Numbers 19:20

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 19:20 issues a severe warning regarding the ritual of purification from death defilement, specifically through the "water of separation." It declares that any individual who becomes ritually unclean by contact with a corpse and subsequently refuses to undergo the prescribed purification process will be excommunicated from the Israelite community. This drastic penalty underscores the profound seriousness of ritual impurity, not merely as a personal state but as a direct defilement of the LORD's sanctuary, jeopardizing the very presence of God among His people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 19 meticulously outlines the unique and crucial ritual of the red heifer, detailing the preparation of its ashes and their use in creating the "water of separation" (or "water of impurity"). This chapter immediately follows a period of significant rebellion and divine judgment (Numbers 16-17), which highlighted the fragility of the covenant relationship and the necessity of holiness. The red heifer ritual, therefore, serves as God's provision for maintaining the sanctity of the community in the face of inevitable defilement by death, which was a constant reality. Verse 20 acts as a climactic warning within this chapter, emphasizing the non-negotiable nature of this purification process and the dire consequences of neglecting it, connecting the individual's state of purity directly to the sanctity of the Tabernacle itself.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, death was considered the ultimate source of ritual impurity, symbolizing the antithesis of life and God's holiness. Contact with a corpse rendered an individual ritually unclean for a specified period, during which they were prohibited from participating in communal worship, touching holy objects, or entering the Tabernacle precincts. This was not a moral judgment but a ritual state that required specific purification rites to restore one to full participation in the covenant community. The Tabernacle, as the physical dwelling place of God's presence, was supremely holy, and any defilement of its sacred space was an affront to God Himself, threatening the entire community's relationship with Him. The penalty of being "cut off" (Hebrew _karath_) was a severe form of excommunication, implying not only social ostracization but also spiritual separation from the covenant blessings and protection, potentially even leading to premature death.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully reinforces several core themes prevalent throughout the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights God's absolute demand for **holiness and purity** within the Israelite community, reflecting His own nature, as articulated in passages like [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy"). Secondly, it underscores the severe **consequences of disobedience** to God's specific commands, demonstrating that neglecting ritual purity was not a minor oversight but a serious breach of covenant. The phrase "cut off from among the congregation" signifies a profound loss of identity and access to God's presence. Thirdly, the verse emphasizes the paramount **sanctity of God's sanctuary**. The Tabernacle was the epicenter of Israel's worship and God's dwelling, and its protection from defilement was crucial for maintaining the divine-human relationship. Finally, it implicitly stresses the **necessity of cleansing** as the divinely ordained means of restoration, without which fellowship with God and community participation were impossible, echoing the broader theme of atonement and reconciliation found throughout the sacrificial system described in [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "The Book of Leviticus").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cut off (Hebrew, _karath'_):** This verb literally means "to cut, to cut off, to cut down." In a covenantal and legal context, as used here, it signifies a severe penalty of expulsion or excommunication from the covenant community. It implies a complete separation from the rights, privileges, and blessings of being part of Israel, often carrying spiritual implications of being outside God's protective care and potentially leading to premature death by divine judgment. It underscores a breach of the covenant relationship.
* **Unclean (Hebrew, _tame'_):** This term describes a state of ritual impurity, specifically in Numbers 19 resulting from contact with a dead body. It is not a moral judgment but a ceremonial status that renders an individual unfit to approach God or participate in sacred activities. The verse highlights that remaining in this state *without purifying oneself* is the offense, not the initial defilement itself.
* **Water of separation (Hebrew, _mei niddah'_):** Literally translated as "water of impurity" or "water for impurity," this refers to the purification water prepared with the ashes of the red heifer. It was specifically designed to cleanse those defiled by contact with a corpse, emphasizing its unique purpose in dealing with the most severe form of ritual uncleanness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself":** This clause identifies the subject of the warning: an individual who has incurred ritual impurity (specifically from a corpse, as per the chapter's context) and, crucially, *fails or refuses* to undergo the prescribed purification ritual. The emphasis is on the deliberate neglect or defiance of God's command, not merely the state of uncleanness itself.
* **"that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation":** This declares the severe consequence for such neglect. The term "soul" (Hebrew _nephesh_) emphasizes the individual's entire being. "Cut off" signifies excommunication, a complete severance from the covenant community of Israel, its social life, religious privileges, and the divine protection and blessings associated with being part of God's people.
* **"because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD":** This provides the fundamental reason for the severe penalty. The individual's unpurified state, if brought into proximity with the holy, was considered a direct act of defiling God's dwelling place, the Tabernacle. This highlights that ritual purity was not merely for personal benefit but was essential for maintaining the holiness of the space where God chose to reside among His people.
* **"the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he [is] unclean":** This final phrase reiterates the specific failure—the neglect of the prescribed purification ritual (the sprinkling of the water of separation)—and confirms the resulting state of persistent uncleanness. It underscores the divine provision for cleansing and the individual's culpability in rejecting or ignoring that provision.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 19:20 effectively employs several **literary devices** to convey its message with gravity. **Emphasis** is achieved through the stark contrast between the state of uncleanness and the severe consequence, highlighting the non-negotiable nature of the purification. The phrase "cut off from among the congregation" serves as a powerful **legal declaration**, underscoring the divine authority behind the command. There is a clear **cause-and-effect** relationship established: the cause is the failure to purify oneself, and the effect is excommunication. The repetition of "unclean" at the beginning and end of the verse creates a sense of **closure and finality** regarding the individual's defiled state and the inevitable judgment. The specific mention of "the water of separation" functions as a **synecdoche**, where the part (the water) stands for the whole purification ritual, making the neglected means of cleansing explicit.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 19:20 profoundly illustrates God's unyielding demand for holiness and the gravity of defilement in His presence. While the specific ritual laws of the Old Testament no longer apply to New Covenant believers, the underlying theological principles remain eternally relevant. God's nature as holy and His desire for His people to reflect that holiness are unchanging. Just as ritual uncleanness separated an Israelite from the community and defiled the sanctuary, so too does sin—the ultimate spiritual defilement—create a barrier between humanity and a holy God. This verse underscores that God always provides a means for cleansing and restoration, and neglecting that provision carries severe consequences for fellowship and communion.

* [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")
* [Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13 "Hebrews 9:13-14 - The Superiority of Christ's Blood")
* [1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 19:20 serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness with which God views defilement and His provision for cleansing. For believers today, while the physical rituals of the Old Covenant have been fulfilled in Christ, the spiritual principles endure. Our lives, as temples of the Holy Spirit, are called to holiness, and sin is the ultimate defilement that separates us from God's presence and fellowship. This verse challenges us to consider whether we are taking God's holiness seriously and actively embracing the means of cleansing He has provided through Jesus Christ. Are we confessing our sins and allowing the blood of Christ to purify us, or are we neglecting this divine provision, effectively choosing to remain in a state of spiritual uncleanness that hinders our communion with God and His church? Our spiritual health and access to God's grace depend on our willingness to be cleansed.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might we, as New Covenant believers, inadvertently "defile the sanctuary of the LORD" today by neglecting spiritual purity?**
* **What are the contemporary equivalents of being "cut off from among the congregation" when we persist in unconfessed sin or spiritual apathy?**
* **How does understanding the severity of ritual impurity in Numbers 19:20 deepen our appreciation for the complete and final cleansing offered by Christ?**

### FAQ
**What does "cut off from among the congregation" truly mean in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "cut off from among the congregation" (Hebrew _karath_) signifies a severe penalty that went beyond mere social ostracization. It implied excommunication from the covenant community of Israel, meaning the individual lost their identity as part of God's chosen people. This separation had profound religious, social, and often economic consequences. Religiously, it meant exclusion from worship, sacrifices, and access to the Tabernacle/Temple. Socially, it meant being an outcast, losing the protection and support of the community. Theologically, it suggested a breach of the covenant relationship with God, potentially leading to divine judgment, including premature death, as seen in other instances where this penalty is invoked (e.g., [Genesis 17:14](/genesis/17-14 "Genesis 17:14 - Covenant of Circumcision")). It underscored that maintaining ritual purity was not merely a ceremonial nicety but a matter of life and death, directly impacting one's relationship with God and His people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 19:20, with its emphasis on purification from death defilement and the severe consequences of neglecting it, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "water of separation," derived from the sacrifice of a spotless red heifer outside the camp, foreshadows the superior cleansing offered by Christ. Just as the ashes of the heifer, mixed with water, ritually purified the physically unclean, so the blood of Jesus, offered "through the eternal Spirit," cleanses our consciences from "dead works to serve the living God" ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - The Superiority of Christ's Blood")). He is the true and perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), offered once for all, outside the city gate, just as the red heifer was sacrificed outside the camp ([Hebrews 13:12](/hebrews/13-12 "Hebrews 13:12 - Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate")). Through His death, Christ conquered the spiritual defilement of sin, which is the true source of separation from God. Unlike the temporary cleansing of the water of separation, Christ's blood provides eternal redemption and perfect purification, enabling us to draw near to God with confidence and a clean conscience, no longer "cut off" but fully integrated into His new covenant community ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Confidence to Enter the Holy Places")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Genesis 17:14

And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Numbers 19:13

Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness [is] yet upon him.

Romans 2:4

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Romans 2:5

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Acts 13:39

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Acts 13:41

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.