Numbers 19:12

Translations

Modern

He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.

Traditional

He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

Literal

He shall cleanse himself from sin with the water on the third day, and on the seventh day he will be clean. But if he does not cleanse himself from sin on the third day, and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.

Latin

…aspergetur ex hac aqua die tertio et septimo, et sic mundabitur. Si die tertio aspersus non fuerit, septimo non poterit emundari.

Original

Hebrew

English

He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.

Notes

Numbers 19:11–19

If someone touched a human dead body, that person became ceremonially unclean for seven days (compare Leviticus 21:1–3). This meant a person was not allowed to take part in worship until they were made clean.

To become clean again, the person had to use the water of purification. This water was sprinkled on the third day and again on the seventh day.

Numbers 19:1–22

This section explains how ordinary Israelites can become ceremonially clean again after touching a corpse and avoid defiling the Tent of Meeting (see 9:4–12; Leviticus 17:15; 21:1–4, 11–12). God's holiness demands that the place of his presence remains pure and separate from pollution (compare 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18–20).

Theme notes and profiles

Clean, Unclean, and Holy

Related verses

Numbers 31:19
All of you who have killed a person or touched the dead are to remain outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and the seventh day you are to purify both yourselves and your captives.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
Hosea 6:2
After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.
Exodus 19:11
…and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
Leviticus 7:17
But any meat of the sacrifice remaining until the third day must be burned up.
Ezekiel 36:25
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
Acts 15:9
He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
Revelation 7:14
“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Psalm 51:7
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Exodus 19:15
“Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
Numbers 19:17–19
For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh water over them.

Glossary

Banish, Banishment Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Hyssop John the Baptist Numbers, Book of Water of Separation

Topics

Defilement: Caused by Touching the Dead Mourning: Caused Ceremonial Defilement Purifications or Baptisms of Individuals Who Were Ceremonially Unclean Sanitation: Carcasses Sanitation: Contagion The Dead: Uncleanness Contracted From, Removed by the Water Separation Water of Separation

Numbers 19:12

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