And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip [it] in the water, and sprinkle [it] upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:
Complete Jewish Bible:
A clean person is to take a bunch of hyssop leaves, dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the containers, on the people who were there, and on the person who touched the bone or the person killed or the one who died naturally or the grave.
Berean Standard Bible:
Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and the people who were there. He is also to sprinkle the one who touched a bone, a grave, or a person who has died or been slain.
American Standard Version:
and a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
And a man [that is] clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay [them] up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it [is] a purification for sin.
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
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Commentary for Numbers 19:18
1. **Themes:**
- **Purity and Impurity:** The verse emphasizes the importance of ritual purity in the Israelite community. Coming into contact with a dead body or certain other sources of impurity required a purification process to restore one's ceremonial cleanliness.
- **Ritual Cleansing:** The use of water and hyssop for sprinkling reflects the theme of ritual cleansing, a common practice in ancient Israel for purification.
- **Community Responsibility:** The instructions given are not just for individuals but also for the sanctity of the community and its dwellings, indicating a shared responsibility for maintaining purity.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Mosaic Law:** This verse is part of the Mosaic Law, given to the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It reflects the religious and social codes that were to govern their lives.
- **Wilderness Wanderings:** The Book of Numbers is set during the time when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, and it includes laws and narratives that would have been relevant for their nomadic lifestyle, including how to deal with issues of impurity when living in tents and using portable vessels.
- **Cultic Practices:** The detailed instructions for purification suggest an established system of cultic practices and rituals designed to separate the holy from the common and to prevent the spread of impurity within the camp.
In summary, Numbers 19:18 deals with the procedures for purification after contact with death, highlighting the themes of ritual purity, the importance of cleansing rituals, and the communal aspect of maintaining holiness as prescribed by the Mosaic Law during the wilderness period of the Israelites.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H2889 There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: טָהוֹר Transliteration: ṭâhôwr Pronunciation: taw-hore' Description: or טָהֹר; from טָהֵר; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense); clean, fair, pure(-ness).
Strong's Number: H376 There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אִישׁ Transliteration: ʼîysh Pronunciation: eesh Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
Strong's Number: H3947 There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: לָקַח Transliteration: lâqach Pronunciation: law-kakh' Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
Strong's Number: H231 There are 111 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֵזוֹב Transliteration: ʼêzôwb Pronunciation: ay-zobe' Description: probably of foreign derivation; hyssop; hyssop.
Strong's Number: H2881 There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: טָבַל Transliteration: ṭâbal Pronunciation: taw-bal' Description: a primitive root; to dip, to immerse; dip, plunge.
Strong's Number: H4325 There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: מַיִם Transliteration: mayim Pronunciation: mah'-yim Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
Strong's Number: H5137 There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נָזָה Transliteration: nâzâh Pronunciation: naw-zaw' Description: a primitive root; to spirt, i.e. besprinkle (especially in expiation); sprinkle.
Strong's Number: H168 There are 369 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֹהֶל Transliteration: ʼôhel Pronunciation: o'-hel Description: from אָהַל; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance); covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.
Strong's Number: H3627 There are 276 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: כְּלִי Transliteration: kᵉlîy Pronunciation: kel-ee' Description: from כָּלָה; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon); armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, [phrase] furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, [idiom] one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, [phrase] psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, [phrase] whatsoever.
Strong's Number: H5315 There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ Transliteration: nephesh Pronunciation: neh'-fesh Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
Strong's Number: H5060 There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נָגַע Transliteration: nâgaʻ Pronunciation: naw-gah' Description: a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire); violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.); beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch.
Strong's Number: H6106 There are 108 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עֶצֶם Transliteration: ʻetsem Pronunciation: eh'tsem Description: from עָצַם; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame; body, bone, [idiom] life, (self-) same, strength, [idiom] very.
Strong's Number: H2491 There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: חָלָל Transliteration: châlâl Pronunciation: khaw-lawl' Description: from חָלַל; pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted; kill, profane, slain (man), [idiom] slew, (deadly) wounded.
Strong's Number: H4191 There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: מוּת Transliteration: mûwth Pronunciation: mooth Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
Strong's Number: H6913 There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: קֶבֶר Transliteration: qeber Pronunciation: keh'-ber Description: or (feminine) קִבְרָה; from קָבַר; a sepulchre; burying place, grave, sepulchre.