Numbers 31:23

Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make [it] go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.

Every thing {H1697} that may abide {H935} the fire {H784}, ye shall make it go through {H5674} the fire {H784}, and it shall be clean {H2891}: nevertheless it shall be purified {H2398} with the water {H4325} of separation {H5079}: and all that abideth {H935} not the fire {H784} ye shall make go through {H5674} the water {H4325}.

can all withstand fire, so that you are indeed to purify everything made of these materials by having them pass through fire; nevertheless they must also be purified with the water for purification. Everything that can't withstand fire you are to have go through the water.

everything that can withstand the fire—must be put through the fire, and it will be clean. But it must still be purified with the water of purification. And everything that cannot withstand the fire must pass through the water.

everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make to go through the water.

Commentary

Numbers 31:23 (KJV) is part of the detailed instructions given to Moses concerning the spoils of war taken from the Midianites. This verse outlines the specific methods for purifying the vast plunder, ensuring that the Israelite camp and its possessions remained ceremonially clean before God.

Context

Following the divine judgment against Midian for their role in leading Israel into idolatry and immorality at Baal-peor (Numbers 25:1-3), the Israelites engaged in a significant military campaign. After the victory, Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation faced the practical matter of handling the immense amount of captured goods and captives. The core concern was not just possession, but purification, as contact with pagan items or the dead could render the Israelites ceremonially unclean. This verse, along with Numbers 31:22, provides the specific instructions for cleansing the material wealth.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Purity: A central theme throughout the Old Testament, God demands holiness from His people. Even items acquired through war needed to be consecrated and purified, emphasizing Israel's separation from defilement and pagan practices.
  • Divine Instruction for All Life: This meticulous instruction demonstrates that God's law extended to every aspect of Israelite life, from spiritual worship to handling everyday possessions, underscoring His sovereignty over all things.
  • Symbolic Cleansing: The rituals of fire and water were not merely practical cleaning but profound symbolic acts, signifying the removal of defilement and the dedication of these items to God's holy purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "water of separation" (Hebrew: mei niddah) is crucial here. This was not ordinary water but specifically the water prepared from the ashes of a red heifer, as detailed in Numbers 19:9. This particular mixture was prescribed for cleansing from ritual impurity, especially defilement incurred through contact with a dead body. Given the nature of warfare, contact with the deceased was inevitable, making this specific purification essential for both the people and their possessions.

Practical Application

While the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant have been fulfilled in Christ, the principles behind them remain relevant for believers today:

  • Spiritual Cleansing: Just as physical items needed purification, so too do our lives and possessions need to be consecrated to God. The need for cleansing from sin is paramount, though now accomplished through the blood of Jesus Christ, which purifies our consciences from dead works (Hebrews 9:14).
  • Discernment and Consecration: We are called to exercise discernment over what influences our lives and whether it aligns with God's holiness. We should continually seek to "put off the old man" and "put on the new" (Ephesians 4:22-24), striving to live a life set apart for God's glory in all we do and possess.
  • God's Sovereignty in All Things: This passage reminds us that God's authority and concern extend to every detail of our lives. No area is outside His purview or His call to holiness.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 19:9

    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.

  • Numbers 19:17

    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:

  • 1 Corinthians 3:13

    Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

  • Isaiah 43:2

    When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

  • Matthew 3:11

    I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:

  • Leviticus 11:32

    And upon whatsoever [any] of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether [it be] any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel [it be], wherein [any] work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.

  • Numbers 8:7

    And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and [so] make themselves clean.
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