Numbers 19 12

Numbers 19:12 kjv

He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

Numbers 19:12 nkjv

He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.

Numbers 19:12 niv

They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third and seventh days, they will not be clean.

Numbers 19:12 esv

He shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so be clean. But if he does not cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not become clean.

Numbers 19:12 nlt

They must purify themselves on the third and seventh days with the water of purification; then they will be purified. But if they do not do this on the third and seventh days, they will continue to be unclean even after the seventh day.

Numbers 19 verses

Numbers 19 12 Meaning

This verse details a critical aspect of purification from corpse defilement according to the Law of the Red Heifer. It mandates a two-stage ritual cleansing using the special water of purification on the third day and again on the seventh day after contact with a dead body. Successful completion of this specific process renders an individual ritually clean, allowing them to re-enter the sacred precincts and interact with holy things. Failure to follow this prescribed sequence leaves the person ritually unclean, leading to their exclusion from the community and holy worship.

Numbers 19 12 Context

Numbers chapter 19 outlines the specific and detailed "Law of the Red Heifer" (or the Law concerning water for impurity, חֻקַּת הַטֻּמְאָה). This unique ritual was prescribed by God as the means to purify anyone who became ritually unclean through contact with a dead human body – a profound defilement that excluded an Israelite from the tabernacle/temple and communal worship. The entire chapter deals with the procedure for sacrificing a blemish-free red heifer, burning it to ashes, and mixing these ashes with fresh water to create "the water for impurity" (also known as water of cleansing). Numbers 19:12 specifically details the application of this special water to the unclean person, emphasizing the precise timing and the absolute necessity of performing the purification ritual twice – on the third day and again on the seventh day – to attain ceremonial cleanliness. This strict procedure underscored the holiness of God and the need for meticulous adherence to His commands to maintain ritual purity in His presence.

Numbers 19 12 Word analysis

• He shall purify himself: (יִתְחַטָּא - yitḥaṭṭa). Derived from the Hebrew root ח.ט.א (ḥata), which typically means "to miss the mark," or "to sin." In the Hithpa'el stem, as used here, it conveys the active sense of "de-sinning oneself," "purifying oneself," or "cleansing oneself through atonement." This term connects the act of ritual cleansing from impurity directly to the concept of removing the effect of "sin" or defect, highlighting that even ceremonial uncleanness requires a prescribed act of restoration similar to atonement. It signifies undergoing the prescribed ritual, rather than merely "washing."
• with the water: (בַּמָּיִם - bammayim). Refers specifically to the "water of impurity" (מֵי נִדָּה - mei niddah) prepared with the ashes of the red heifer. This was not ordinary water but a specially consecrated purifying agent designed by God to counteract the powerful defilement of death. The water, infused with the burnt heifer's ashes, symbolized God's ordained means of restoration, bridging the gap between death and life, defilement and purity.
• on the third day: (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי - bayyom haššəlîšî). This initial application marks the beginning of the purification period. The "third day" often signifies a moment of turning, a critical point, or the breaking of a cycle in biblical narrative and law (e.g., God appearing on Sinai on the third day, the resurrection on the third day). Here, it signals the commencement of the process by which life (purity) begins to overcome the defilement of death.
• and on the seventh day: (וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי - uvayyom haššəvi‘i). This second application signifies the completion of the purification process. The "seventh day" holds profound theological significance, symbolizing completion, rest, and perfection (as in creation week). In purity laws, it consistently marks the conclusion of a purification cycle, indicating that a full cycle of ritual cleansing and waiting has been observed, leading to complete restoration to a state of ritual purity.
• and so be clean: (וְטָהֵר - vəṭaher). This indicates the desired outcome: the individual achieves ritual purity (טָהוֹר - ṭahor). This state means they are permissible to participate in holy activities and enter sacred spaces again, having shed the defilement. It is a declared state, a ritual transformation.
• But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day: This phrase immediately introduces the severe consequence of disobedience or neglect. The repetition of the timeline ("third day and seventh day") emphasizes the non-negotiable nature of the command and the importance of precise adherence to the divine schedule for purification. It's not enough to purify at some point, but on the specific days.
• he will not be clean: (לֹא יִטְהָר - lo yit'har). This is the direct negative consequence. The individual remains ritually unclean (טָמֵא - ṭame), continuing in their state of defilement. This sustained uncleanness has severe ramifications, including exclusion from the tabernacle/temple and the possibility of being "cut off from the assembly" (Num 19:20), indicating spiritual death or exile.

Numbers 19 12 Bonus section

The rigid, multi-day purification ritual for corpse defilement contrasts sharply with the ease of accumulating impurity. A simple touch was enough to defile, yet days of precise ritual were needed to become clean. This stark contrast magnified the severity of death's defiling power in the Mosaic economy and God's absolute holiness, demonstrating that ritual separation was insufficient on its own for enduring relationship with God; a comprehensive, ordained solution was required. The "third day" and "seventh day" intervals within this cleansing process might also subtly hint at a future and ultimate spiritual liberation and completion brought about by Christ's resurrection on the third day and the concept of His finished work offering ultimate spiritual rest and purity. This entire purification system, involving elements outside the main Tabernacle sacrifices (like the Red Heifer burnt outside the camp), served as a vital theological shadow, pointing to the need for a cleansing not of moral sin, but of the contaminating effects of death and fallen humanity, a deep spiritual uncleanness only ultimately rectified by the atoning sacrifice of Christ who suffered outside the gate.

Numbers 19 12 Commentary

Numbers 19:12 is a pivotal verse within the Red Heifer law, precisely detailing the indispensable application of the water of purification for those defiled by a corpse. This two-stage cleansing, involving rites on both the third and seventh days, was non-negotiable. The third day initiated the detachment from impurity, marking the turning point from contamination, while the seventh day, echoing the biblical motif of completion and perfection, signified full restoration to ritual purity. This divine protocol underscored God's meticulous standard of holiness for His people and presence, treating defilement from death as a profound obstacle to worship and communion. The consequences of failing to adhere were dire: continued ritual uncleanness and exclusion, underscoring that access to God’s sanctuary and community required strict obedience to His prescribed means of purification, foreshadowing a later need for complete, true, and divine cleansing for believers through Jesus Christ.