This verse returns to the categorical law of verse 12 to make sure that intentional killing, or murder, is punished by death. But if a man willfully attacks another is literally “And when a man becomes heated against his fellow,” using an idiom for “gets angry” (Good News Translation). To kill him treacherously uses a common word for kill that is different from 20.13. It has the broad meaning described in the comments at 2.14. Treacherously is literally “in shrewdness,” or “by crafty plotting” (Durham). Good News Translation has “deliberately,” and Contemporary English Version has “If you plan in advance to murder someone.”

You shall take him from my altar is still addressed either to Moses or to Israel as an individual. This assumes that the killer has fled for safety to the “place” mentioned in verse 13, and that he has been found guilty of murder. Good News Translation clarifies this: “even if he has run to my altar for safety.” From my altar is literally “from with my altar,” meaning from beside, not on, any altar dedicated to Yahweh. Contemporary English Version interprets take in take him from my altar as “You will be dragged off [from the altar],” as the action would have been a forcible one. That he may die is literally “to die,” but the meaning is “for execution” (New Revised Standard Version), or “to be put to death” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible).

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• If a person plans in advance to murder someone, and then runs to my altar for safety, you are to drag him away from the altar and kill [or, execute] him.

• If you plan in advance to murder someone, and then run to my altar for safety, you will be dragged away and executed.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .