Joshua 20:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If the avenger pursues, the city must not hand the fugitive over, since the death was accidental and without prior hatred.
What Does Joshua 20:5 Mean?
The test is the heart. The killing was 'unwittingly,' and there was no hatred 'beforetime' -- no old grudge, no lurking malice. Because intent was absent, the city stands as a wall between the fugitive and the pursuing avenger, refusing to surrender him.
God's justice has always looked beneath the act to the motive within. Here the community is charged to protect rather than abandon, to weigh the heart before exacting a penalty. This is the same God who judges righteously, distinguishing the malicious from the broken. The one who comes without hatred finds himself defended, not destroyed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 20:5
What does Joshua 20:5 mean?
If the avenger pursues, the city must not hand the fugitive over, since the death was accidental and without prior hatred.