Deuteronomy 21:4

KJV1611 – Modern English

And the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a rough valley, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley;

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְהוֹרִ֡דוּ זִקְנֵי֩ הָעִ֨יר הַהִ֤וא אֶת־הָֽעֶגְלָה֙ אֶל־נַ֣חַל אֵיתָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־יֵעָבֵ֥ד בּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֣א יִזָּרֵ֑עַ וְעָֽרְפוּ־שָׁ֥ם אֶת־הָעֶגְלָ֖ה בַּנָּֽחַל׃

Transliteration

And-hôrîdû ziqnê the-ʿîr the-hahîʾ [direct object] the-ʿeglāh to-naḥal ʾêtān which not-yēʿābēd in-him and-not yizzārēaʿ, and-ʿārəpû there [direct object] the-ʿeglāh in-the-naḥal.

Grammar Details

• *hôrîdû*: Hiphil perfect, 3rd person common plural - they shall bring down
• *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
• *ʿeglāh*: feminine singular noun with definite article - the heifer
• *naḥal*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the valley/stream
• *ʾêtān*: masculine singular adjective - perennial/ever-flowing
• *yēʿābēd*: Niphal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - is worked/tilled
• *yizzārēaʿ*: Niphal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - is sown
• *ʿārəpû*: Qal perfect, 3rd person common plural - they shall break the neck of

Word Meanings

• *hôrîdû*: bring down/lead down
• *naḥal*: valley/stream/wadi/ravine
• *ʾêtān*: perennial/ever-flowing/lasting/permanent
• *yēʿābēd*: is worked/tilled/cultivated
• *yizzārēaʿ*: is sown/planted
• *ʿārəpû*: break the neck of/behead

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  and they are to bring the heifer down to a valley with flowing water, a valley that has not been plowed or sown. There they are to break the heifer’s neck.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And the elrs of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  and let them bringe her vnto a valeye where is nether earinge nor sowenge, ad strike of hir heed there in the valey.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  & they shal brynge her in to a valley, where as is nether earinge nor sowinge, and strike of hir heade there in the valley.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And let the Elders of that citie bring the heifer vnto a stonie valley, which is neyther eared nor sowen, and strike off the heifers necke there in the valley.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And let the elders of that citie bring the heyffer vnto a harde & rough valley which is neither eared nor sowen, and stryke of the heyffers necke there in the valley:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer to a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and the elders of that city have brought down the heifer unto a hard valley, which is not tilled nor sown, and have beheaded there the heifer in the valley.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And they are to take the cow into a valley where there is flowing water, and which is not ploughed or planted, and there the neck of the cow is to be broken:

• World English Bible (2000)

  and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer to a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  and bring the heifer down to a wadi with flowing water, to a valley that is neither plowed nor sown. There at the wadi they are to break the heifer’s neck.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Pet 2:21-24 : 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth: 23 Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously: 24 Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
• 1 Pet 3:18 : 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit;