Numbers 19:13

Translations

Modern

Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

Traditional

Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.

Literal

Anyone who touches the dead body of a man who has died, and does not cleanse himself from sin, he defiles the tabernacle of YHWH, and that person shall be cut off from Israel because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him. He shall be unclean; his uncleanness is on him still.

Latin

Omnis qui tetigerit humanæ animæ morticinum, et aspersus hac commistione non fuerit, polluet tabernaculum Domini et peribit ex Israël: quia aqua expiationis non est aspersus, immundus erit, et manebit spurcitia ejus super eum.

Original

Hebrew

English

Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

Notes

Numbers 19:13

Becoming unclean by touching a dead body was very serious. A person who was ceremonially defiled (not fit for worship) could also make the Lord’s tabernacle unclean (compare Leviticus 15:31).

Because of this danger, such impurity could lead to being “cut off” from the community of Israel. This meant being removed from the people, and in some cases, it could mean death (see Numbers 9:13; Exodus 12:15; Leviticus 7:20–21; Leviticus 17:4–14; Leviticus 20:17–18).

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

Leviticus 15:31
You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.
Leviticus 22:3
Tell them that for the generations to come, if any of their descendants in a state of uncleanness approaches the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the LORD, that person must be cut off from My presence. I am the LORD.
Leviticus 7:20
But if anyone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.
Numbers 8:7
This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.
Numbers 19:9
Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and store them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept by the congregation of Israel for preparing the water of purification; this is for purification from sin.
Numbers 15:30
But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people.
John 8:24
That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Numbers 19:20
But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.
Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Hebrews 2:2–3
For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,
Leviticus 5:3
Or if he touches human uncleanness—anything by which one becomes unclean—even if he is unaware of it, when he realizes it, he is guilty.
Numbers 19:18
Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and the people who were there. He is also to sprinkle the one who touched a bone, a grave, or a person who has died or been slain.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

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

Topics

Church: Rules of Discipline In, Mosaic and Christian Defilement: Caused by Touching the Dead Defilement: Neglecting Purification From, Punished by Cutting off Mourning: Caused Ceremonial Defilement Purification: Penalty to be Imposed Upon Those Who do not Observe the Ordinances Concerning Purifications or Baptisms by Sprinkling Purifications or Baptisms: Consequence of Neglecting Those Prescribed by Law Sanitation: Carcasses Sanitation: Contagion Tabernacle: Defilement of, Punished Tabernacle: Punishment for Defiling The Dead: Touching of, Caused Uncleanness Water of Separation

Numbers 19:13

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