The Meaning of Numbers 19:21 Explained

Numbers 19:21

KJV: 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.

YLT: 'And it hath been to them for a statute age-during, that he who is sprinkling the water of separation doth wash his garments, and he who is coming against the water of separation is unclean till the evening,

Darby: And it shall be an everlasting statute unto them. And he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his garments, and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even.

ASV: And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them: and he that sprinkleth the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he that toucheth the water for impurity shall be unclean until even.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Numbers 19:21 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 19:21 mean?

And it shall be for them a statute perpetual and He who sprinkles the water of purification shall wash his clothes and he who touches the water of purification shall be unclean until evening
וְהָיְתָ֥ה לָּהֶ֖ם‪‬ לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם וּמַזֵּ֤ה מֵֽי־ הַנִּדָּה֙ יְכַבֵּ֣ס בְּגָדָ֔יו וְהַנֹּגֵ֙עַ֙ בְּמֵ֣י הַנִּדָּ֔ה יִטְמָ֖א עַד־ הָעָֽרֶב

וְהָיְתָ֥ה  And  it  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.
לָּהֶ֖ם‪‬  for  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
לְחֻקַּ֣ת  a  statute 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חֻקָּה  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, enactment, something prescribed.
עוֹלָ֑ם  perpetual 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
וּמַזֵּ֤ה  and  He  who  sprinkles 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: נָזָה 
Sense: to spurt, spatter, sprinkle.
מֵֽי־  the  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
הַנִּדָּה֙  of  purification 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נִדָּה  
Sense: impurity, filthiness, menstruous, set apart.
יְכַבֵּ֣ס  shall  wash 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּבַס  
Sense: to wash (by treading), be washed, perform the work of a fuller.
בְּגָדָ֔יו  his  clothes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
וְהַנֹּגֵ֙עַ֙  and  he  who  touches 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
בְּמֵ֣י  the  water 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
הַנִּדָּ֔ה  of  purification 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נִדָּה  
Sense: impurity, filthiness, menstruous, set apart.
יִטְמָ֖א  shall  be  unclean 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טָמֵא 
Sense: to be unclean, become unclean, become impure.
עַד־  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הָעָֽרֶב  evening 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶרֶב  
Sense: evening, night, sunset.