Numbers 5:3

KJV

Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.

KJV (with Strong's)

Both male {H2145} and female {H5347} shall ye put out {H7971}, without {H2351} the camp {H4264} shall ye put {H7971} them; that they defile {H2930} not their camps {H4264}, in the midst {H8432} whereof {H834} I dwell {H7931}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Both male and female you must expel; put them outside the camp; so that they won't defile their camp, where I live among you."

Berean Standard Bible

You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”

American Standard Version

both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camp, in the midst whereof I dwell.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 5:3 is a foundational declaration within the Mosaic Law, mandating the strict removal of any ritually unclean individuals—both male and female—from the Israelite encampment. This directive underscored God's absolute demand for a holy and undefiled environment among His people, ensuring that the sanctity of the community was preserved against any form of ceremonial impurity, particularly in light of His dwelling presence in their midst.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of a crucial section in Numbers 5:1-4, which immediately follows the detailed organization and census of the Israelite tribes and their encampment around the Tabernacle in Numbers 1-4. Having established the physical order and numerical strength of the nation, God shifts focus to the spiritual and ritual purity necessary for His continued presence. Numbers 5:1 initiates the command to "put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath a running issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead." Numbers 5:3 then summarizes and reiterates this command, emphasizing its universal application to both genders and stating the ultimate reason: to prevent defilement of the camp where God dwells. This sequence highlights that divine order extends beyond mere physical arrangement to encompass the moral and ritual state of the community, underscoring the non-negotiable nature of holiness in God's presence.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were a nomadic people journeying through the wilderness, with the Tabernacle—the portable dwelling place of God—situated at the very center of their camp. This physical arrangement symbolized God's immanent presence among His people, a unique privilege and a profound responsibility. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, ritual purity was often associated with access to the divine, but for Israel, it was uniquely tied to the holiness of Yahweh, who had chosen to dwell among them. Conditions like leprosy, bodily discharges, and contact with a dead body were not necessarily moral sins but rendered an individual ritually unclean, making them temporarily unfit for participation in the holy community or worship. The command to remove them "without the camp" was not primarily punitive but a necessary measure to protect the sanctity of the space where God resided, ensuring that the entire community remained consecrated and able to maintain fellowship with their holy God. This practice served as a constant visual reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness of defilement in His presence, preparing them for life in the Promised Land where purity would remain paramount.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Put out (Hebrew, שׁלח, _shalach'_):** This verb means "to send, send away, stretch out." In this context, it denotes a decisive and authoritative expulsion or removal. It's not a gentle request but a firm command to physically displace individuals from the camp. The repetition of this command in Numbers 5:2 and 5:3 underscores the urgency and non-negotiable nature of the action, emphasizing that the removal is an active, deliberate measure taken by the community to preserve its holiness.
* **Defile (Hebrew, טמא, _ṭāmēʾ'_):** This term refers to a state of ritual impurity or uncleanness. It's distinct from moral sin, though moral sin can also lead to defilement. A person became _ṭāmēʾ_ through specific actions or conditions (e.g., touching a dead body, certain skin diseases, bodily discharges). While not inherently sinful, this state rendered one unfit to enter sacred spaces or participate in holy activities. The concern here is that such ritual impurity, if allowed to remain within the camp, would ritually pollute the sacred space and, by extension, the dwelling place of God, thus violating His holy presence.
* **Dwell (Hebrew, שׁכן, _shākan'_):** This significant verb means "to settle down, abide, reside." It is the root from which the term _Shekinah_ (the glorious dwelling presence of God) is derived. The phrase "in the midst whereof I dwell" powerfully emphasizes God's immanent, tangible presence within the Israelite camp, specifically in the Tabernacle. This direct divine indwelling is the ultimate reason for the strict purity laws; God's holiness demands a corresponding holiness in the environment where He chooses to reside. Any defilement within the camp was therefore a direct affront to His holy character and presence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Both male and female shall ye put out":** This clause highlights the comprehensive and impartial nature of the command. The requirement for removal applied universally, without distinction of gender, age, or social status. This emphasizes that ritual purity was a non-negotiable standard for every member of the community, reinforcing the idea that God's holiness applies equally to all who are in His presence.
* **"without the camp shall ye put them":** This specifies the location of removal. The act of being placed "without the camp" was a physical manifestation of separation, symbolizing the temporary exclusion from the holy community and its privileges. This was not necessarily a punishment for sin (as ritual impurity was often involuntary) but a necessary measure to maintain the sanctity of the camp and protect the collective from defilement that could compromise God's dwelling.
* **"that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell":** This final clause provides the ultimate rationale for the preceding commands. The purpose of removing the unclean was to prevent the defilement of the entire encampment. The phrase "in the midst whereof I dwell" serves as the profound theological underpinning for all the purity laws. God's holy presence among His people demanded a corresponding holiness and purity in their environment. Any defilement would dishonor His presence and potentially lead to His withdrawal, making the maintenance of a clean camp a matter of life and death for the covenant community.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 5:3 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Repetition** is evident in the reiteration of the command to "put out" (שׁלח, _shalach_), reinforcing the urgency and non-negotiable nature of the action. This emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining purity. **Symbolism** is central, with "the camp" representing the consecrated space of God's people, distinct from the profane world. The act of being "without the camp" symbolizes temporary exclusion from the blessings and protection of the covenant community due to ritual impurity, highlighting the sacred boundary God established. Furthermore, the phrase "in the midst whereof I dwell" serves as a powerful **metonymy**, where God's dwelling (the Tabernacle) stands for His very presence and holiness, making the defilement of the camp a direct affront to God Himself. This also creates a **cause-and-effect** relationship: impurity causes defilement, which threatens God's dwelling.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 5:3 profoundly underscores God's absolute holiness and His demand for a corresponding purity in His people and their environment. The presence of a holy God in the midst of a community necessitates strict adherence to standards of cleanness, not merely for ritualistic purposes, but as an expression of reverence and obedience to the One who condescends to dwell among humanity. This verse reveals that individual actions and states of being have corporate implications; the defilement of one could compromise the sanctity of the entire "camp," emphasizing the interconnectedness and shared responsibility within the covenant community. The principle is clear: God's presence is contingent upon His people maintaining a state of holiness, both individually and collectively, to ensure uninterrupted fellowship and blessing.

* [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")
* [Exodus 29:45-46](/exodus/29-45-46 "Exodus 29:45-46 - God's Dwelling Among Israel")
* [Deuteronomy 23:14](/deuteronomy/23-14 "Deuteronomy 23:14 - God Walks in the Camp")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ritual laws of Numbers 5:3 pertain to the Old Covenant physical camp, the underlying spiritual principles of holiness, separation from defilement, and the sanctity of God's dwelling remain profoundly relevant for believers today. For the New Testament believer, the "camp" is no longer a geographical location but represents the community of faith—the church—and the individual believer's body, which is now understood as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Just as God dwelt among ancient Israel, He now dwells within believers and among the church. This calls us to a deep commitment to spiritual purity, actively identifying and removing anything that would hinder our communion with God or defile the witness of the church. This involves not only abstaining from moral sin but also guarding against influences and attitudes that are spiritually defiling, ensuring that our lives, both individually and corporately, reflect the holiness of the God who dwells within us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be allowing "defilement" (sin, ungodly influences, unholy thoughts) to remain in my "camp" (my heart, my home, my community)?**
* **How does the understanding of God's indwelling presence (the Holy Spirit) motivate me to pursue a deeper level of personal holiness?**
* **What practical steps can I take to "put out" spiritual impurities from my life and ensure my "camp" is a fit dwelling place for God?**

### FAQ
**Was being "put out of the camp" a punishment for sin?**

Answer: Not necessarily. While some conditions leading to ritual impurity (like certain moral sins) could be punishable, many forms of defilement (e.g., touching a dead body, giving birth, certain skin conditions) were involuntary or natural occurrences. Being "put out of the camp" was primarily a temporary measure to maintain ritual purity within the sacred space where God dwelt, not always a punitive judgment for moral transgression. It was a necessary separation to protect the holiness of the community and God's presence within it, allowing the unclean individual time for purification before readmission. The focus was on preserving the sanctity of the camp, as explicitly stated in [Numbers 5:3](/numbers/5-3 "Numbers 5:3 - Purity of the Camp").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 5:3, with its stringent demands for purity within the Israelite camp due to God's dwelling presence, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Christ. The physical separation from defilement in the Old Covenant foreshadows the spiritual separation from sin and the world that Christ accomplishes. Jesus Himself became the ultimate "one put out of the camp," bearing our uncleanness and sin outside the city gates, as highlighted in [Hebrews 13:12-13](/hebrews/13-12-13 "Hebrews 13:12-13 - Jesus Suffered Outside the Gate"). Through His atoning sacrifice, He cleanses us not merely from ritual impurity but from the defilement of sin, making us truly holy and fit for God's presence. Under the New Covenant, God no longer dwells in a physical Tabernacle but in the hearts of believers through the Holy Spirit, making each believer's body a temple ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit")) and the church a spiritual house ([1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - A Spiritual House")). This divine indwelling calls for a spiritual purity that surpasses mere external rituals, demanding a cleansing "from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" ([2 Corinthians 7:1](/2_corinthians/7-1 "2 Corinthians 7:1 - Cleansing from Defilement")). Thus, Christ not only fulfills the need for purity by His sacrifice but also enables it by His Spirit, transforming us into a holy people where God truly delights to dwell.

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

Deuteronomy 23:14

For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

Leviticus 26:11

And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.

Leviticus 26:12

And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

1 Corinthians 5:7

¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

1 Corinthians 5:13

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Numbers 19:22

And whatsoever the unclean [person] toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth [it] shall be unclean until even.

Hebrews 12:15

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;