Numbers 19:21

This is a permanent statute for the people: The one who sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water of purification will be unclean until evening.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses transmits this regulation to the Israelite community during the wilderness period, immediately following the instructions for the red heifer ritual. The passage establishes a standing rule for the assembly regarding ritual purity.

The words — חֻקַּת עוֹלָם (chu.Kat o.Lam) translates literally to "statute of perpetuity," marking the regulation as enduring. מַזֶּה (ma.Zeh) means "the one who sprinkles," identifying the agent responsible for applying the purification water.

The thread — The mandate to wash clothes and remain unclean until evening parallels Leviticus 11:25. The sprinkling action is referenced in Hebrews 9:13, which notes that sprinkling defiled persons sanctifies them.

Why it lands — The text requires the sprinkler and any contact with the purification water to undergo immediate washing and a period of evening uncleanness. It demands recognition that sacred rites impose tangible boundaries, where handling holy substances carries defined ritual consequences.

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

וְהָיְתָ֥הve./ha.ye.Tahand/ it will becomeלָּהֶ֖םla./Hemfor <the>/ themלְחֻקַּ֣תle./chu.Kat<into>/ a statute of עוֹלָ֑םo.Lamperpetuity וּמַזֵּ֤הu./ma.Zehand/ [the] [one who] spatters מֵֽי־mei-<of> [the] water of הַנִּדָּה֙ha./ni.Dah<the>/ impurity יְכַבֵּ֣סye.kha.Beshe will wash בְּגָדָ֔יוbe.ga.Da/vclothes/ his וְהַנֹּגֵ֙עַ֙ve./ha./no.Ge.a'and/ the/ [one who] touches בְּמֵ֣יbe./Mei<in>/ [the] water of הַנִּדָּ֔הha./ni.Dah<the>/ impurity יִטְמָ֖אyit.Ma'he will be unclean עַד־'ad-until הָעָֽרֶב׃ha./'A.revthe/ evening

King James Version

And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even.

Cross-references

Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,
Hebrews 10:4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Leviticus 11:25 and whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening.
Leviticus 11:40 Whoever eats from the carcass must wash his clothes and will be unclean until evening, and anyone who picks up the carcass must wash his clothes and will be unclean until evening.
Leviticus 16:26 The man who released the goat as the scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may reenter the camp.
Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 9:10 They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.