Thou shalt not kill or murder?

[tonychanyt]

Killing was okay in ESV Numbers 35:

27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills [H7523] the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood.

Strong's 7523: To dash in pieces, kill, to murder. The Hebrew word ratsach [H7523] is ambiguous.

Exodus 20:

13 You shall not murder [H7523].

ESV translated ratsach as "kill" in Numbers 35:27 but as "murder" in Exodus 20:13 to make consistent sense of both verses. Otherwise, they would appear contradictory.

At Biblehub, 28 versions use "murder"; 12 older versions use "kill".

See also Can a Christian be a professional soldier?.