Numbers 19:17

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:

Literal

And they shall take for the unclean some of the ashes of the burning for sin, and shall be put on them living water in a vessel.

Latin

Tollentque de cineribus combustionis atque peccati, et mittent aquas vivas super eos in vas:

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

Numbers 19:17–22

To cleanse with the heifer's ashes, they made a special purifying mixture. They combined ashes from the burnt purification offering with fresh water (compare 5:17).

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

Baptism Clean, Unclean, and Holy Living Water

Related verses

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.
Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Genesis 26:19
Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of fresh water there.
John 4:10–11
Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Song of Solomon 4:15
You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon.
John 7:38
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

Glossary

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

Topics

Ashes: Uses of, in Purification Defilement: Caused by Touching the Dead Purification: Water of Water of Separation

Numbers 19:17

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