20:5a

Now: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now can also be translated “but” to indicate contrast. It is not a time word. Choose the word that is most natural in this context. Some English versions do not translate this word.

if: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as if can also be translated as “when.” Choose the conjunction that is most natural in your language.

the avenger of blood: The term avenger of blood was first mentioned in 20:3b. You should translate it the same way here.

pursues him: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pursues can also be translated as “chases” or “follows.”

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

But if the relative of the person who died chases after the person who killed him
-or-
But if the relative of the dead person follows after the killer

20:5b

they: The pronoun they refers to the elders of the town.

must not surrender the manslayer into his hand: The clause must not surrender the manslayer into his hand means that the elders must protect the manslayer (the person who killed someone) from the person who is trying to get revenge. They must not hand him over to that person.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

the elders must not hand over the killer to the person trying to avenge the dead man
-or-
the town leaders must not give up the person who killed to the relative

20:5c

because that man killed his neighbor accidentally: The clause that man killed his neighbor accidentally indicates the reason why the person who killed should be protected from his pursuer.

his neighbor: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as neighbor can also be translated “friend,” “companion” or “other one.” In this context it refers to a fellow human being.

accidentally: The word accidentally means that the killer did not plan to kill. This is the same Hebrew word as in verse 20:3.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

⌊They must protect him⌋ because he has killed his fellow man without intending it.
-or-
They must do this because he killed the other person without planning to do it.

20:5d

without prior malice: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as without prior malice is more literally “and not hating him from yesterday three days ago.” The phrase “from yesterday three days ago” is a Hebrew idiom that means “in the past.”

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

He had not hated him in the past.
-or-
and not because he was angry with him in the past

General Comment on verse 20:5

In the Hebrew and in the Berean Standard Bible verse 5 is a long sentence. It may be more natural in some languages to divide it into more than one sentence. For example:

But if the one who is chasing him follows him to that town, the leaders of the city must not hand over the killer. It was an accident. He did not hate him beforehand or kill him on purpose. (New Century Version)

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