

near

Close by, or having access to YHWH.

Where else “kerovim” appears
the slain oneחָלָלchalal

slain

Someone killed or wounded in war.

Where else “chalal” appears
shall washיִרְחֲצוּyirchatsu

wash

Wash; wash oneself, bathe.

Where else “yirchatsu” appears
their handsיְדֵיyede

hand

The part of the body with which one takes, gives and works; also what one does.

Where else “yede” appears
the heiferעֶגְלָהegla

heifer

A young cow.

Where else “egla” appears
whose neck was brokenעֲרוּפָהarufa

break the neck

Break the neck of an animal.

Where else “arufa” appears
in the streamנָּחַלnachal

torrent

A channel that runs with water only in the rainy season.

Where else “nachal” appears

Translation note

Pilate made a similar gesture to declare himself without guilt (Matthew 27:24).

The context

5And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for YHWH your Elohim has chosen them to minister to him and to bless in the name of YHWH, and by their word every dispute and every blow shall be settled.

6 · This verse (above)

7and they shall answer and say, “Our hands did not shed this blood, and our eyes did not see it.

Read all of Deuteronomy 21

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