What Does Deuteronomy 19:3 Mean?

“Thou shalt prepare”

properly, to be erect (i.e., stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix,

“thee a way”

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

“into three parts”

to be (causatively, make) triplicate (by restoration, in portions, strands, days or years)

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

“and divide the coasts”

properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed

“of thy land”

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

“giveth thee to inherit”

to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to bequeath, or (generally) distribute, instate

“which the LORD”

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

“thy God”

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

“may flee”

to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

“that every slayer”

properly, to dash in pieces, i.e., kill (a human being), especially to murder