Numbers 19:9

“And a clean man shall gather up the ash of the cow and deposit it outside the camp in a clean place, and it shall be for the community of the sons of Israel to keep for the water of impurity; it is a sin offering.”
Numbers 19:9 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

And a cleanטָהוֹרmanאִישׁshall gather upוְאָסַףthe ashאֵת אֵפֶרof the cowהַפָּרָהand deposit itוְהִנִּיחַoutsideמִחוּץthe campלַמַּחֲנֶהin a cleanטָהוֹרplace,בְּמָקוֹםand it shall beוְהָיְתָהfor the communityלַעֲדַתof the sonsבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלto keepלְמִשְׁמֶרֶתfor the waterלְמֵיof impurity;נִדָּהitהִואis a sin offering.חַטָּאת

Explicit type · Hebrews 9:13-14

Go to Hebrews 9:13-14

Hebrews names the ashes of the heifer of Numbers 19, which were used in water to purify those who were defiled, and in 9:14 compares their effect with that of the Messiah’s blood.

The biblical author himself makes the connection, in these words:

σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους “the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled” (Hebrews 9:13)

אֵפֶרeferH665σποδὸςspodosG4700“ash, ashes”

Numbers 19:9, word by word

And a cleanטָהוֹרtahor

clean

Fit under the law for worship, without stain.

Where else “tahor” appears

manאִישׁish

man

An adult male person; also each man of a people, a trade or a place.

Where else “ish” appears

shall gather upאָסַףasaf

assemble

To bring people together in one place.

Where else “asaf” appears

the ashאֵפֶרefer

ashes

Ashes. "Dust and ashes" is a way of saying one is of very little account.

Where else “efer” appears

of the cowפָּרָהpara

cow

Cow, heifer.

Where else “para” appears

and deposit itהִנִּיחַhiniach

put

To set something or someone in a place.

Where else “hiniach” appears

outsideחוּץchuts

outside

What lies outside the house, the city or the camp.

Where else “chuts” appears

the campמַּחֲנֶהmachane

camp

A place where a group settles to live temporarily, with order and limits.

Where else “machane” appears

placeמָקוֹםmakom

place

A place, a spot.

Where else “makom” appears

and it shall beהָיְתָהhayta

To be: "I will be their Elohim".

Where else “hayta” appears

for the communityעֲדַתadat

community

Israel gathered as one people; or a band of people.

Where else “adat” appears

of the sonsבְּנֵיbene

descendant

A descendant or member of a people: "sons of Israel".

Where else “bene” appears

of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael

Israel

Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.

Where else “yisrael” appears

to keepמִשְׁמֶרֶתmishmeret

keeping

Something set aside so that it is kept.

Where else “mishmeret” appears

for the waterמֵיme

water

Water: for drinking, of rivers or seas.

Where else “me” appears

of impurityנִדָּהnida

impurity

Something defiling; or water for cleansing.

Where else “nida” appears

is a sin offeringחַטָּאתchatat

sin

Failing God, not doing what he asks.

Where else “chatat” appears

Translation note

The “water of impurity” is the water that removes the impurity of one who has touched a dead body: spring water mixed with this ash. The Letter to the Hebrews compares it with the blood of the Messiah, which purifies the conscience (Hebrews 9:13-14).

The context

8And the one who burns her shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water, and he shall be unclean until the evening.

9 · This verse (above)

10And the one who gathers the ash of the cow shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. And it shall be for the sons of Israel and for the resident alien who resides among them a statute forever.

Read all of Numbers 19

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