Numbers 19:18

Verse

Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and the people who were there. He is also to sprinkle the one who touched a bone, a grave, or a person who has died or been slain.

American Standard Version (1901)

and a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave:

Bible in Basic English

And a clean person is to take hyssop and put it in the water, shaking it over the tent, and all the vessels, and the people who were there, and over him by whom the bone, or the body of one who has been put to death with the sword, or the body of one who has come to his end by a natural death, or the resting-place was touched.

Free Bible Version

A man who is clean shall take some hyssop and dip it in the water. Then sprinkle the tent and everything inside it, and everybody who was there. He would also need to sprinkle you if you who touched a bone, or a grave, or someone who has died or has been killed.

King James (Authorized) Version

And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:

One Unity Resource Bible

A clean person shall take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the utensils, on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave.

Translation for Translators

Then someone who is still acceptable to me must take a stalk of a plant named hyssop and dip it into the water. Then that person must sprinkle some of the water on the tent where that person died, on the things that are in the tent, and on the people who were in the tent. He must also sprinkle some of that water on any person who touched a human bone or who touched a person who died, or who touched a grave.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Someone who is clean must then take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the containers inside the tent, on the persons who were there, and on anyone who touched the bone, the one who was killed, the one who died, or the grave.

Noah Webster Bible

World English Bible

A clean person shall take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave.

Young's Literal Translation

and a clean person hath taken hyssop, and hath dipped [it] in water, and hath sprinkled on the tent, and on all the vessels, and on the persons who have been there, and on him who is coming against a bone, or against one pierced, or against the dead, or against a grave.

Context

Purification of the Unclean

¹⁷For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh water over them.¹⁸Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and the people who were there. He is also to sprinkle the one who touched a bone, a grave, or a person who has died or been slain.

Sermons

The Ashes of a Heifer

George Warnock

Summary

This verse in the book of Numbers describes a purification ritual using the ashes of a red heifer mixed with water to cleanse someone who has come into contact with a dead body. The ritual was necessary to remove the defilement caused by such contact and restore the person to a state of ceremonial purity. This process symbolizes the need for spiritual cleansing and purification before approaching the holiness of God. It also points to the ultimate purification and atonement provided by Jesus Christ in the New Testament, who cleanses believers from sin and grants them access to God's presence.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water,.... Three stalks of hyssop bound together, as the Targum of Jonathan, and this man was to be a clean priest, according to the same; but it does not seem necessary that he should be a priest, but that anyone free from ceremonial pollution might do it: and sprinkle it upon the tent; where there was a dead body: but this, we are told, is to be understood not of a tent made of wood, or stone, or clay, but made of anything woven, as linen: or of skins (u): and upon all the vessels; in such a tent, that is, open ones, as before observed: and upon the persons that were there: when the man died in it, or came into it since, and while the dead body was in it: and upon him that touched a bone; of a dead man, or, as the Targum of Jonathan, the bone of a living man that is separated from him: or one slain, or one dead; slain with a sword, or dead of the pestilence, as the same Targum, or of any other disease, or in any other way: or a grave; or the covering or side of one, as the same Targum adds. (u) Maimon. in Misn. Sabbat, c. 2. sect. 3.