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God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

I am aware that some killing is endorsed in the Bible. The word for “murder” in Exodus 20:13 (“You shall not murder”) is the Hebrew rahaz. It is used 43 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. It always means violent, personal killing that is actually murder or is accused as murder. It is never used of killing in war or (with one possible exception, Numbers 35:27) of killing in judicial execution. Rather a clear distinction is preserved between legal “putting to death” and illegal “murder.” For example, Numbers 35:19 says, “The murderer shall certainly be put to death.” The word “murderer” comes from rahaz which is forbidden in the Ten Commandments. The word “put to death” is a general word that can describe legal executions.

John Piper