What Does Joshua 21:38 Mean in the King James?
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Refuge does not erase the killing; it prevents vengeance from becoming the first judge.
THE MEANING
This verse holds the reality of harm and the availability of shelter together: even the slayer has a designated refuge. That protection leaves room for judgment instead of letting retaliation decide the outcome. Mahanaim is named as another town, while only Ramoth is given the stated refuge role.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie it undoes is that causing a death leaves only retaliation in its wake; refuge protects the slayer while the act remains answerable.
THE ROOT
מִקְלָט
miqlāṭ
GROWS FROM
קלט
q-l-ṭ
Receive, take in.
Miqlāṭ shares its root with qālaṭ, “to receive, take in.” Refuge is more than distance from danger: it is a place that receives the fleeing person and holds that person beyond the avenger’s reach while the case proceeds.
ALSO GROWS
qālaṭ: To receive or take in.
קָלַט
The verb shows the active sense beneath refuge: someone is taken in and sheltered.
miqlāṭ: Refuge, asylum.
מִקְלָט
The noun names the place that receives the person fleeing danger.
רֹצֵחַ
rōṣēaḥ
GROWS FROM
רצח
r-ṣ-ḥ
Kill, slay, or murder.
“slayer” in this verse is rōṣēaḥ. The Hebrew word comes directly from the act-word for killing, keeping the death itself in view. The root alone does not settle the case of intent; the refuge laws make room for judgment to distinguish it.
ALSO GROWS
rāṣaḥ: To kill or murder.
רָצַח
The verb makes the word for slayer point back to the act, not just a fixed identity.
reṣaḥ: Killing or murder.
רֶצַח
This noun keeps the taking of life present even as refuge protects the slayer.
מַחֲנַיִם
Maḥănayim
GROWS FROM
חנה
ḥ-n-h
To encamp, to pitch a camp.
Mahanaim is the dual form of maḥaneh, “camp,” and means “two camps.” Its name preserves the image of encamped life; the verse names it beside Ramoth but assigns the refuge role only to Ramoth.
ALSO GROWS
ḥānāh: To encamp or pitch a camp.
חָנָה
The verb supplies the action behind the town’s name.
maḥăneh: Camp or encampment.
מַחֲנֶה
The noun is the singular form from which Mahanaim’s doubled name is formed.
THE PATTERN
A refuge places distance between a threatened life and immediate retaliation so a considered outcome can still be reached.
And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:THE THREAD
And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.Joshua 21:38 names Ramoth as one assigned refuge; Numbers 35:6 gives the larger arrangement and uses מִקְלָט (miqlāṭ), “refuge,” the same word rooted in “receive, take in.” The city is designated for the manslayer to flee to, making refuge a prepared place that receives a person before the case is settled.
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