Numbers 19:17

For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh water over them.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The passage delivers a divine command to the Israelite leadership detailing the initial preparation step for the water of cleansing, directly addressing those responsible for administering ritual purity after contact with death.

The words — לַ/טָּמֵ֔א (la./ta.Me') = for the unclean [person] [H2931]; מַ֥יִם (Ma.yim) = water [H4325] describe the intended recipient and the essential liquid component of the rite.

The thread — Numbers 19:9 records the prior step of gathering and storing the ashes in a clean place, while Genesis 26:19 and Song of Solomon 4:15 employ fresh water imagery elsewhere in Scripture. The mixture prepared here is immediately applied with hyssop in Numbers 19:18 to cleanse tents, furnishings, and people.

Why it lands — The text requires the physical combination of sacrificial ashes and fresh water, establishing that ritual cleansing follows a specific, ordered procedure rather than a spontaneous act.

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

וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ve./la.ke.Chuand/ people will take לַטָּמֵ֔אla./ta.Me'for the/ unclean [person]מֵעֲפַ֖רme./'a.Farsome of/ [the] dust of שְׂרֵפַ֣תse.re.Fat[the] burning of הַֽחַטָּ֑אתha./cha.Tatthe/ sin offering וְנָתַ֥ןve./na.Tanand/ he will put עָלָ֛יו'a.La/von/ it מַ֥יִםMa.yimwater חַיִּ֖יםchai.Yimliving אֶל־'el-into כֶּֽלִי׃Ke.lia vessel

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

Numbers 19:9 Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and store them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept by the congregation of Israel for preparing the water of purification; this is for purification from sin.
Genesis 26:19 Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of fresh water there.
Song of Solomon 4:15 You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon.
John 4:10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
John 7:38 Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”
Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”