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Deuteronomy 23:11

in Deuteronomy 23

When evening approaches, he must wash with water, and when the sun sets he may return to the camp.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

but it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall bathe himself in water; and when the sun is down, he shall come within the camp.

KJV

But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.

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This verse in Deuteronomy 23

Commentary

3 notes on this verse

This site's exposition

When you are encamped against your enemies

on Deuteronomy 23:9-14

Verse 9 puts the army in the field under the law it keeps at home. Verse 14 gives the reason, “the LORD your God walks throughout your camp”.

This site's exposition

he must wash with water

The uncleanness came on the man without his choice, and still he had to leave the camp. Henry reads the trouble and shame of it as training in dread of every fleshly lust. Water and evening closed the matter.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

But it shall be, when evening cometh on,.... When the day declines, and it is near sun setting: he shall wash himself with water; dip himself all over in water, not only wash his garments but his flesh: and when the sun is down he shall come into the camp again; and take his place and rank in the army.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

מקרה לילה [IF THERE BE AMONG YOU ANY MAN THAT IS NOT CLEAN BY REASON OF] UNCLEANNESS THAT CHANCETH HIM BY NIGHT — By night: Scripture speaks of what usually occurs (but the law applies also if the uncleanness happens at day time) (Sifrei Devarim:3).
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Deuteronomy 23:11:1, via Sefaria, Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
WHEN THOU GOEST FORTH IN CAMP AGAINST THINE ENEMIES, THEN THOU SHALT KEEP THEE FROM EVERY EVIL — “because Satan indicts [people] in the hour of danger.” This is Rashi’s language.
Ramban: Spain, 1194–1270 · Ramban on Deuteronomy 23:10:1, via Sefaria, Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
When you go out to encamp against your enemies take precautions from every evil thing.
Targum · Onkelos Deuteronomy 23:10, via Sefaria, Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009 [with Onkelos translation]

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

11 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וְהָיָ֥הand it will be

    vehayahH1961 →3559 times

  • לִפְנֽוֹת־to [the] turning of

    lifnot-H6437 →135 times

  • עֶ֖רֶבevening

    ʾerevH6153 →134 times

  • יִרְחַ֣ץhe will wash

    yirchatzH7364 →

  • בַּמָּ֑יִםwith <the> water

    bamayimH4325 →581 times

  • וּכְבֹ֣אand just as goes

    ukhevo'H935 →2568 times

  • הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁthe sun

    hashemeshH8121 →134 times

  • יָבֹ֖אhe will come

    yavo'H935 →2568 times

  • אֶל־into

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • תּ֥וֹךְ[the] middle of

    tokhH8432 →418 times

  • הַֽמַּחֲנֶה׃the camp

    hamachanehH4264 →215 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Leviticus 14:9On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.3 worksHebrews 10:22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.3 worksLuke 11:38–39But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.3 worksLeviticus 15:5Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.3 worksEphesians 5:26–27to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,3 worksHebrews 9:10They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Revelation 1:5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,2 worksMatthew 3:11I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.2 worksLeviticus 15:11If the man with the discharge touches anyone without first rinsing his hands with water, the one who was touched must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.2 worksLeviticus 22:6the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening. He must not eat from the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water.2 worksHebrews 9:9–10It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.2 works1 Peter 3:21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,2 worksLeviticus 15:13When the man has been cleansed from his discharge, he must count off seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe himself in fresh water, and he shall be clean.2 worksLeviticus 15:17–23Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.2 worksLeviticus 11:25and whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening.2 worksEzekiel 36:25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.2 worksPsalms 51:7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.2 worksPsalms 51:2Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.2 works

The walk

5 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Hebrews 10:22

    let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

    it leads to

    • 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.

    • John 3:5

      Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

    • Ephesians 5:26

      to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

    • 1 Peter 3:21

      And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

    • 1 Corinthians 6:11

      And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Where this verse is studied

About Deuteronomy

Moses Viewing the Promised Land, Frederic Edwin Church, 1846. Public domain.
Moses Viewing the Promised Land, Frederic Edwin Church, 1846. Public domain.
Deuteronomy: the study guide →Read Deuteronomy 23 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Deuteronomy 23 →