Numbers 19:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The one who collected the ashes of the heifer is to wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. For the people of Isra'el and for the foreigner staying with them this will be a permanent regulation.

Berean Standard Bible:

The man who has gathered up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he will be ceremonially unclean until evening. This is a permanent statute for the Israelites and for the foreigner residing among them.

American Standard Version:

And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he that gathereth^{H622} the ashes^{H665} of the heifer^{H6510} shall wash^{H3526} his clothes^{H899}, and be unclean^{H2930} until the even^{H6153}: and it shall be unto the children^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478}, and unto the stranger^{H1616} that sojourneth^{H1481} among^{H8432} them, for a statute^{H2708} for ever^{H5769}.

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Commentary for Numbers 19:10

Numbers 19:10 is part of a larger passage in the Book of Numbers that details the instructions for the ritual of the red heifer, also known as the "purification ritual." This ritual was unique in that it was designed to purify those who had come into contact with a dead body, which in the Israelite tradition, would render a person ritually unclean. The ashes of the red heifer, when mixed with water, created a "water of purification" used in a cleansing ceremony.

The verse specifies that the individual who gathers the ashes of the burnt heifer must wash his clothes and remain ritually unclean until the evening. This indicates a temporary state of impurity for the one performing the task, which was a common theme in the Levitical laws concerning purity. The inclusion of "and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them" underscores that this statute applied to both the Israelites and the foreigners living among them, emphasizing the universality of the law within the community. The phrase "for a statute for ever" suggests that these regulations were to be observed perpetually, highlighting their enduring significance in the religious life of Israel.

In its historical context, this verse reflects the detailed and meticulous nature of the Mosaic Law, which provided comprehensive guidelines for maintaining ritual purity—a central concern in the religious practices of ancient Israel. The purity laws served to distinguish the Israelites from other nations and to reinforce the holiness of the community, as they believed that God dwelled among them. The ritual of the red heifer, therefore, was not only a means of purification but also a symbolic act that affirmed the unique identity and covenantal relationship of the Israelites with God.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H622
   There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָסַף
   Transliteration: ʼâçaph
   Pronunciation: aw-saf'
   Description: a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.); assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw.
   
2. Strong's Number: H665
   There are 118 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵפֶר
   Transliteration: ʼêpher
   Pronunciation: ay'-fer
   Description: from an unused root meaning to bestrew; ashes; ashes.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6510
   There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּרָה
   Transliteration: pârâh
   Pronunciation: paw-raw'
   Description: feminine of פַּר; a heifer; cow, heifer, kine.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3526
   There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּבַס
   Transliteration: kâbaç
   Pronunciation: kaw-bas'
   Description: a primitive root; to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative; fuller, wash(-ing).
   
5. Strong's Number: H899
   There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֶּגֶד
   Transliteration: beged
   Pronunciation: behg'-ed
   Description: from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, [idiom] very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2930
   There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טָמֵא
   Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
   Pronunciation: taw-may'
   Description: a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated); defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6153
   There are 130 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶרֶב
   Transliteration: ʻereb
   Pronunciation: eh'-reb
   Description: from עָרַב; dusk; [phrase] day, even(-ing, tide), night.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
10. Strong's Number: H1616
    There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גֵּר
    Transliteration: gêr
    Pronunciation: gare
    Description: or (fully) geyr (gare); from גּוּר; properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner; alien, sojourner, stranger.
    
11. Strong's Number: H1481
    There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גּוּר
    Transliteration: gûwr
    Pronunciation: goor
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather forhostility (as afraid); abide, assemble, be afraid, dwell, fear, gather (together), inhabitant, remain, sojourn, stand in awe, (be) stranger, [idiom] surely.
    
12. Strong's Number: H8432
    There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
    Transliteration: tâvek
    Pronunciation: taw'-vek
    Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in).
    
13. Strong's Number: H2708
    There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֻקָּה
    Transliteration: chuqqâh
    Pronunciation: khook-kaw'
    Description: feminine of חֹק, and meaning substantially the same; {an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)}; appointed, custom, manner, ordinance, site, statute.
    
14. Strong's Number: H5769
    There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עוֹלָם
    Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
    Pronunciation: o-lawm'
    Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד.