The Meaning of Numbers 19:22 Explained

Numbers 19:22

KJV: And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.

YLT: and all against which the unclean person cometh is unclean, and the person who is coming against it is unclean till the evening.'

Darby: And whatever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.

ASV: And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And whatsoever the unclean  [person] toucheth  shall be unclean;  and the soul  that toucheth  [it] shall be unclean  until even. 

What does Numbers 19:22 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 19:22 mean?

And whatever touches in the unclean [person] shall be unclean and the person who touches [it] shall be unclean until evening -
וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ יִגַּע־ בּ֥וֹ הַטָּמֵ֖א יִטְמָ֑א וְהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַנֹּגַ֖עַת תִּטְמָ֥א עַד־ הָעָֽרֶב פ

אֲשֶׁר־  whatever 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יִגַּע־  touches 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
הַטָּמֵ֖א  the  unclean  [person] 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָמֵא  
Sense: unclean, impure.
יִטְמָ֑א  shall  be  unclean 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טָמֵא 
Sense: to be unclean, become unclean, become impure.
וְהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ  and  the  person 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
הַנֹּגַ֖עַת  who  touches  [it] 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
תִּטְמָ֥א  shall  be  unclean 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine 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.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation