Deuteronomy 21:3

KJV1611 – Modern English

And it shall be that the city which is nearest to the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer, which has not been worked with, and which has not drawn in the yoke;

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְהָיָ֣ה הָעִ֔יר הַקְּרֹבָ֖ה אֶל־הֶחָלָ֑ל וְלָֽקְח֡וּ זִקְנֵי֩ הָעִ֨יר הַהִ֜וא עֶגְלַ֣ת בָּקָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־עֻבַּד֙ בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־מָשְׁכָ֖ה בְּעֹֽל׃

Transliteration

And-hāyāh the-ʿîr the-qərōbāh to-the-heḥālāl, and-lāqəḥû ziqnê the-ʿîr the-hahîʾ ʿeglat bāqār which not-ʿubbad in-her, which not-māšəkāh in-ʿōl.

Grammar Details

• *hāyāh*: Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - it will be
• *ʿîr*: feminine singular noun with definite article - the city
• *qərōbāh*: feminine singular adjective with definite article - the nearest
• *heḥālāl*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the slain one
• *lāqəḥû*: Qal perfect, 3rd person common plural - they shall take
• *ziqnê*: masculine plural noun construct - elders of
• *hahîʾ*: feminine singular demonstrative adjective with definite article - that
• *ʿeglat*: feminine singular noun construct - heifer of
• *bāqār*: collective noun - cattle/herd
• *ʿubbad*: Pual perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - was worked with
• *māšəkāh*: Qal perfect, 3rd person feminine singular - she has drawn/pulled
• *ʿōl*: masculine singular noun - yoke

Word Meanings

• *qərōbāh*: nearest/closest
• *ʿeglat*: heifer/young cow
• *bāqār*: cattle/herd/oxen
• *ʿubbad*: was worked with/was used for labor
• *māšəkāh*: has drawn/pulled/dragged
• *ʿōl*: yoke/burden

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  The elders of the city nearest to the slain person shall take a heifer that has never been worked or yoked,

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elrs of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and it shall be, that the city{H5892} which is nearest{H7138} unto the slain man,{H2491} even the elders{H2205} of that city{H5892} shall take{H3947} a heifer{H1241} of the herd, which hath not been wrought with,{H5647} and which hath not drawn{H4900} in the yoke;{H5923}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it shall be, that the city{H5892} which is next{H7138} unto the slain man{H2491}, even the elders{H2205} of that city{H5892} shall take{H3947}{(H8804)} an heifer{H1241}{H5697}, which hath not been wrought with{H5647}{(H8795)}, and which hath not drawn{H4900}{(H8804)} in the yoke{H5923};

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And let the elders of that citie which is nexte vnto the slayne ma, take an heyffer that is not laboured with nor hath drawen in the iocke,

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Loke which cite is the nexte, ye Elders of the same shal take a yoge cowe, which hath not bene laboured, ner hath drawe in the yocke,

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Aud let ye Elders of that citie, which is next vnto the slaine man, take out of the droue an heifer that hath not bene put to labour, nor hath drawen in the yoke.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And let the elders of that citie which is next vnto the slayne man, take out of the droue an heyffer that hath not ben put to labour, nor hath drawen in the yoke:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And it shall be, [that] the city [which is] next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, [and] which hath not drawn in the yoke;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and it shall be, that the city which is nearest to the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hasn't been worked with, and which has not drawn in the yoke;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and it hath been, the city which `is' near unto the slain one, even the elders of that city have taken a heifer of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, which hath not drawn in the yoke,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and it shall be, that the city which is nearest unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and it shall be, that the city which is nearest unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And whichever town is nearest to the body, the responsible men of that town are to take from the herd a young cow which has never been used for work or put under the yoke;

• World English Bible (2000)

  and it shall be, that the city which is nearest to the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hasn't been worked with, and which has not drawn in the yoke;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then the elders of the city nearest to the corpse must take from the herd a heifer that has not been worked– that has never pulled with the yoke–

Referenced Verses

• Num 19:2 : 2 This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, having no blemish, and upon which a yoke has never come:
• Jer 31:18 : 18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bull not accustomed to the yoke: turn me, and I shall be turned; for you are the LORD my God.
• Matt 11:28-30 : 28 Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
• Phil 2:8 : 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.