Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terminology, the term "manslayer" refers to an individual who has killed another person without premeditated intent, distinguishing them from a murderer who acts with malice aforethought. The concept of the manslayer is primarily addressed in the Old Testament, where specific laws and provisions were established to deal with such cases.
Old Testament ContextThe distinction between a manslayer and a murderer is clearly outlined in the Mosaic Law. In
Numbers 35:9-15, God instructs Moses to establish cities of refuge for those who have killed someone unintentionally. These cities served as places of asylum where the manslayer could flee to avoid the avenger of blood, a family member seeking retribution for the death. The Berean Standard Bible states:
"Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. These cities will be a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.'" (
Numbers 35:9-12)
The cities of refuge were strategically located throughout the land to ensure accessibility. Six cities were designated: three on the east side of the Jordan River and three on the west. The purpose of these cities was to provide a fair trial and prevent blood vengeance, which was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures.
Legal Provisions and TrialsThe law required that the manslayer remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest, after which they could return home without fear of retribution (
Numbers 35:25-28). This provision underscored the sanctity of life and the importance of justice tempered with mercy. The trial process was designed to ensure that the killing was indeed accidental and not an act of murder.
Deuteronomy 19:4-6 further clarifies the conditions under which a person could be considered a manslayer:
"Now this is the case of the manslayer who flees there to live: When someone kills his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice, as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies. He may flee to one of these cities and live. Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him because the distance is great, and strike him dead, though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm." (
Deuteronomy 19:4-6)
Theological ImplicationsThe provision for manslayers reflects the biblical principle of justice balanced with compassion. It acknowledges human fallibility and the potential for tragic accidents, while also upholding the value of human life. The cities of refuge symbolize God's mercy and the opportunity for redemption and protection under His law.
New Testament ReflectionWhile the New Testament does not specifically address the concept of the manslayer, the principles of justice, mercy, and forgiveness are echoed in the teachings of Jesus Christ. The emphasis on reconciliation and forgiveness in passages such as
Matthew 5:21-26 aligns with the spirit of the Old Testament laws regarding manslayers, highlighting the importance of resolving conflicts and seeking peace.
In summary, the biblical concept of the manslayer provides insight into the ancient legal system and God's provision for justice and mercy. It underscores the importance of intent in moral and legal judgments and reflects the broader biblical themes of protection, refuge, and redemption.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Manslayerone who kills another unintentionally, and is thus distinguished from a murderer, who kills with malice aforethought. The cases of manslaughter mentioned in Scripture appear to be a sufficient indication of the intention of the lawgiver.
- Death by a blow in a sudden quarrel. (Numbers 35:22)
- Death by a stone or missile thrown at random. Ibid. (Numbers 35:22,23)
- By the blade of an axe flying from its handle. (19:5) In all these and the like cases the manslayer was allowed to retire to a city of refuge. A thief overtaken at night in the act of stealing might lawfully be put to death, but if the sun had risen the killing him was to be regarded as murder. (Exodus 22:2,8)
ATS Bible Dictionary
ManslayerSeeREFUGE, CITIES OF.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
One who was guilty of accidental homicide, and was entitled to flee to a city of refuge (
Numbers 35:6, 12, 22, 23), his compulsory residence in which terminated with the death of the high priest. (see
CITY OF REFUGE.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) One who kills a human being; one who commits manslaughter.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MANSLAYERman'-sla-er (meratstseach, from ratsach (Numbers 35:6, 12); androphonos (1 Timothy 1:9)): A term employed with reference to both premeditated and accidental or justifiable killing. In the latter case, an asylum was granted (Numbers 35:6, 12) until the death of the high priest, after which the slayer was allowed to "return into the land of his possession" (Numbers 35:28). The cases in which the manslayer was to be held clearly immune from the punishment imposed on willful killing were:
(1) death by a blow in a sudden quarrel (Numbers 35:22);
(2) death by anything thrown at random (Numbers 35:22, 23);
(3) death by the blade of an axe flying from the handle (Deuteronomy 19:5).
Among the cases in which one would be held responsible for the death of another, is to be counted the neglectful act of building a house without a parapet (Deuteronomy 22:8).
Manslaughter, as a modern legal term, is employed to distinguish unpremeditated killing from coldblooded murder, but formerly (2 Esdras 1:26) it was used in a more general sense.
SeeMURDER.
Frank E. Hirsch
Greek
409. androphonos -- amanslayer... a
manslayer. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: androphonos Phonetic
Spelling: (an-drof-on'-os) Short Definition: a murderer Definition: a murderer
...443. anthropoktonos -- amanslayer
... amanslayer. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: anthropoktonos Phonetic
Spelling: (anth-ro-pok-ton'-os) Short Definition: a murderer Definition: a...
Strong's Hebrew
7523. ratsach -- to murder, slay... ratsach. 7524 . to murder, slay. Transliteration: ratsach Phonetic Spelling:
(raw-tsakh') Short Definition:
manslayer.
... put to death, kill,
manslayer, murderer.
...Library
Rom. Ix. 1
... For if we do not look narrowly into the causes, we shall call Elijah amanslayer,
and Abraham not amanslayer only, but a murderer of his son....
The Gospel Refuge.
... If you read the Bible account, you will find that themanslayer had his liberty
restored to him upon the death of the High Priest.[57] When the tidings of the...
The Believer a New Creature
... The city of refuge no sooner received themanslayer than he was perfectly
free from the avenger who pursued him. Once within the...
Two Fortresses
... and catch up their children in their arms, and set their wives upon their mules,
and make all haste to some fortified place; or as when themanslayer in Israel...
John Chapter viii. 37-47
... Abraham was nomanslayer.... From the very time that murder [manslaughter] could
possibly be committed, he was a murderer [manslayer]....
When travelling lately through the Simplon
... Retreats," I could not help being reminded of the wonderful Cities of Refuge which
God graciously provided of old in Palestine for the unfortunatemanslayer....
In Him: Like Him
... that makes us Christians: by union with him as our life we truly live,"live in the
favour of God."We are in Christ, dear brethren, as themanslayer was in...
What Then, if a Homicide Seek Refuge with a Christian...
... knowest and hast seen? Art thou then prepared to bear false witness, and to
slay thy soul that amanslayer may not be slain? Or, up to...
The Heathen, who have not a Full Revelation of the Truth...
... suffer for their crime, drives the unwilling gladiator to the murderous deed with
rods and scourges; and one who demands the lion for everymanslayer of deeper...
The Power of Christ's Resurrection
... them but dung (no more than offals thrown out to dogs) so that I may win, (or have
a saving interest in) Christ, and be found in him( as themanslayer in the...
Thesaurus
Manslayer (20 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MANSLAYER. man
... See MURDER. Frank E. Hirsch.
Multi-Version Concordance
Manslayer (20 Occurrences). Numbers
...Slayer (23 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Numbers 35:11 then you shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for
you, that themanslayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there....
Accused (29 Occurrences)
... Numbers 35:12 The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the
manslayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment....
Refuge (111 Occurrences)
... instituted. Open highways were to be maintained along, which themanslayer
might have an unobstructed course to the city gate. 3...
Avenger (18 Occurrences)
... refuge (Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35:13; Deuteronomy 19:1, 9). These were in different
parts of the country, and every facility was afforded themanslayer that he...
Unintentionally (20 Occurrences)
... Numbers 35:11 then you shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you,
that themanslayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there. (See NAS)....
Kills (38 Occurrences)
... Numbers 35:11 then you shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you,
that themanslayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there. (WEB RSV)....
Murder (41 Occurrences)
... Ho 6:9); phoneus, "criminal homicide," from phoneuo, "to kill," "slay"; phonos,
from pheno, has the same meaning; anthropoktonos, "manslayer," "murderer," is...
Aforethought (5 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:42 that themanslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unawares,
and didn't hate him in time past; and that fleeing to one of these...
Malice (24 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:42 that themanslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unawares,
and didn't hate him in time past; and that fleeing to one of these...
Resources
Why is "You shall not murder" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.orgManslayer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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