Deuteronomy 21:6

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

All the elders of the city nearest to the slain person shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְכֹ֗ל זִקְנֵי֙ הָעִ֣יר הַהִ֔וא הַקְּרֹבִ֖ים אֶל־הֶחָלָ֑ל יִרְחֲצוּ֙ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם עַל־הָעֶגְלָ֖ה הָעֲרוּפָ֥ה בַנָּֽחַל׃

Transliteration

And-all ziqnê the-ʿîr the-hahîʾ the-qərōbîm to-the-heḥālāl yirḥăṣû [direct object] yədêhem over-the-ʿeglāh the-ʿărûpāh in-the-naḥal.

Grammar Details

• *ziqnê*: masculine plural noun construct - elders of
• *ʿîr*: feminine singular noun with definite article - the city
• *hahîʾ*: feminine singular demonstrative adjective with definite article - that
• *qərōbîm*: masculine plural adjective with definite article - the nearest
• *heḥālāl*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the slain one
• *yirḥăṣû*: Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine plural - they shall wash
• *yədêhem*: feminine dual noun construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their hands
• *ʿeglāh*: feminine singular noun with definite article - the heifer
• *ʿărûpāh*: Qal passive participle, feminine singular with definite article - the neck-broken
• *naḥal*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the valley/stream

Word Meanings

• *qərōbîm*: nearest/closest ones
• *yirḥăṣû*: they shall wash/cleanse
• *ʿărûpāh*: neck-broken/beheaded

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And all the elrs of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is behead in the valley:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And all the elders of that city, that are nearest to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley,

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And all the elders of the citie that is nexte to the slayne man shall wasshe their handes ouer the heyffer that is beheded in the playne,

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And all the Elders of the same cite shall come forth vnto the slayne, & wash their handes ouer ye yonge cowe, whose heade is stricken of in the valley,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And all the Elders of that citie that came neere to the slayne man, shal wash their hands ouer the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And all the elders of the citie that come foorth to the slayne man, shall washe their handes ouer the heyffer that is beheaded in the valley,

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And all the elders of that city, [that are] next unto the slain [man], shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  All the elders of that city, who are nearest to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and all the elders of that city, who are near unto the slain one, do wash their hands over the heifer which is beheaded in the valley,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And all the responsible men of that town which is nearest to the dead man, washing their hands over the cow whose neck was broken in the valley,

• World English Bible (2000)

  All the elders of that city, who are nearest to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  and all the elders of that city nearest the corpse must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 26:6 : 6 I will wash my hands in innocence, and I will go around Your altar, Lord,
• Ps 73:13 : 13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence.
• Jer 2:22 : 22 Though you wash yourself with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me,” declares the Lord GOD.
• Matt 27:24-25 : 24 When Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.' 25 And all the people answered, 'His blood be on us and on our children!'
• Heb 9:10 : 10 They are only regulations concerning food and drink and various ceremonial washings, external ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
• Ps 51:2 : 2 When Nathan the prophet came to him after David had gone to Bathsheba.
• Ps 51:7 : 7 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
• Ps 51:14 : 14 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
• Job 9:30 : 30 Even if I washed myself with snow and cleansed my hands with soap,
• Ps 19:12 : 12 By them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.