! Important notice about this Bible text
Show

The digital Bible text for the Authorized King James Version (AKJV) translation has been imported from a trusted third-party data source. While we strive for accuracy, there may be typos, formatting issues, or other errors.

Please always compare what you read here with a trusted printed Bible or an official edition from the translation’s publisher. If you see anything that does not match the true Word of God, please report it so we can review and correct it.

Authorized King James Version (AKJV)

Joshua 20

Historic King James text; best for verse lookups / quick reading, but some older wordings (thee, thou, etc.).

Log in to save verse highlights and notes to your account.

Legend: General Promise Doctrine Other
Books
Today’s Devotion

No devotion has been added for today yet.

1 The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying,
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spoke to you by the hand of Moses:
3 That the slayer that kills any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 And when he that does flee to one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city to them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come to his own city, and to his own house, to the city from from where he fled.
7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojournes among them, that whoever kills any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.

Report an issue with this passage

These Bible verses were imported from a third-party source. If you notice anything that seems inaccurate, missing, or out of line with the true Word of God (for example, a wrong verse number, missing words, or a serious typo), please let us know below.

You can submit a report anonymously. If you’d like us to follow up, please also use the Contact page.

Your report will be reviewed by the site administrators. Thank you for helping keep the text accurate and faithful.

We use cookies

We use cookies to keep you logged in, remember your settings, and help improve the website experience. By clicking “Accept”, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy .