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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Deuteronomy 21:4 bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/21-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/05_Deu_21_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Deuteronomy 21:4 - The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/deuteronomy/21-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/deuteronomy/21-4.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/">Deuteronomy</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/21.htm">Chapter 21</a> > Verse 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-3.htm" title="Deuteronomy 21:3">◄</a> Deuteronomy 21:4 <a href="/deuteronomy/21-5.htm" title="Deuteronomy 21:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/21.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/21.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />and lead it down to a valley that has not been plowed or planted and where there is a flowing stream. There in the valley they are to break the heifer&#8217s neck.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />They must lead it down to a valley that has not been plowed or planted and that has a stream running through it. There in the valley they must break the heifer’s neck.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with flowing water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and they shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown, and they shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown, and shall break the heifer&#8217s neck there in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown, and they shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/deuteronomy/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a [river] valley with running water, which has not been plowed or planted, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/deuteronomy/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The elders of that city will bring the cow down to a continually flowing stream, to a place not tilled or sown, and they will break its neck there by the stream.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The elders of that city will bring the cow down to a continually flowing stream, to a place not tilled or sown, and they will break its neck there by the stream. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/deuteronomy/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/deuteronomy/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The leaders of that city will bring the heifer down to a river, to a location where the land hasn't been plowed or planted. At the river they must break the heifer's neck.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They are to take it down to a spot near a stream that never runs dry and where the ground has never been plowed or planted, and there they are to break its neck. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/deuteronomy/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />and are to lead the heifer to a flowing stream in a valley that has never been tilled or planted. They are to break the heifer's neck there. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/deuteronomy/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/deuteronomy/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer to a rough valley, which is neither tilled nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/deuteronomy/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and [the] elderly of that city have brought down the heifer to a hard valley, which is not tilled nor sown, and have beheaded the heifer there in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/deuteronomy/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the old men of that city brought down the heifer to a perennial valley which shall not be worked in it, and shall not be sown, and they break there the neck of the heifer in the valley;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And they shall bring her into a rough and stony valley, that never was ploughed, nor sown: and there they shall strike off the head of the heifer: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And they shall lead it into a rough and stony valley, one which has never been tilled or sown. And in that place, they shall cut the neck of the calf.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a wadi with an everflowing stream at a place that has not been plowed or sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the wadi.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />the elders of that town shall bring the heifer down to a wadi with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the wadi.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer to a barren valley which has never been ploughed nor sown, and shall slaughter the heifer there in the valley;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Elders of this city shall bring down the heifer to a barren valley that is not cultivated and was not sown, and slaughter the heifer there in the valley:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which may neither be plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/deuteronomy/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer into a rough valley, which has not been tilled and is not sown, and they shall slay the heifer in the valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=5710" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/21.htm">The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work, <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: wə·hō·w·ri·ḏū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To come or go down, descend. ">bring</a> <a href="/hebrew/2205.htm" title="2205: ziq·nê (Adj-mpc) -- Old. From zaqen; old."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: ha·hi·w (Art:: Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: hā·‘îr (Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5697.htm" title="5697: hā·‘eḡ·lāh (Art:: N-fs) -- A heifer. Feminine of egel; a calf, especially one nearly grown.">the heifer</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/5158.htm" title="5158: na·ḥal (N-ms) -- Or nachlah; or nachalah; from nachal in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; a valley; also a shaft.">a valley</a> <a href="/hebrew/386.htm" title="386: ’ê·ṯān (Adj-ms) -- Perennial, ever-flowing, permanence. Or ethan; from an unused root; permanence; hence permanent; specifically a chieftain.">with running water</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">has not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5647.htm" title="5647: yê·‘ā·ḇêḏ (V-Nifal-Imperf-3ms) -- To work, serve. A primitive root; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, etc.">been plowed</a> <a href="/hebrew/bōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2232.htm" title="2232: yiz·zā·rê·a‘ (V-Nifal-Imperf-3ms) -- To sow, scatter seed. A primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify.">or sown,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5697.htm" title="5697: hā·‘eḡ·lāh (Art:: N-fs) -- A heifer. Feminine of egel; a calf, especially one nearly grown.">and break its</a> <a href="/hebrew/6202.htm" title="6202: wə·‘ā·rə·p̄ū- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- A primitive root; properly, to bend downward; but used only as a denominative from oreph, to break the neck; hence to destroy.">neck</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">there</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5158.htm" title="5158: ban·nā·ḥal (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Or nachlah; or nachalah; from nachal in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; a valley; also a shaft.">by the stream.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>And the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and pronounce blessings in His name and to give a ruling in every dispute and case of assault.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/35-33.htm">Numbers 35:33-34</a></span><br />Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. / Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/17-13.htm">Leviticus 17:13</a></span><br />And if any Israelite or foreigner living among them hunts down a wild animal or bird that may be eaten, he must drain its blood and cover it with dirt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/9-6.htm">Genesis 9:6</a></span><br />Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/21-12.htm">Exodus 21:12-14</a></span><br />Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. / If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. / But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/35-6.htm">Numbers 35:6-8</a></span><br />Six of the cities you give the Levites are to be appointed as cities of refuge, to which a manslayer may flee. In addition to these, give the Levites forty-two other cities. / The total number of cities you give the Levites will be forty-eight, with their corresponding pasturelands. / The cities that you apportion from the territory of the Israelites should be given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: more from a larger tribe and less from a smaller one.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/20-1.htm">Joshua 20:1-9</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Joshua, / “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, / so that anyone who kills another unintentionally or accidentally may flee there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/6-14.htm">1 Samuel 6:14</a></span><br />The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/21-1.htm">2 Samuel 21:1-9</a></span><br />During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” / At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.) / So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-7.htm">Isaiah 53:7</a></span><br />He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-20.htm">Ezekiel 18:20</a></span><br />The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-24.htm">Matthew 27:24</a></span><br />When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/9-22.htm">Hebrews 9:22</a></span><br />According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-25.htm">Romans 3:25</a></span><br />God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/1-7.htm">1 John 1:7</a></span><br />But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/3-14.htm">Acts 3:14-15</a></span><br />You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. / You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of this fact.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer to a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:</p><p class="hdg">shall strike</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_peter/2-21.htm">1 Peter 2:21-24</a></b></br> For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_peter/3-18.htm">1 Peter 3:18</a></b></br> For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Break</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-3.htm">City</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-3.htm">Cow</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-3.htm">Elders</a> <a href="/amos/5-24.htm">Ever-Flowing</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/17-8.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-3.htm">Heifer</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-13.htm">Heifer's</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-9.htm">Lead</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/10-16.htm">Neck</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-6.htm">Planted</a> <a href="/micah/3-12.htm">Ploughed</a> <a href="/micah/3-12.htm">Plowed</a> <a href="/numbers/15-21.htm">Rough</a> <a href="/numbers/19-17.htm">Running</a> <a href="/numbers/5-28.htm">Sown</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-13.htm">Stream</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-13.htm">Strike</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-7.htm">Tilled</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/8-7.htm">Valley</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/15-23.htm">Water</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-1.htm">Watercourse</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/31-16.htm">Break</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-6.htm">City</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-6.htm">Cow</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-6.htm">Elders</a> <a href="/psalms/74-15.htm">Ever-Flowing</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-14.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-6.htm">Heifer</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-13.htm">Heifer's</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-37.htm">Lead</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-6.htm">Neck</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-9.htm">Planted</a> <a href="/job/4-8.htm">Ploughed</a> <a href="/judges/14-18.htm">Plowed</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-10.htm">Rough</a> <a href="/joshua/8-6.htm">Running</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-9.htm">Sown</a> <a href="/joshua/15-4.htm">Stream</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/27-25.htm">Strike</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/27-26.htm">Tilled</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-6.htm">Valley</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/23-4.htm">Water</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-6.htm">Watercourse</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-1.htm">The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-10.htm">The usage of a captive taken to wife</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-15.htm">The firstborn is not to be disinherited upon private affection</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-18.htm">A rebellious son is to be stoned to death</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-22.htm">The malefactor must not hang all night on a tree</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/deuteronomy/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>bring the heifer to a valley with running water</b><br>In ancient Israel, valleys were often fertile areas with access to water, essential for agriculture and sustaining life. The use of a valley with running water signifies a place of life and purity, symbolizing cleansing and renewal. Water is a recurring symbol of purification in the Bible, as seen in the ritual washings of the priests (<a href="/exodus/30-18.htm">Exodus 30:18-21</a>) and the baptism of Jesus (<a href="/matthew/3-13.htm">Matthew 3:13-17</a>). The running water may also represent the living water that Jesus offers (<a href="/john/4-10.htm">John 4:10-14</a>), pointing to spiritual cleansing and eternal life.<p><b>that has not been plowed or sown</b><br>The requirement for the land to be unplowed and unsown indicates a place untouched by human cultivation, symbolizing purity and innocence. This untouched land parallels the innocence of the heifer, which has not been used for labor. The concept of untouched land can also be seen in the idea of the Sabbath rest for the land (<a href="/leviticus/25-4.htm">Leviticus 25:4</a>), emphasizing the importance of holiness and rest in God's creation. This untouched state may also foreshadow the virgin birth of Christ, who came into the world pure and without sin (<a href="/isaiah/7-14.htm">Isaiah 7:14</a>, <a href="/matthew/1-23.htm">Matthew 1:23</a>).<p><b>and break its neck there by the stream</b><br>The breaking of the heifer's neck is a solemn act of atonement for unsolved murder, symbolizing the seriousness of sin and the need for justice. This act is a substitutionary sacrifice, where the heifer bears the consequence of the crime, prefiguring the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the sins of humanity (<a href="/isaiah/53-5.htm">Isaiah 53:5-7</a>, <a href="/1_peter/2-24.htm">1 Peter 2:24</a>). The location by the stream may signify the washing away of guilt and the restoration of community purity. This ritual underscores the importance of communal responsibility and the need for reconciliation with God, themes central to the message of the Gospel.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/elders_of_the_city.htm">Elders of the City</a></b><br>These are the leaders or representatives of the city closest to where a slain person is found. They are responsible for performing the ritual described in this passage.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/heifer.htm">Heifer</a></b><br>A young cow that has not borne a calf. In this context, it is used as a sacrificial animal in a ritual to atone for an unsolved murder.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/v/valley_with_running_water.htm">Valley with Running Water</a></b><br>A specific location chosen for the ritual. The valley is described as having running water and being unplowed and unsown, symbolizing purity and untouched nature.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/r/ritual_of_breaking_the_heifer's_neck.htm">Ritual of Breaking the Heifer’s Neck</a></b><br>This act is part of a ceremonial process to atone for the bloodshed and to seek God's mercy and forgiveness for the community.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_sin_and_bloodshed.htm">The Seriousness of Sin and Bloodshed</a></b><br>The ritual underscores the gravity of murder and the communal responsibility to seek atonement and justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_community_leaders.htm">The Role of Community Leaders</a></b><br>Elders are called to act on behalf of the community, highlighting the importance of godly leadership and accountability.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_purity_and_atonement.htm">Symbolism of Purity and Atonement</a></b><br>The use of an unplowed, unsown valley and a heifer symbolizes purity and the need for a fresh start, pointing to the cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_provision_for_justice.htm">God’s Provision for Justice</a></b><br>The ritual reflects God’s provision for justice and reconciliation, reminding us of His ultimate plan for redemption through Jesus.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_seeking_god's_mercy.htm">The Importance of Seeking God’s Mercy</a></b><br>The act of breaking the heifer’s neck is a plea for God’s mercy, teaching us the importance of repentance and seeking forgiveness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_deuteronomy_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 21</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_the_five_stones.htm">What are the five smooth stones in the story?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_jesus_the_same_person_as_god.htm">What does the term 'Promised Land' refer to?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_a_heifer_sacrifice_resolve_guilt.htm">Deuteronomy 21:1-9: How does sacrificing a heifer in a remote valley effectively resolve guilt for an unsolved murder?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_bloodguilt_mean.htm">What does bloodguilt mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/deuteronomy/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">A rough valley</span>; literally, a <span class="accented">stream of perpetuity</span>, a perennial stream (cf. <a href="/psalms/74-15.htm">Psalm 74:15</a>, Authorized Version, "mighty rivers;" <a href="/amos/5-24.htm">Amos 5:24</a>); but here rather the valley or wady through which a stream flowed, as is evident from its being described as <span class="cmt_word">neither eared</span> - that is, ploughed (literally, <span class="accented">wrought</span>, <span class="accented">tilled</span>) <span class="accented">- <span class="cmt_word"></span>nor sown</span>; a place which had not been profaned by the hand of man, but was in a state of nature. "This regulation as to the locality in which the act of expiation was to be performed was probably founded on the idea that the water of the brook-valley would suck in the blood and clean it away, and that the blood sucked in by the earth would not be brought to light again by the ploughing and working of the soil" (Keil). <span class="cmt_word">Strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley</span>; rather, <span class="accented">break the heifer's neck</span>. As this was not an act of sacrifice, for which the shedding of blood would have been required, but simply a symbolical representation of the infliction of death on the undiscovered murderer, the animal was to be killed by breaking its neck (cf. <a href="/exodus/13-13.htm">Exodus 13:13</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">bring</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהוֹרִ֡דוּ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hō·w·ri·ḏū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the heifer</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽעֶגְלָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘eḡ·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5697.htm">Strong's 5697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A, calf, one nearly grown</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a valley</span><br /><span class="heb">נַ֣חַל</span> <span class="translit">(na·ḥal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5158.htm">Strong's 5158: </a> </span><span class="str2">A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with running water</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵיתָ֔ן</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·ṯān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_386.htm">Strong's 386: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perennial, ever-flowing, permanence</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֛ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">been plowed</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵעָבֵ֥ד</span> <span class="translit">(yê·‘ā·ḇêḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5647.htm">Strong's 5647: </a> </span><span class="str2">To work, to serve, till, enslave</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or sown,</span><br /><span class="heb">יִזָּרֵ֑עַ</span> <span class="translit">(yiz·zā·rê·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2232.htm">Strong's 2232: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sow, to disseminate, plant, fructify</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and break its</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעֶגְלָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘eḡ·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5697.htm">Strong's 5697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A, calf, one nearly grown</span><br /><br /><span class="word">neck</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעָֽרְפוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘ā·rə·p̄ū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6202.htm">Strong's 6202: </a> </span><span class="str2">To break the neck, to destroy</span><br /><br /><span class="word">there</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(šām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> </span><span class="str2">There, then, thither</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by the stream.</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּנָּֽחַל׃</span> <span class="translit">(ban·nā·ḥal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5158.htm">Strong's 5158: </a> </span><span class="str2">A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Deuteronomy 21:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 21:4 And the elders of that city shall (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 21:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 21:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/21-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 21:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 21:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>