Numbers 19 6

Numbers 19:6 kjv

And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Numbers 19:6 nkjv

And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer.

Numbers 19:6 niv

The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.

Numbers 19:6 esv

And the priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn, and throw them into the fire burning the heifer.

Numbers 19:6 nlt

Eleazar the priest must then take a stick of cedar, a hyssop branch, and some scarlet yarn and throw them into the fire where the heifer is burning.

Numbers 19 verses

Numbers 19 6 Meaning

This verse describes three specific symbolic items – cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool – that are to be cast into the flame consuming the red heifer. These items, along with the burning heifer, contribute to the creation of the ashes used for the "water of impurity," which provides ceremonial purification from defilement by a dead body. The inclusion of these elements highlights the comprehensive nature of the required cleansing from ritual impurity.

Numbers 19 6 Context

Numbers chapter 19 outlines the specific and unique ritual of the red heifer. This ceremony was instituted by God to provide a means of purification for ceremonial defilement caused by contact with a dead body. In ancient Israelite culture, coming into contact with death, even indirectly, rendered a person ritually unclean, preventing them from participating in sacred activities or entering the Tabernacle. This impurity was contagious. The red heifer sacrifice was distinct from sin or burnt offerings; its purpose was not expiation for moral sin but ritual decontamination. The verse details essential components added to the burning sacrifice to create the ashes for the "water of impurity," which was crucial for maintaining ritual purity within the community and ensuring access to God's holy presence amidst the realities of death.

Numbers 19 6 Word analysis

• The priest (הַכֹּהֵן - hakkohen): Refers to the specifically designated individual, from the Aaronic line, authorized by God to perform sacred duties and mediate between God and the people. Their role underscores divine authority and ritual precision.
• is to take (וְלָקַח - v'lakach): An imperative or command, indicating a precise and required action, not an option. It emphasizes the active role of the priest in the ritual.
• cedar wood (עֵץ אֶרֶז - etz erez): Cedar is known for its durability, resistance to decay, and pleasant aroma. It was used in temple construction and symbolizes permanence, purity, incorruptibility, and grandeur. Its inclusion in purification rites, notably for leprosy, signifies the lasting cleansing desired.
• hyssop (אֵזוֹב - ezov): A humble, common plant, often associated with sprinkling for ritual purification. It represents humility, thorough cleansing, and the ability to penetrate deeply. It was used for applying blood during the Passover and in cleansing rituals for leprosy.
• scarlet wool (שְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת - shni tola'at): Wool dyed a vivid red color, often obtained from a crimson worm (tola'at). The deep red color can symbolize sin's profound nature (Isa 1:18) and the vital essence of blood required for atonement. Its presence here signifies purification from deep defilement and perhaps the very source of impurity being addressed.
• and throw them (וְהִשְׁלִיךְ - v'hishlikh): A forceful action, indicating the complete incorporation of these items into the burning sacrifice. It ensures that their essence becomes part of the final ash mixture.
• onto the burning heifer (אֶל תּוֹךְ שְׂרֵפַת הַפָּרָה - el tok serefat happarah): Signifies that these elements are not burned separately but are added directly into the already consuming fire of the sacrifice. This ensures their complete transformation into ashes, which will then be mixed to form the purification water.
• Word-group analysis:
  • "The priest is to take... and throw them": This phrase highlights the divine mandate for specific ritual actions performed by the appointed mediator, underscoring the non-negotiable nature and sacred authority of the purification rite.
  • "cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool": This trio of items forms a distinctive ceremonial pattern in Israelite law (e.g., in cleansing a leper, Lev 14). Each element has individual symbolic weight (enduring purity, humble cleansing, profound sin/vitality), but together they represent a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to purification, tackling defilement on various levels.
  • "onto the burning heifer": The integration of these symbolic elements into the burning sacrifice itself indicates that their individual significances merge with that of the heifer. The combined ashes create a powerful and singular agent for cleansing from death's impurity, pointing to the thoroughness of God's provision for dealing with contamination.

Numbers 19 6 Bonus section

The ashes produced from this burning, including those from the cedar, hyssop, and scarlet wool, were deemed sacred and were kept outside the camp (Num 19:9). They were then mixed with running water to create the "water of impurity" or "water of cleansing." This water was essential for purifying those who became defiled by contact with a dead body, enabling them to re-enter the community's holy precincts. The entire process of the Red Heifer ritual and its elements underscores the radical uncleanness associated with death in God's eyes, and His meticulous provision for purification to allow His people to dwell in His holy presence. The person carrying out the ritual also became unclean (Num 19:8), highlighting the pervasive nature of defilement and foreshadowing Christ who bore our impurity yet remained pure and makes us clean.

Numbers 19 6 Commentary

Numbers 19:6 is a pivotal detail within the unique ritual of the Red Heifer. The deliberate inclusion of cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool is highly symbolic, mirroring elements found in other significant purification rites, particularly those for leprosy (Lev 14). These additions indicate that the defilement caused by death was to be cleansed with a full and profound purification. Cedar's enduring quality points to the lasting nature of life over death; hyssop signifies humble but thorough cleansing; and scarlet wool, though deeply colored by a creature of decay, is transformed into an agent for purifying from the defilement of death itself, perhaps by representing the very sin leading to death and its comprehensive eradication through sacrificial blood. The collective ashes of these elements with the heifer's prefigure the ultimate and perfect cleansing work of Christ, whose sacrifice completely purifies believers from the defilement and condemnation of sin and death (Heb 9:13-14), providing an enduring and accessible path to spiritual purity.