Shoftim 21:08 · unit 6

TT #391 · Parashas Shoftim · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 21:08

The Complete Passuk

כַּפֵּר֩ לְעַמְּךָ֨ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־פָּדִ֙יתָ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וְאַל־תִּתֵּן֙ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֔י בְּקֶ֖רֶב עַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְנִכַּפֵּ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם הַדָּֽם׃

Atone for Your people Yisrael whom You have redeemed, O Eternal, and do not place innocent blood in the midst of Your people Yisrael. And the blood shall be atoned for them.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 210.

TT lemma: דָּם נָקִי.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 210

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
דָּם נָקִי – דַּם הַנֶּהֱרָג בְּלֹא דִין.

English: ‘Innocent blood’ – the blood of one killed without judgment.

On the daf / in context: The concern is unavenged, unjudged bloodshed.

Type of Learning

Derash defining the innocent blood (Sifrei) — it is blood for which no human court has yet exacted justice.

What Is Learned

The prayer asks that the blood of a person killed without judicial process not remain as guilt upon Yisrael.