Numbers 19 9

Numbers 19:9 kjv

And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.

Numbers 19:9 nkjv

Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin.

Numbers 19:9 niv

"A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.

Numbers 19:9 esv

And a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place. And they shall be kept for the water for impurity for the congregation of the people of Israel; it is a sin offering.

Numbers 19:9 nlt

Then someone who is ceremonially clean will gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them in a purified place outside the camp. They will be kept there for the community of Israel to use in the water for the purification ceremony. This ceremony is performed for the removal of sin.

Numbers 19 verses

Numbers 19 9 Meaning

Numbers 19:9 outlines a specific instruction for maintaining ritual purity within the Israelite community, focusing on the highly potent ashes of the red heifer. These ashes, meticulously collected by a clean person and placed in a clean area outside the camp, were to be kept as a key component for the "water for impurity." This mixture was essential for cleansing individuals who had become ritually defiled, particularly through contact with a dead body, highlighting its purpose as a potent purification for sin, enabling reconciliation with God and the community.

Numbers 19 9 Context

Numbers chapter 19 details the unique purification ritual of the red heifer (Para Adumah), which stands apart from typical sacrifices offered on the altar. It addresses the severe ritual impurity contracted through contact with a dead body, the ultimate defilement in ancient Israelite society, as death was linked to the consequence of sin and separation from God, preventing participation in community worship. The rite ensures a perpetual source of cleansing agent for the congregation, symbolizing YHWH's provision for restoration even from profound uncleanness. The act of the red heifer's ashes being placed "outside the camp" held profound significance, associating the remedy for defilement with the separation of the unclean, while paradoxically transforming a pure object into a vehicle of cleansing. This stands in contrast to pagan cultures which might fear or even worship death, demonstrating YHWH's unique provision for atonement and a pathway back to communion.

Numbers 19 9 Word analysis

• `And a man who is clean`: וְאָסַף֙ אִ֣ישׁ טָה֔וֹר (ve'asaf ish tahor) - Ish means "man," tahor (טָהוֹר) means "clean, ritually pure." This emphasizes that the person handling these sacred ashes, meant for purification, must himself be in a state of purity, ensuring the sanctity of the ritual.
• `shall gather up`: וְאָסַף֙ (ve'asaf) - The Hebrew verb asaf implies careful collection and storage, indicating the value and necessity of the ashes.
• `the ashes`: אֵ֣פֶר (efer) - The byproduct of a complete burning. Ashes represent finality and the complete consumption of the sacrifice, symbolizing that the substance offered for purification is wholly dedicated and spent.
• `of the heifer`: (implied from the preceding verses of Num 19) - Refers to the rare red heifer, without blemish, that had never borne a yoke. Its uniqueness underscores the singular nature of this purification rite.
• `and put them`: וְהִנִּ֧יחַ (ve'hinniah) - Means to place, set down, or rest. It suggests careful placement rather than haphazard disposal.
• `outside the camp`: מִחוּץ֙ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (michutz lamahaneh) - This phrase signifies separation from the holy dwelling place of God. Ritual sacrifices for extreme impurity (like the sin offering on the Day of Atonement) were often processed or consumed "outside the camp" (Lev 16:27), signifying the expulsion of sin and uncleanness. This location highlights the radical nature of purification from death, and the paradox of finding remedy where impurity is banished.
• `in a clean place`: בְּמָק֖וֹם טָהֹ֑ור (bemaqom tahor) - A specific oxymoron. Despite the heifer being burned outside the holy camp (associated with impurity) and the ashes themselves conferring temporary uncleanness on those who handled them (Num 19:10), they must be kept in a clean place. This signifies that while the ashes deal with defilement, they are still holy and precious, intended for divine purpose. This paradox underscores the unique nature of this purification method—it functions paradoxically, bringing cleansing while implicating handlers in a temporary uncleanness.
• `and they shall be kept`: וְהָיְתָ֞ה (vehayeetah) - This implies enduring preservation and availability, highlighting the perpetual need for this purification agent.
• `for the congregation of the people of Israel`: לַעֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (la'adat benei Yisra'el) - Edah (עֵדָה) means "assembly, congregation." This specifies that the ashes are for the collective benefit and purity of the entire Israelite community, not just individuals. It ensures the ongoing ritual viability of the entire camp.
• `for the water for impurity`: לְמֵ֥י נִדָּ֖ה (lemei niddah) - Mei niddah literally means "waters of separation/impurity." This describes the specific purpose: water mixed with the ashes that cleanses from defilement (particularly related to death) and allows reentry into the community.
• `it is a purification for sin`: חַטָּ֥את הִֽוא (chatta'th hi) - Chatta'th (חַטָּאת) is a pivotal Hebrew term. While it often means "sin," it also signifies "sin offering" or, as here, a "purification for sin" or "means of atonement for sin." This emphasizes that the ritual addresses not just ceremonial uncleanness but has a broader connection to the consequences of sin, separating humanity from God (Rom 6:23). It functioned to cleanse defilement so the people could maintain their relationship with a holy God. This is distinct from a blood sacrifice on the altar but serves a related purpose of enabling purity.

Numbers 19 9 Bonus section

The "water for impurity" (mei niddah) represents a powerful symbol of vicarious atonement and substitution. The pure heifer becomes ashes (a state of inertness and nothingness, symbolizing death and complete consumption for purification), which then purifies the impure. This dynamic points forward to Christ's absolute purity being sacrificed for the ultimate defilement of sin, His death being the means for our spiritual cleansing and life. The temporary uncleanness incurred by those handling the pure ashes to cleanse others highlights the concept of identification—the "clean" object/person dealing with sin paradoxically taking on its stain in the process of removing it, which is profoundly echoed in Jesus, who "knew no sin" yet "became sin for us" (2 Cor 5:21). The longevity of the ashes signifies God's persistent provision for purification throughout generations.

Numbers 19 9 Commentary

Numbers 19:9 crystallizes the ongoing necessity of the red heifer's ashes as the primary antidote for defilement by death within the Israelite camp. The meticulous details—a clean person collecting, placing outside the camp in a clean place—underscore both the severity of the impurity addressed and the divinely ordained, precise nature of the cleansing. The "outside the camp" location highlights the banishment of uncleanness, yet the "clean place" for storage shows the sacredness of the ashes, distinguishing YHWH's purity rituals from chaotic pagan practices. Crucially, its description as "a purification for sin" links ritual uncleanness to the broader theological concept of sin itself, implying that physical defilement often symbolizes deeper spiritual estrangement from a holy God. This foresight into Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, offered "outside the camp" for sin, resonates strongly with the type set by the red heifer, which cleansed external defilement pointing to the eternal internal cleansing available through Jesus.