Numbers 19:17
in Numbers 19For 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And for the unclean they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the sin-offering; and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:
KJV
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:
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This verse in Numbers 19
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
To afford the necessary supply of the cleansing mixture, the Jewish writers say that a red heifer was sacrificed every year, and that the ashes, mingled with the sprinkling ingredients, were distributed through all the cities and towns of Israel.
This site's exposition
they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer
on Numbers 19:17-18
Ashes from the burnt heifer go into a vessel and running water is poured on them, water taken living from a spring or a stream rather than standing water out of a cistern. A clean person takes hyssop to sprinkle it, the same plant that carried the blood to the doorposts at Exodus 12:22 and the one David asks for at Psalm 51:7. What is sprinkled is the tent, the vessels and the people, so the house is treated along with the man who was in it.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
And that this ceremonial purification was a type and figure of the cleansing of the consciences of believers from the pollutions of sin appears by the apostle's discourse, Heb. ix. 13, 14 , where he compares the efficacy of the blood of Christ with the sanctifying virtue that was in "the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean." The Ashes of Purification.
These manifestly signify God's spirit, which is oft compared to water, and by which alone true purification is obtained. Those who promise themselves benefit by the righteousness of Christ, while they submit not to the influence of his spirit, do but deceive themselves; for they cannot be purified by the ashes, otherwise than in the running water.
And for an unclean person,....
Then, and then only, we may with comfort apply Christ's merit to our souls, when we have forsaken sin, and cease all fellowship with the unfruitful works of death and darkness. The repetition of the sprinkling teaches us often to renew the actings of repentance and faith, wash as Naaman, seven times; we need to do that often which is so necessary to be well done.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
The meaning thereof is not that he should first put the ashes [of the Red Heifer] into the vessel and then put the water upon the ashes, for our Rabbis have taught. Sotah 16b.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
“Our Rabbis have said that this includes the upper board and the side board [of a coffin, when found in the open field]. And the plain meaning [of the verse] is: in the open field where there are no tents, a corpse conveys uncleanness [only] by contact.
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. 6 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 wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ | velakechu | and people will take | H3947 → | 966 times |
| לַטָּמֵ֔א | latame' | for the unclean [person] | H2931 → | 88 times |
| מֵעֲפַ֖ר | meafar | some of [the] dust of | H6083 → | 110 times |
| שְׂרֵפַ֣ת | serefat | [the] burning of | H8316 → | 13 times |
| הַֽחַטָּ֑את | hachatat | the sin offering | H2403 → | 295 times |
| וְנָתַ֥ן | venatan | and he will put | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| עָלָ֛יו | ʾalav | on it | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| מַ֥יִם | mayim | water | H4325 → | 581 times |
| חַיִּ֖ים | chaiyim | living | H2416 → | 498 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | into | H413 → | 5510 times |
| כֶּֽלִי׃ | keli | a vessel | H3627 → | 325 times |
וְלָֽקְחוּ֙and people will take
velakechuH3947 →966 times
לַטָּמֵ֔אfor the unclean [person]
latame'H2931 →88 times
מֵעֲפַ֖רsome of [the] dust of
meafarH6083 →110 times
שְׂרֵפַ֣ת[the] burning of
serefatH8316 →13 times
הַֽחַטָּ֑אתthe sin offering
hachatatH2403 →295 times
וְנָתַ֥ןand he will put
venatanH5414 →2011 times
עָלָ֛יוon it
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
מַ֥יִםwater
mayimH4325 →581 times
חַיִּ֖יםliving
chaiyimH2416 →498 times
אֶל־into
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
כֶּֽלִי׃a vessel
keliH3627 →325 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
John 7:38Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”
it leads to
- John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
- Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
- Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,
- John 4:10
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.”
- John 4:14
Through
Revelation 7:17For 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.’”
it leads to
- John 7:37–38
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
- Psalms 36:8–9
They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from Your river of delights.
- Psalms 23:1–2
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
- John 7:37–38
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
About Numbers
This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.