Bible Strands
Leviticus 15:31
You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses Moses and the priests, concluding the regulations on bodily discharges by issuing a communal boundary command. The instruction applies to the entire Israelite camp during their wilderness journey.
The words — וְהִזַּרְתֶּם (vehi.zar.tem) literally means "and you will keep separate," establishing a required distinction. יָמֻתוּ (ya.mu.tu) translates directly to "they will die," stating the fatal outcome of defiling the tabernacle.
The thread — The lethal consequence of defiling the tabernacle runs through Numbers 19:13 and Numbers 19:20, where impurity without purification results in being cut off from the assembly. Ezekiel 5:11 repeats the warning that defiling the sanctuary provokes divine judgment.
Why it lands — The text requires the community to enforce purity boundaries to protect the holiness of God's dwelling. It demands readers acknowledge that ritual uncleanness carries immediate spiritual death when it approaches the sanctuary.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
Cross-references
- Numbers 19:20 But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.
- Numbers 19:13 Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.
- Ezekiel 5:11 Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I Myself will withdraw My favor; I will not look upon you with pity, nor will I spare you.
- Numbers 5:3 You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”
- Ezekiel 23:38 They have also done this to Me: On that very same day, they defiled My sanctuary and profaned My Sabbaths.
- 1 Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
- Ezekiel 44:23 They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.
- Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
- Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- Jude 1:4 For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.