Numbers 19:17 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:
Numbers 19:17 nkjv
'And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin, and running water shall be put on them in a vessel.
Numbers 19:17 niv
"For the unclean person, put some ashes from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them.
Numbers 19:17 esv
For the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt sin offering, and fresh water shall be added in a vessel.
Numbers 19:17 nlt
"To remove the defilement, put some of the ashes from the burnt purification offering in a jar, and pour fresh water over them.
Numbers 19 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| The Red Heifer Ordinance & Context: | ||
| Num 19:2 | "This is the statute of the law that the Lord has commanded..." | The foundational law for the heifer |
| Num 19:9 | "...it shall be kept for the congregation of the people of Israel for a water of impurity..." | Ashes preserved for purification |
| Num 19:11 | "Whoever touches a dead body, any corpse of any person, shall be unclean seven days." | Defines the defilement needing the rite |
| Num 19:13 | "...he who touches a corpse, the body of any person, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle..." | Consequences of not purifying |
| Num 19:18 | "...a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water..." | The method of applying the mixture |
| Num 19:19 | "...he shall cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, and be clean." | Required steps for full cleansing |
| Principles of Purification & Atonement: | ||
| Lev 14:5-6 | "The priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthenware vessel over fresh water." | Use of fresh water in cleansing rites |
| Lev 16:24 | "And he shall wash his body with water in a holy place..." | Priestly bathing for purity |
| Psa 51:7 | "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." | Plea for internal cleansing |
| Eze 36:25 | "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses..." | God's promised cleansing |
| Zech 13:1 | "On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness." | Prophecy of ultimate cleansing fountain |
| Typology/Fulfillment in Christ: | ||
| Heb 9:13 | "For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh..." | Compares Red Heifer ashes to Christ's blood |
| Heb 9:14 | "...how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." | Superior cleansing through Christ |
| Heb 10:22 | "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." | New Covenant cleansing |
| John 4:10 | "Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”" | Jesus as the source of living water |
| John 7:38 | "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’" | Christ provides spiritual 'living water' |
| 1 Cor 15:21-22 | "For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." | Christ overcomes death's defilement |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "...you were ransomed...with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." | Redemption by Christ's sacrificial blood |
| Eph 5:26 | "...that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word..." | Cleansing by water and God's Word |
| 1 John 1:7 | "...the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." | Continuous cleansing by Christ's blood |
| Rom 6:23 | "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Sin's connection to death, Christ's life |
Numbers 19 verses
Numbers 19 17 Meaning
This verse details a crucial step in the purification rite for someone defiled by contact with a dead body. It prescribes taking a portion of the consecrated ashes from the unique red heifer sacrifice and mixing them with fresh, flowing (living) water within a clean vessel. This prepared mixture formed the "water of purification" which would later be sprinkled upon the unclean person to restore their ritual purity and permit their return to the community and the Tabernacle's proximity.
Numbers 19 17 Context
Numbers chapter 19 outlines the unique and stringent ritual of the Red Heifer, an ordinance primarily designed to purify individuals defiled by contact with a dead body. This type of defilement was considered the most severe, rendering one completely unclean and excluded from the Tabernacle and its holy offerings for a specific period. Verse 17 comes after the detailed instructions for the selection, sacrifice, and burning of the unblemished red heifer outside the camp, and the collection of its ashes. The purpose of this specific mixture is to create the "water of purification" (also called "water of impurity" or "water of cleansing" in different translations, emphasizing its use against impurity), which was vital for the ceremonial restoration of one's holiness, thereby allowing re-entry into the camp and the worshiping community. This entire ritual highlights the gravity of defilement by death, emphasizing God's absolute holiness and the pervasive consequence of sin, which culminates in death.
Numbers 19 17 Word analysis
And for an unclean person (וְלַטָּמֵא - welaṭṭāmēʾ): The term ṭāmēʾ denotes ceremonial impurity. In this context, it refers specifically to defilement caused by touching a dead body or anything associated with death (e.g., grave, bones, tent over a dead person). This defilement was severe, leading to temporary exclusion from the community and sanctuary, symbolizing the separation caused by spiritual death.
they shall take (וְלָקְחוּ - wĕlāqᵉḥû): A plural verb, indicating that the individuals appointed to perform the purification—a clean person as per Num 19:18—are responsible for preparing the mixture.
of the ashes (מֵעֲפַר - mēʿăp̄ar): ʿĒp̄er means "dust" or "ashes." Here, it specifically refers to the residual ashes of the completely burnt red heifer (Num 19:5). These ashes contain the essence of the sacrifice that offered profound purification, yet paradoxically, those handling them became unclean, emphasizing the severity of death and sin being addressed.
of the burnt heifer of purification for sin (הַשְׂרֵפָה חַטָּאת - haśśǝrēp̄â ḥaṭṭāʾt):
- Haśśǝrēp̄â (the burning) refers to the act of burning the red heifer entirely outside the camp.
- Ḥaṭṭāʾt (sin offering) identifies the heifer's role. While it serves as a "sin offering," it's distinct from regular sin offerings made for specific sins of transgression. Its primary function is unique: purification from ceremonial defilement, specifically that of death. It embodies the atonement required to cleanse from the profound stain of mortality.
and running water (מַיִם חַיִּים - mayim ḥayyîm): Literally "living water" or "fresh water." This term designates naturally flowing water, typically from a spring or river, not stagnant or stored water. This symbolizes life, renewal, and dynamic purity, contrasting sharply with the defilement of death. It signifies the cleansing power emanating from a continuous, vital source.
shall be put thereto (נִתַּן עָלָיו - nittan ʿālāw): Literally, "it shall be put upon it," referring to the ashes. This precise mixing of the elements is crucial for the efficacy of the purification ritual.
in a vessel (כְּלִי - kĕlî): A container. It would need to be a clean vessel to hold the sacred purifying mixture, further reinforcing the importance of ritual purity in the entire process.
Words-group analysis:
- Ashes...burnt heifer of purification for sin: This phrase encapsulates the core sacrificial element. The heifer, totally consumed, becomes 'ashes for purification', symbolizing a comprehensive dealing with the defilement. It underscores that deep defilement required a radical, external (burnt outside camp), and unique sacrifice for cleansing.
- Ashes...and running water...in a vessel: The combination of 'death' (ashes of sacrifice over death's defilement) and 'life' (living water) within a containment (vessel) powerfully symbolizes the process of overcoming defilement by infusing life into what was marked by death. It highlights that purification comes through divine provision, blending what remains of an offering with vital, dynamic water.
Numbers 19 17 Bonus section
A remarkable aspect of the Red Heifer ritual is its paradoxical nature: while the mixture of ashes and water was purifying for the one defiled by death, the priest, the one who burned the heifer, the one who gathered the ashes, and even the clean person who sprinkled the water, all became ritually unclean themselves (Num 19:7-10, 21) until evening and required their own washing. This underscores the immense holiness of God and the potent nature of sin and death's defilement; even engaging in the means of purification incurs its own temporary impurity, revealing the high cost of dealing with sin. This profoundly foreshadows how Christ, though perfectly pure, "became sin" for us (2 Cor 5:21) – bearing our defilement to cleanse us, highlighting the substitutionary atonement inherent in God's plan of redemption. The uniqueness of this ceremony, being the only one for defilement by death, stresses its spiritual significance in overcoming the ultimate consequence of sin.
Numbers 19 17 Commentary
Numbers 19:17 describes a critical procedural step in the unique purification rite for those defiled by death. The "ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin" represent a sacrifice utterly consumed and removed from the camp, a powerful symbol of atonement for the ultimate impurity that death brings. When combined with "running water," which embodies life and vitality, this mixture creates a paradox: a compound of death's residue with life's essence, demonstrating God's provision for restoration even from the most profound forms of uncleanness. This ritual, especially the ash mixture, served as a potent foreshadowing of Christ's perfect and ultimate sacrifice. Just as the heifer's death purified physically, Christ's death and resurrection (the ultimate 'living water') bring spiritual cleansing and eternal life, removing the stain of sin (which leads to death) from the conscience, enabling true communion with God (Heb 9:14). It reminds us that cleansing for life with God always involves sacrifice and divine vitality.