Numbers 19:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he [is] unclean.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The person who remains unclean and does not purify himself will be cut off from the community because he has defiled the sanctuary of ADONAI. The water for purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

Berean Standard Bible:

But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

American Standard Version:

But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of Jehovah: the water for impurity hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But the man^{H376} that shall be unclean^{H2930}, and shall not purify^{H2398} himself, that soul^{H5315} shall be cut off^{H3772} from among^{H8432} the congregation^{H6951}, because he hath defiled^{H2930} the sanctuary^{H4720} of the LORD^{H3068}: the water^{H4325} of separation^{H5079} hath not been sprinkled^{H2236} upon him; he is unclean^{H2931}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Numbers 19:20

1. **Themes:**
- **Ritual Purity:** The verse emphasizes the importance of ritual purity in the Israelite community. It reflects the broader theme in the Torah concerning the necessity of maintaining a state of cleanness to be in the presence of the holy.
- **Consequences of Impurity:** It outlines the severe consequence of remaining in a state of impurity—specifically, exclusion from the congregation, which signifies a form of social and religious ostracism.
- **Sanctity of the Sanctuary:** The sanctity of the Tabernacle (and later the Temple) is a central concern. The text underscores that allowing the sanctuary to be defiled by an unclean person has serious repercussions.
- **Responsibility and Obedience:** The verse highlights the individual's responsibility to follow the purification rituals prescribed by God through Moses, emphasizing obedience to divine commandments.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** Numbers 19 is set during the time of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness, after the exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land.
- **Purification Rituals:** The passage is part of a larger section (Numbers 19:1-22) that details the ritual for the "water of separation," which was used to purify those who had come into contact with a corpse, a serious form of ritual impurity.
- **Mosaic Law:** This law is part of the Mosaic Law, given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. It reflects the legal and ritualistic codes that were to govern the Israelite society.
- **Covenant Community:** The directive serves to maintain the holiness of the covenant community, which was essential for their identity as the people of God, set apart for His purposes.

In summary, Numbers 19:20 underscores the importance of ritual purity and adherence to the purification laws to maintain the sanctity of the community and the Tabernacle, reflecting the overarching concern with holiness and divine worship in ancient Israelite society. Failure to comply with these laws resulted in exclusion from the community, signifying the gravity with which such matters were treated.

*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: 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.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2398
   There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָטָא
   Transliteration: châṭâʼ
   Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3772
   There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּרַת
   Transliteration: kârath
   Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
   Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want.
   
6. 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).
   
7. Strong's Number: H6951
   There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָהָל
   Transliteration: qâhâl
   Pronunciation: kaw-hawl'
   Description: from קָהַל; assemblage (usually concretely); assembly, company, congregation, multitude.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4720
   There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִקְדָּשׁ
   Transliteration: miqdâsh
   Pronunciation: mik-dawsh'
   Description: or מִקְּדָשׁ; (Exodus 15:17), from קָדַשׁ; a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of Jehovah or of idols) or asylum; chapel, hallowed part, holy place, sanctuary.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
10. 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)).
    
11. Strong's Number: H5079
    There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נִדָּה
    Transliteration: niddâh
    Pronunciation: nid-daw'
    Description: from נָדַד; properly, rejection; by implication, impurity, especially personal (menstruation) or moral (idolatry, incest); [idiom] far, filthiness, [idiom] flowers, menstruous (woman), put apart, [idiom] removed (woman), separation, set apart, unclean(-ness, thing, with filthiness).
    
12. Strong's Number: H2236
    There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זָרַק
    Transliteration: zâraq
    Pronunciation: zaw-rak'
    Description: a primitive root; to sprinkle (fluid or solid particles); be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew.
    
13. Strong's Number: H2931
    There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: טָמֵא
    Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
    Pronunciation: taw-may'
    Description: from טָמֵא; foul in a religious sense; defiled, [phrase] infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean.