Joshua 20:9 Meaning and Explanation
“These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →These cities served all Israel and the foreigner among them, so anyone who killed accidentally could flee and stand before the congregation.
What Does Joshua 20:9 Mean?
The chapter closes by widening the circle: the refuge is not only for native Israelites but for the 'stranger that sojourneth among them.' Whoever kills a person unawares -- citizen or foreigner alike -- may flee and be kept alive until a fair hearing before the congregation.
That the outsider shares the same protection is no small thing. God's shelter does not stop at the boundary of birth or blood. The word 'whosoever' opens the door to all, anticipating the wide invitation of the gospel, where the stranger is welcomed and the guilty are spared. In the cities of refuge we glimpse a God whose mercy reaches beyond Israel to everyone who runs to Him.
Joshua 20:9 in the Original Language
ger (גֵּר), 'stranger' -- a resident foreigner living among Israel, here granted the same refuge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 20:9
What does Joshua 20:9 mean?
These cities served all Israel and the foreigner among them, so anyone who killed accidentally could flee and stand before the congregation.