21:1 If a homicide victim 1 should be found lying in a field in the land the Lord your God is giving you, 2 and no one knows who killed 3 him,
1 tn Heb “slain [one].” The term חָלָל (khalal) suggests something other than a natural death (cf. Num 19:16; 23:24; Jer 51:52; Ezek 26:15; 30:24; 31:17-18).
2 tn The Hebrew text includes “to possess it,” but this has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
3 tn Heb “struck,” but in context a fatal blow is meant; cf. NLT “who committed the murder.”
4 tn Heb “you must not see.” See note at 22:1.
5 tn Heb “and (must not) hide yourself from them.”
6 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with “be sure.”
7 tn Heb “help him to lift them up.” In keeping with English style the singular is used in the translation, and the referent (“the animal”) has been specified for clarity.