Keraia
Numbers 19

Numbers 19:9

The Red Heifer · Numbers 19:1–10
Read Numbers 19

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.
Literal
And a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and store them outside of the camp in a clean place, and they shall be kept for the congregation of the sons of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin.
Latin
Colliget autem vir mundus cineres vaccæ, et effundet eos extra castra in loco purissimo, ut sint multitudini filiorum Israël in custodiam, et in aquam aspersionis: quia pro peccato vacca combusta est.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

Numbers 19:9

The ceremony of burning the red heifer intended to produce ashes. They collected these ashes and stored them in a pure place outside the camp. The Israelites used them in water for purification ceremonies to remove pollution, such as contact with a corpse (19:11–22).

Numbers 19:7–10

It required three people to produce and collect the heifer’s ashes. These were Eleazar, the person who burned the animal, and the person who gathered its ashes. All three became ceremonially impure for a day because of this process. The same was true for the person who used the finished product. This was a potion made from the ash dust and water (compare 19:21). This potion had the same defiling effect as blood associated with sacrifices (Leviticus 6:27–28).

Numbers 19:1–10

They made the water for the purification ceremony with ashes of the red heifer (19:9). It might be the same as the water of purification in 8:7 (see also 31:19–24). This ceremony needed the ashes of a red heifer. The color probably represented blood (compare Hebrews 9:13–14).

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

People

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

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Cleanness and Uncleanness, Regulations Concerning Deuteronomy, Book of Hyssop John the Baptist Numbers, Book of Red Heifer Water of Separation

Topics

Ablution of Priests Ashes: Uses of, in Purification Defilement of Priests Offerings: Burnt: Ordinances Concerning Purifications or Baptisms of Individuals Who Were Ceremonially Unclean Purifications or Baptisms: Means Used for Water of Separation The Red Heifer: Ashes of, Collected and Mixed with Water for Purification Water of Separation