Deuteronomy 21:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The elders take the heifer to an uncultivated valley and kill it there.
The Context of Deuteronomy 21:4
The heifer is brought to an uncultivated valley and slain by the elders.
What Does Deuteronomy 21:4 Mean?
The location is specific—neither plowed nor planted. This rough, unworked land mirrors the unresolved violence; the ritual is performed where cultivation has not reached, emphasizing the wild nature of the unsolved crime. The setting reinforces that this is an act of atonement in a liminal space.
Breaking the heifer's neck is a decisive act. It is not a traditional sacrifice at the altar with blood drained and offerings made; instead, it is a public, ritual action performed by community leaders in a set-apart place. The break-neck slaying was used elsewhere in Scripture when no proper altar was available.
Deuteronomy 21:4 in the Original Language
nachal (נַחַל), 'valley'—a ravine or stream-bed, often symbolic of transition and liminal space.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 21:4
What does Deuteronomy 21:4 mean?
The elders take the heifer to an uncultivated valley and kill it there.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 21:4?
The heifer is brought to an uncultivated valley and slain by the elders.