Numbers 35:33 Meaning and Explanation
“So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Unpunished bloodshed defiles the land; only the murderer's blood cleanses it.
The Context of Numbers 35:33
Blood-guilt defiles the land and requires the murderer's death to cleanse it.
What Does Numbers 35:33 Mean?
The land itself is ritually affected by bloodshed. Innocent blood cries out and contaminates the soil. Unjudged murder creates a spiritual debt that affects the entire community and land.
The cleansing comes through the murderer's execution. When the blood-guilty pays with his own blood, the land is restored to wholeness. This law prevents blood-guilt from accumulating and bringing judgment on the nation.
Numbers 35:33 in the Original Language
pollute (טָמֵא, tamea) — to defile or render unclean, a ritual status that affects both persons and land in relation to holiness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 35:33
What does Numbers 35:33 mean?
Unpunished bloodshed defiles the land; only the murderer's blood cleanses it.
What is the context of Numbers 35:33?
Blood-guilt defiles the land and requires the murderer's death to cleanse it.