Numbers 31:20

And purify all [your] raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats' [hair], and all things made of wood.

And purify {H2398} all your raiment {H899}, and all that is made {H3627} of skins {H5785}, and all work {H4639} of goats {H5795}' hair, and all things made {H3627} of wood {H6086}.

Also purify every garment, whether of skin or goat's hair, and everything made of wood."

And purify every garment and leather good, everything made of goat’s hair, and every article of wood.”

And as to every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood, ye shall purify yourselves.

Commentary

Context

Numbers 31:20 is part of the detailed instructions given to the Israelites after their decisive victory over the Midianites, as commanded by the Lord (see Numbers 31:1-5). The preceding verses (Numbers 31:19) dealt with the purification of the soldiers themselves, specifically those who had killed or touched the dead. This verse extends the purification requirement to the spoils of war—the clothing and various possessions taken from the Midianites. The need for such thorough cleansing arose from contact with the dead, which rendered one ceremonially unclean, and also from the idolatrous nature of the Midianites, whose influence could defile the Israelites.

Key Themes

  • Ceremonial Purity: This verse underscores the Mosaic Law's profound emphasis on ritual purity. God required His people to be set apart, not only in their actions and beliefs but also in their physical surroundings and possessions. Contact with death or pagan items brought defilement, necessitating specific cleansing rituals.
  • Thoroughness of Purification: The detailed list—raiment, skins, goats' hair, and wood—demonstrates the comprehensive nature of God's instructions for purification. No item was to be overlooked, ensuring complete separation from anything that could ritually contaminate the community. This foreshadows the need for holiness in every aspect of life.
  • God's Attention to Detail: The specific mention of different materials highlights God's meticulous care for the spiritual and physical well-being of His people. He provided clear guidelines for navigating a world filled with potential defilement.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew word for "purify" is tahar (טָהַר), which means to be clean, pure, or ceremonially clean. It's often used in the context of ritual cleansing from various forms of impurity (e.g., disease, discharge, contact with the dead). This purification was not merely hygienic but had deep spiritual and covenantal significance, restoring one to a state where they could properly worship and interact within the holy community.

Practical Application

While we are no longer under the Mosaic Law's ceremonial requirements, the principles of Numbers 31:20 hold spiritual relevance for believers today:

  • Spiritual Cleansing: Just as physical items needed cleansing from defilement, we too need spiritual purification from the influences of the world and sin. This is achieved through faith in Christ and repentance, allowing His blood to cleanse us (1 John 1:9).
  • Holiness in All Things: The verse reminds us that our commitment to God extends beyond our personal actions to our possessions and environment. We are called to be holy in all our conduct (1 Peter 1:15), which includes discerning what we allow into our homes and lives.
  • Discernment and Separation: We must exercise discernment regarding the things we consume, acquire, or engage with, ensuring they do not defile our spirits or draw us away from God. This calls for a careful examination of our "raiment" and "possessions" in a spiritual sense.
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 19:14 (2 votes)

    This [is] the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that [is] in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.

  • Numbers 19:16 (2 votes)

    And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

  • Genesis 35:2 (2 votes)

    Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, Put away the strange gods that [are] among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

  • Numbers 19:22 (2 votes)

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

  • Exodus 19:10 (2 votes)

    And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,