What Does Numbers 35:31 Mean in the King James?
Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.
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
The Hebrew calls the refused payment a covering, and forbids that covering from standing in for the murderer’s life.
THE MEANING
The verse makes the consequence blunt: no payment is accepted for the life of a murderer guilty of death; he is put to death. The life taken cannot be reduced to a debt that money settles.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that a murderer can buy release from death by paying for the life he took.
THE ROOT
כֹּפֶר
kofer
GROWS FROM
כפר
kaphar
cover
The word translated “satisfaction” is kofer, a covering price or ransom, from the root kaphar, “to cover.” The verse names this kind of covering and refuses it: no payment can stand in for the murderer’s life.
ALSO GROWS
kippur: covering
כִּפּוּר
This related form carries the same covering idea, while the verse declares that a payment cannot cover the murderer’s guilt or replace his life.
kappōret: cover or lid over the ark
כַּפֹּרֶת
The root’s tangible image is a cover; here, the text bars a monetary cover from being placed over the taking of a human life.
THE PATTERN
When blood is shed, Scripture makes the killer answer for the life taken rather than letting its value be absorbed by a substitute.
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.THE THREAD
If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.Exodus uses the same Hebrew noun כֹּפֶר (kofer, ransom) for money paid to preserve a life. Numbers refuses that covering for a murderer condemned to die, making the prohibition sharper: the text recognizes ransom and denies it here.
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