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Thursday, April 16th, 2026
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Numbers 19:17

"If you have become unclean, someone must use the ashes from the burned cow to make you clean again. They must pour fresh water over the ashes into a jar.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ashes;   Defilement;   Purification;   Water;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Red Heifer, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ashes;   Burial;   Clean and Unclean;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Uncleanness;   Water;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Clean, Unclean;   Funeral;   Grave;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Clean, Cleanness;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Clean and Unclean;   Colours;   Numbers, Book of;   Red Heifer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Presentation ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Atonement;   Heifer, Red;   Offerings, the;   Water of Separation;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ashes;   Burial;   Clean and unclean;   Covenant;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Uncleanness;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Ashes;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Heifer, Red;   Uncleanness;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ashes;   Hafá¹­arah;   Law, Reading from the;   Miḳwa'ot;   Mishnah;   Red Heifer;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
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:
King James Version
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:
Lexham English Bible
For the unclean person they will take from the powder of the burnt purification offering, and they will put running water into a container.
English Standard Version
For the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt sin offering, and fresh water shall be added in a vessel.
New Century Version
"So you must use the ashes from the burnt offering to make that person clean again. Pour fresh water over the ashes into a jar.
New English Translation
"‘For a ceremonially unclean person you must take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin and pour fresh running water over them in a vessel.
Amplified Bible
'Then for the unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for the purification from sin, and running water shall be added to them in a container.
New American Standard Bible
'Then for the unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the burnt purification from sin and running water shall be added to them in a container.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therfore for an vncleane person they shall take of the burnt ashes of the sinne offring, and pure water shalbe put thereto in a vessel.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then for the unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the burnt purification from sin and flowing water shall be added to them in a vessel.
Contemporary English Version
Before you can be made clean, someone who is clean must take some of the ashes from the burnt cow and stir them into a pot of spring water. That same person must dip a hyssop branch in the water and ashes, then sprinkle it on the tent and everything in it, including everyone who was inside. If you have touched a human bone, a grave, or a dead body, you must be sprinkled with that water.
Complete Jewish Bible
"For the unclean person they are to take some of the ashes of the animal burned up as a purification from sin and add them to fresh water in a container.
Darby Translation
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;
George Lamsa Translation
And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering and shall pour running water into it in a vessel;
Good News Translation
To remove the uncleanness, some ashes from the red cow which was burned to remove sin shall be taken and put in a pot, and fresh water added.
Christian Standard Bible®
For the purification of the unclean person, they are to take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering, put them in a jar, and add fresh water to them.
Literal Translation
And for the unclean they shall take the ashes of the burning of the sin offering, and running water in a vessel shall be put on it.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
So now for the vncleane personne, they shal take of ye a?shes of this burntsynofferinge, & put springinge water theron in to a vessell,
American Standard Version
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:
Bible in Basic English
And for the unclean, they are to take the dust of the burning of the sin-offering, and put flowing water on it in a vessel:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore, for an vncleane person they shal take of the burnt asshes of the sinne offeryng, and runnyng water shalbe put therto in a vessell.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And for the unclean they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the purification from sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel.
King James Version (1611)
And for an vncleane person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sinne, and running water shall bee put thereto in a vessell:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they shall take for the unclean of the burnt ashes of purification, and they shall pour upon them running water into a vessel.
English Revised Version
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:
Berean Standard Bible
For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt purification offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh running water over them.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei schulen take `of the aischis of the brennyng, and of the synne, and thei schulen sende quyk watris in to a vessel on tho aischis;
Young's Literal Translation
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;
Update Bible Version
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:
Webster's Bible Translation
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 to it in a vessel:
World English Bible
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:
New King James Version
"And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin, and running water shall be put on them in a vessel.
New Living Translation
"To remove the defilement, put some of the ashes from the burnt purification offering in a jar, and pour fresh water over them.
New Life Bible
The person who is unclean must take some of the ashes from the burning of the sin gift. Clean water must be added to them in a pot.
New Revised Standard
For the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt purification offering, and running water shall be added in a vessel;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And they shall take, for him that is un-clean, of the ashes of the burning of the sin-bearer, - and living water shall be put thereon in a vessel,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they shall take of the ashes of the burning and of the sin offering, and shall pour living waters upon them into a vessel.
Revised Standard Version
For the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt sin offering, and running water shall be added in a vessel;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'Then for the unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the burnt purification from sin and flowing water shall be added to them in a vessel.

Contextual Overview

11 Those who touch a dead body will be unclean for seven days. 12 They must wash themselves with the special water on the third day and again on the seventh day. If they don't do this, they will remain unclean. 13 Those who touch the body of someone who has died are unclean. If they stay unclean and then go to the Lord 's Holy Tent, they make it unclean. So they must be separated from the Israelites. Because the special water was not thrown on them, they remain unclean. 14 "This is the rule about those who die in their tents: If someone dies in the tent, everyone in the tent will be unclean for seven days. 15 And every jar or pot without a lid becomes unclean. 16 If there is a dead body out in a field, whether the person died in battle or for some other reason, whoever touches that dead body, or its bones, or even its grave will be unclean for seven days. 17 "If you have become unclean, someone must use the ashes from the burned cow to make you clean again. They must pour fresh water over the ashes into a jar. 18 That clean person must take a hyssop branch and dip it into the water. The clean person must sprinkle it over the tent, the dishes, and any people who were in the tent. That clean person must do this for anyone who touches a dead body, its bones, or even a grave. 19 "Then that clean person must sprinkle this water on you on the third day and again on the seventh day. On the seventh day you will become clean. You must wash your clothes in water and you will become clean in the evening. 20 "Whoever becomes unclean and does not become clean must be separated from the community. If an unclean person is not sprinkled with that special water and does not become clean, that person might make the Lord 's Holy Tent unclean.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ashes: Heb. dust, Numbers 19:9

running water shall be put thereto: Heb. living waters shall be given, Genesis 26:19, *marg. Song of Solomon 4:15, John 4:10, John 4:11, John 7:38, Revelation 7:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 40:36 - when Numbers 8:7 - water Numbers 19:12 - He shall purify Numbers 31:23 - it shall be purified Acts 21:24 - and purify

Cross-References

Genesis 13:10
Lot looked and saw the whole Jordan Valley. He saw that there was much water there. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. At that time the Jordan Valley all the way to Zoar was like the Lord 's Garden. This was good land, like the land of Egypt.)
Genesis 18:22
So the men turned and started walking toward Sodom while Abraham stood there before the Lord .
Genesis 19:13
We are going to destroy this city. The Lord heard how evil this city is, so he sent us to destroy it."
Genesis 19:14
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, the men who had married his other daughters. He said, "Hurry and leave this city! The Lord will soon destroy it!" But they thought he was joking.
Genesis 19:15
The next morning at dawn, the angels were trying to make Lot hurry. They said, "This city will be punished, so take your wife and your two daughters who are still with you and leave this place. Then you will not be destroyed with the city."
Genesis 19:16
When Lot did not move fast enough, the two men grabbed his hand. They also took the hands of his wife and his two daughters. The two men led Lot and his family safely out of the city. The Lord was kind to Lot and his family.
Genesis 19:18
But Lot said to the two men, "Sirs, please don't force me to run so far!
Genesis 19:22
But run there quickly. I cannot destroy Sodom until you are safely in that town." (That town is named Zoar, because it is a small town.)
Genesis 19:26
Lot's wife was following behind him and looked back at the city. When she did, she became a block of salt.
Genesis 19:31
One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Everywhere on the earth, men and women marry and have a family. But our father is old, and there are no men around here to give us children.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And for an unclean person,.... Defiled by any of the above means:

they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin; from the place where they were laid up for this use;

:- and some have thought that they were laid up in various cities and places in the country, as well as at Jerusalem, that they might be come at easily upon occasion; otherwise they could not be had without great trouble and expense, and in some places not so soon as the law required for their purification, namely, on the third day after their defilement:

and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel; the Targum Jonathan is,

"fountain water in the midst of earthen vessel;''

for no water but fountain, spring, or river water, was made use of; and it should seem by what is said that ashes were first put into the vessel, and then the running water was put to them; and yet the Jewish writers say s, that if the ashes were put in first, and then the water, it was not right; and the meaning of what is said here is, that the water and ashes should be mixed together; for it is urged from the words: "running water in a vessel", that it is plain, that the water is put in the vessel and not to the ashes; and therefore that which is said, "shall be put thereto", is to caution the person, that after he has put the ashes upon the water, that he mixes them well with his finger, and cause the water below to rise above t.

s Maimon. Milchot, Parah Adumah, c. 9. sect. 1. t Bartenora in Misn. Temurah, c. 1. sect. 5.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

One practical effect of attaching defilement to a dead body, and to all that touched it, etc., would be to insure early burial, and to correct a practice not uncommon in the East, of leaving the deal to be devoured by the wild beasts.


 
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