The Meaning of Numbers 19:9 Explained

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.

YLT: And a clean man hath gathered the ashes of the cow, and hath placed at the outside of the camp, in a clean place, and it hath become to the company of the sons of Israel a charge for waters of separation -- it is a cleansing;

Darby: And a clean man shall gather the ashes of the heifer, and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the assembly of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.

ASV: 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 for impurity: it is a sin-offering.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Numbers 19:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 19:1-22 - Purification For Uncleanness
We might have expected this chapter to occur in Leviticus. Is it not incongruous in this narrative of the pilgrimage? Nay; this is the most appropriate place, since in the desert march we are more exposed to the touch of defilement, such as needs daily cleansing, lest we be shut out from fellowship with God.
The ashes of an heifer are emblematic of the work of our Lord. See Hebrews 9:13. No blemish; never a yoke; "slain without the camp," counted an unclean thing! It was easy for the Jew to contract ceremonial defilement. To walk over a grave was enough. But the ashes of the heifer mingled with spring-or running-water restored the polluted soul to the family and the Tabernacle. So as we confess our sins, we are sprinkled from an evil conscience, we are restored to unity with God and His people, and we walk in newness of life.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 19

1  The water of separation made of the ashes of a red heifer
11  The law for the use of it in purification of the unclean

What do the individual words in Numbers 19:9 mean?

And shall gather up a man [who is] clean - the ashes of the heifer and store [them] outside the camp in a place clean and they shall be for the congregation of the sons of Israel kept for the water of purification for purifying from sin it [is]
וְאָסַ֣ף ׀ אִ֣ישׁ טָה֗וֹר אֵ֚ת אֵ֣פֶר הַפָּרָ֔ה וְהִנִּ֛יחַ מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה בְּמָק֣וֹם טָה֑וֹר וְ֠הָיְתָה לַעֲדַ֨ת בְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל לְמִשְׁמֶ֛רֶת לְמֵ֥י נִדָּ֖ה חַטָּ֥את הִֽוא

וְאָסַ֣ף ׀  And  shall  gather  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
אִ֣ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
טָה֗וֹר  [who  is]  clean 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָהֹור  
Sense: pure, clean.
אֵ֚ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֵ֣פֶר  the  ashes 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֵפֶר  
Sense: ashes.
הַפָּרָ֔ה  of  the  heifer 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: פָּרָה  
Sense: cow, heifer.
וְהִנִּ֛יחַ  and  store  [them] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מֻנָּח  
Sense: to rest.
מִח֥וּץ  outside 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חוּץ  
Sense: outside, outward, street, the outside.
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה  the  camp 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
בְּמָק֣וֹם  in  a  place 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
טָה֑וֹר  clean 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָהֹור  
Sense: pure, clean.
וְ֠הָיְתָה  and  they  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לַעֲדַ֨ת  for  the  congregation 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
בְּנֵֽי־  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
לְמִשְׁמֶ֛רֶת  kept 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִשְׁמֶרֶת  
Sense: guard, charge, function, obligation, service, watch.
לְמֵ֥י  for  the  water 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
נִדָּ֖ה  of  purification 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נִדָּה  
Sense: impurity, filthiness, menstruous, set apart.
חַטָּ֥את  for  purifying  from  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
הִֽוא  it  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.