The Meaning of Numbers 19:17 Explained

Numbers 19:17

KJV: 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:

YLT: and they have taken for the unclean person of the ashes of the burning of the cleansing, and he hath put upon it running water unto a vessel;

Darby: And they shall take for the unclean of the ashes of the purification-offering that hath been burned, and shall put running water thereon in a vessel;

ASV: And for the unclean they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the sin-offering; and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:

Discover Numbers 19:17

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Numbers 19:17?

MEANING: What does Numbers 19:17 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Numbers 19:17 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Numbers 19:17?

What is the context of Numbers 19:17?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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:

What does Numbers 19:17 Mean?

Study Notes

for an unclean
. See Scofield " John 13:10 ".

red heifer

The red heifer: Type of the sacrifice of Christ as the ground of the cleansing of the believer from the defilement contracted in his pilgrim walk through this world, and illustration of the method of his cleansing. The order is:

(1) the slaying of the sacrifice;

(2) the sevenfold sprinkling of the blood, typical public testimony before the eyes of all of the complete and never-to-be-repeated putting away of all the believer's sin as before God. Hebrews 9:12-14 ; Hebrews 10:10-12 .

(3) the reduction of the sacrifice to ashes which are preserved and become a memorial of the sacrifice;

(4) the cleansing from defilement (sin has two aspects--guilt and uncleanness) by sprinkling with the ashes mingled with water. Water is a type of both the Spirit and the Word. John 7:37-39 . Ephesians 5:26 . The operation typified is this: the Holy Spirit used the Word to convict the believer of some evil allowed in his life to the hindering of his joy, growth, and service. Thus convicted, he remembers that the guilt of his sin has been met by the sacrifice of Christ 1 John 1:7 . Instead, therefore, of despairing, the convicted believer judges and confesses the defiling thing as unworthy a saint, and is forgiven and cleansed; John 13:3-10 ; 1 John 1:7-10 .

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 19:17 mean?

And they shall take some for an unclean [person] of the ashes of the burnt heifer for purification from sin and shall be put on them water running in a vessel

וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ לַטָּמֵ֔א מֵעֲפַ֖ר שְׂרֵפַ֣ת הַֽחַטָּ֑את וְנָתַ֥ן עָלָ֛יו מַ֥יִם חַיִּ֖ים אֶל־ כֶּֽלִי

וְלָֽקְחוּ֙	And they shall take some
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural Root: יָקַח Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
לַטָּמֵ֔א	for an unclean [person]
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Adjective, masculine singular Root: טָמֵא Sense: unclean, impure.
מֵעֲפַ֖ר	of the ashes
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct Root: עָפָר Sense: dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish.
שְׂרֵפַ֣ת	of the burnt heifer for
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct Root: שְׂרֵפָה Sense: burning.
הַֽחַטָּ֑את	purification from sin
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular Root: חַטָּאָה Sense: sin, sinful.
וְנָתַ֥ן	and shall be put
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular Root: יָתַן Sense: to give, put, set.
עָלָ֛יו	on them
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular Root: עַל Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מַ֥יִם	water
Parse: Noun, masculine plural Root: מַיִם Sense: water, waters.
חַיִּ֖ים	running
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural Root: חַי Sense: living, alive.
כֶּֽלִי	a vessel
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: כְּלִי Sense: article, vessel, implement, utensil.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 19:17?

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Similar Scriptures for Numbers 19:17

		Genesis 26:19 [2]
		John 4:10-11 [2]
		Numbers 19:9 [2]
		Song of Solomon 4:15 [2]
		Revelation 7:17 [2]
		John 7:38 [2]