Dictionaries :: Murder

Murder:

Wilful murder was distinguished from accidental homicide, and was invariably visited with capital punishment (Num 35:16,18,21,31; Lev 24:17). This law in its principle is founded on the fact of man's having been made in the likeness of God (Gen 9:5,6; Jhn 8:44; 1Jo 3:12,15). The Mosiac law prohibited any compensation for murder or the reprieve of the murderer (Exd 21:12,14; Deu 19:11,13; 2Sa 17:25; 20:10). Two witnesses were required in any capital case (Num 35:19-30; Deu 17:6-12). If the murderer could not be discovered, the city nearest the scene of the murder was required to make expiation for the crime committed (Deu 21:1-9). These offences also were to be punished with death, (1) striking a parent; (2) cursing a parent; (3) kidnapping (Exd 21:15-17; Deu 27:16).

Murder:

mur'-der (haragh, "to smite," "destroy," "kill," "slay" (Ps 10:8; Ho 9:13 AV]), ratsach, "to dash to pieces," "kill," especially with premeditation (Nu 35:16 and frequently; 3Job 24:14; Ps 94:6; Jer 7:9; Ho 6:9); phoneus, "criminal homicide," from phoneuo, "to kill," "slay"; phonos, from pheno, has the same meaning; anthropoktonos, "manslayer," "murderer," is used to designate Satan (Joh 8:44) and him that hates his brother (1 Joh 3:15); a matricide is designated as metraloas (1Ti 1:9); compare adelphokionos, "fratricidal" (The Wisdom of Solomon 10:3). The plural of phonos, "murders," occurs in Mt 15:19; Mr 7:21; Ga 5:21 the King James Version; Re 9:21; compare 2 Macc 4:3,18; 12:6):

1. Terms:

2. The Hebrew Law:

The Hebrew law recognized the distinction between willful murder and accidental or justifiable homicide (Nu 25:16); but in legal language no verbal distinction is made. Murder was always subject to capital punishment (Le 24:17; compare Ge 9:6). Even if the criminal sought the protection of the sanctuary, he was to be arrested before the altar, and to be punished (Ex 21:12,14; Le 24:17,21; Nu 35:16,18,21,31). The Mishna says that a mortal blow intended for another than the victim is punishable with death; but such a provision is not found in the Law. No special mention is made of

(a) child murder;

(b) parricide; or

(c) taking life by poison;

but the intention of the law is clear with reference to all these eases (Ex 21:15,17; 1Ti 1:9; Mt 15:4). No punishment is mentioned for attempted suicide (compare 1Sa 31:4 f; 1Ki 16:18; Mt 27:5); yet Josephus says (BJ, III, viii, 5) that suicide was held criminal by the Jews (see also Ex 21:23). An animal known to be vicious must be confined, and if it caused the death of anyone, the animal was destroyed and the owner held guilty of murder (Ex 21:29,31). The executioner, according to the terms of the Law, was the "revenger of blood"; but the guilt must be previously determined by the Levitical tribunal. Strong protection was given by the requirement that at least two witnesses must concur in any capital question (Nu 35:19-30; De 17:6-12; 19:12,17). Under the monarchy the duty of executing justice on a murderer seems to have been assumed to some extent by the sovereign, who also had power to grant pardon (2Sa 13:39; 14:7,11; 1Ki 2:34).

Written by Frank E. Hirsch

See MANSLAYER

Murder:

See HOMICIDE

Murder: Forbidden by Mosaic Law

Exd 20:13; Deu 5:17

Murder: Why Forbidden by God

Gen 9:6

Murder: The Law Made to Restrain

1Ti 1:9

Murder: Described as Killing

With premeditation

Exd 21:14

From hatred

Num 35:20,21; Deu 19:11

By lying in wait

Num 35:20; Deu 19:11

By an instrument of iron

Num 35:16

By the blow of a stone

Num 35:17

By a hand weapon of wood

Num 35:18

Murder: Killing a Thief in the Day, Counted As

Exd 22:3

Murder: Early Introduction Of

Gen 4:8

Murder: Represented as a Sin Crying to Heaven

Gen 4:10; Hbr 12:24; Rev 6:10

Murder: The Jews Often Guilty Of

Isa 1:21

Murder: Persons Guilty Of

Fearful and cowardly

Gen 4:14

Wanderers and vagabonds

Gen 4:14

Flee from God's presence

Gen 4:16

Not protected in refuge cities

Deu 19:11,12

Had no protection from altars

Exd 21:14

Not to be pitied or spared

Deu 19:13

Murder: Often Committed by Night

Neh 6:10; Job 24:14

Murder: Imputed to the Nearest City When the Murderer Was

Deu 21:1-3

Murder: Mode of Clearing Those Suspected Of

Deu 21:3-9; Mat 27:24

Murder: To Be Proved by Two Witnesses at Least

Num 35:30; Deu 19:11,15

Murder: Punishment For

The curse of God

Gen 4:11

Death

Gen 9:5,6; Exd 21:12; Num 35:16

Not to be commuted

Num 35:32

Inflicted by the nearest of kin

Num 35:19,21

Forbidden

Gen 9:6; Exd 20:13; Deu 5:17; Rom 13:9

Murder: Explained by Christ

Mat 5:21,22

Murder: Hatred Is

1Jo 3:15

Murder: Is a Work for the Flesh

Gal 5:21

Murder: Comes from the Heart

Mat 15:19

Murder: Defiles The

Hands

Isa 59:3

Person and garments

Lam 4:13,14

Land

Num 35:33; Psa 106:38

Murder: Not Concealed from God

Isa 26:21; Jer 2:34

Murder: Cries for Vengeance

Gen 4:10

Murder: God

Abominates

Pro 6:16,17

Makes inquisition for

Psa 9:12

Will avenge

Deu 32:43; 1Ki 21:19; Hsa 1:4

Requires blood for

Gen 9:5; Num 35:33; 1Ki 2:32

Rejects the prayers of those guilty of

Isa 1:15; 59:2,3

Curses those guilty of

Gen 4:11

Murder: The Law Made to Restrain

1Ti 1:9

Murder: Saints

Specially warned against

1Pe 4:15

Deprecate the guilt of

Psa 51:14

Should warn others against

Gen 37:22; Jer 26:15

Murder: Connected with Idolatry

Eze 22:3,4; 2Ki 3:27

Murder: The Wicked

Filled with

Rom 1:29

Devise

Gen 27:41; 37:18

Intent on

Jer 22:17

Lie in wait to commit

Psa 10:8-10

Swift to commit

Pro 1:16; Rom 3:15

Perpetrate

Job 24:14; Eze 22:3

Have hands full of

Isa 1:15

Encourage others to commit

1Ki 21:8-10; Pro 1:11

Murder: Characteristic of the Devil

Jhn 8:44

Murder: Punishment Of

Gen 4:12-15; 9:6; Num 35:30; 2Ki 9:36,37; Jer 19:4-9

Murder: Punishment Of, Not Commuted under the Law

Num 35:31

Murder: Of Saints, Specially Avenged

Deu 32:43; Mat 23:35; Rev 18:20,24

Murder: Excludes from Heaven

Gal 5:21; Rev 22:15

Murder: Exemplified

Cain

Gen 4:8

Esau

Gen 27:41

Joseph's brethren

Gen 37:20

Pharaoh

Exd 1:22

Abimelech

Jdg 9:5

Men of Shechem

Jdg 9:24

Amalekite

2Sa 1:16

Rechab

2Sa 4:5-7

David

2Sa 12:9

Absalom

2Sa 13:29

Joab

1Ki 2:31,32

Baasha

1Ki 15:27

Zimri

1Ki 16:10

Jezebel

1Ki 21:10

Elders of Jezreel

1Ki 21:13

Ahab

1Ki 21:19

Hazael

2Ki 8:12,15

Adrammelech, &c

2Ki 19:37

Manasseh

2Ki 21:16

Ishmael

Jer 41:7

Princes of Israel

Eze 11:6

People of Gilead

Hsa 6:8

The Herods

Mat 2:16; 14:10; Act 12:2

Herodias and her daughter

Mat 14:8-11

Chief priests

Mat 27:1

Judas

Mat 27:4

Barabbas

Mar 15:7

Jews

Act 7:52; 1Th 2:15

Murder:

is used

(a) of a special act, Mar 15:7; Luk 23:19, 25;

(b) in the plural, of "murders" in general, Mat 15:19; Mar 7:21 (Gal 5:21, in some inferior mss.); Rev 9:21; in the singular, Rom 1:29;

(c) in the sense of "slaughter," Hbr 11:37, "they were slain with the sword," lit., "(they died by) slaughter (of the sword);" in Act 9:1, "slaughter."
See SLAUGHTER.

Note: In Mat 19:18, AV, phoneuo, "to kill" (akin to phoneus, see below), is translated "thou shalt do (no) murder" (RV, "thou shalt (not) kill").
See KILL, SLAY.

Murder:

The law of Moses, while it protected the accidental homicide, defined with additional strictness the crime of murder. It prohibited compensation or reprieve of the murderer, or his protection if he took refuge in the refuge city, or even at the altar of Jehovah (Exodus 21:12; 21:14; Leviticus 24:17; 24:21; 1 Kings 2:5-6; 2:28-31). The duty of executing punishment on the murderer is in the law expressly laid on the "revenger of blood;" but the question of guilt was to be previously decided by the Levitical tribunal. In regal times the duty of execution of justice on a murderer seems to have been assumed to some extent by the sovereign, as was also the privilege of pardon (2 Samuel 13:39; 14:7; 14:11; 1 Kings 2:34). It was lawful to kill a burglar taken at night in the act, but unlawful to do so after sunrise (Exodus 22:2-3).