Numbers 19:12 He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.

◄ Numbers 19:12 ►

New International Version
They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third and seventh days, they will not be clean.

New Living Translation
They must purify themselves on the third and seventh days with the water of purification; then they will be purified. But if they do not do this on the third and seventh days, they will continue to be unclean even after the seventh day.

English Standard Version
He shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so be clean. But if he does not cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not become clean.

Berean Standard Bible
He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.

King James Bible
He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

New King James Version
He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.

New American Standard Bible
That one shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.

NASB 1995
That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.

NASB 1977
‘That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he shall be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he shall not be clean.

Legacy Standard Bible
That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.

Amplified Bible
That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water [made with the ashes of the burned heifer] on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.

Christian Standard Bible
He is to purify himself with the water on the third day and the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He is to purify himself with the water on the third day and the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.

American Standard Version
the same shall purify himself therewith on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

Contemporary English Version
But if you wash with the water mixed with the cow's ashes on the third day and again on the seventh day, you will be clean and acceptable for worship. You must wash yourself on those days; if you don't, you will remain unclean.

English Revised Version
the same shall purify himself therewith on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The unclean person must use this water on the third day and the seventh day to take away his sin. Then he will be clean. But if he doesn't use this water on the third day and the seventh day, he will not be clean.

Good News Translation
They must purify themselves with the water for purification on the third day and on the seventh day, and then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on both the third and the seventh day, they will not be clean.

International Standard Version
He is to purify himself on the third day and he will be clean on the seventh day. But if he can't purify himself on the third day then he can't be clean on the seventh day.

Majority Standard Bible
He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.

NET Bible
He must purify himself with water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and the seventh day, then he will not be clean.

New Heart English Bible
the same shall purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he doesn't purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

Webster's Bible Translation
He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he shall not purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

World English Bible
He shall purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean; but if he doesn’t purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
he cleanses himself for it on the third day and on the seventh day, [and] he is clean; and if he does not cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he is not clean.

Young's Literal Translation
he doth cleanse himself for it on the third day, and on the seventh day he is clean; and if he cleanse not himself on the third day, then on the seventh day he is not clean.

Smith's Literal Translation
He shall purify himself in the third day, and in the seventh day he shall be clean: and if he shall not be purified in the third day, in the seventh day he shall not be clean.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall be sprinkled with this water on the third day, and on the seventh, and so shall be cleansed. If he were not sprinkled on the third day, he cannot be cleansed on the seventh.

Catholic Public Domain Version
shall be sprinkled from this water on the third and seventh days, and so shall he be cleansed. But if he was not sprinkled on the third day, he is not able to be cleansed on the seventh.

New American Bible
they shall purify themselves with the water on the third and on the seventh day, and then be clean. But if they fail to purify themselves on the third and on the seventh day, they will not become clean.

New Revised Standard Version
They shall purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so be clean; but if they do not purify themselves on the third day and on the seventh day, they will not become clean.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
He shall purify himself by sprinkling with the water on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean; but if he does not purify himself by sprinkling on the third day, then on the seventh day he shall not be clean.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he shall sprinkle upon himself on the third day and on the seventh day and he shall be purified, and unless he shall sprinkle upon himself on the third day, he shall not be purified on the seventh day.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
the same shall purify himself therewith on the third day and on the seventh day, and he shall be clean; but if he purify not himself the third day and the seventh day, he shall not be clean.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He shall be purified on the third day and the seventh day, and shall be clean; but if he be not purged on the third day and the seventh day, he shall not be clean.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Purification of the Unclean
11Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days. 12He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. 13Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Leviticus 14:7
Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the skin disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and release the live bird into the open field.

Hebrews 9:13-14
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, / how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

Numbers 31:19-24
All of you who have killed a person or touched the dead are to remain outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and the seventh day you are to purify both yourselves and your captives. / And purify every garment and leather good, everything made of goat’s hair, and every article of wood.” / Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded Moses: ...

Psalm 51:7
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Ezekiel 36:25
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Leviticus 15:13
When the man has been cleansed from his discharge, he must count off seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe himself in fresh water, and he shall be clean.

Isaiah 1:16
Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!

John 13:8-10
“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” / “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” / Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Leviticus 16:19
He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

Titus 3:5
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 13:1
“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

Revelation 7:14
“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Treasury of Scripture

He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

he shall purify.

Numbers 19:17,18
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: …

Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Ezekiel 36:25
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

third day

Numbers 31:19
And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.

Exodus 19:11,15
And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai…

Leviticus 7:17
But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire.

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Numbers 19

1. The water of separation made of the ashes of a red heifer
11. The law for the use of it in purification of the unclean

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day;
This phrase refers to the purification ritual required for someone who has come into contact with a dead body, as outlined in the Mosaic Law. The "water" mentioned is the water of purification, which includes the ashes of a red heifer, cedarwood, hyssop, and scarlet yarn (Numbers 19:1-10). The use of the red heifer is unique in the Old Testament and is seen as a type of Christ, symbolizing His sacrifice and the cleansing from sin. The third and seventh days are significant in biblical numerology; the number three often represents completeness or divine perfection, while seven symbolizes spiritual perfection and completion. This purification process underscores the importance of ritual cleanliness in maintaining holiness and the community's purity.

then he will be clean.
The result of following the prescribed purification process is ceremonial cleanliness, allowing the individual to rejoin the community and participate in religious activities. This reflects the broader biblical theme of separation from sin and the need for atonement to restore fellowship with God. The concept of being "clean" is not just physical but also spiritual, pointing to the need for inner purity. This anticipates the New Testament teaching on the cleansing power of Jesus' blood, which purifies believers from sin (1 John 1:7).

But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days,
Failure to adhere to the purification process results in continued uncleanness. This highlights the seriousness of disobedience to God's commands and the consequences of neglecting divine instructions. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, uncleanness was not just a personal issue but affected the entire community, as it could lead to defilement of the tabernacle (Numbers 19:13). This underscores the communal aspect of sin and the need for corporate holiness.

he will not be clean.
The consequence of not following the purification ritual is a state of perpetual uncleanness, which has both spiritual and social implications. This serves as a warning about the dangers of ignoring God's laws and the importance of obedience. In a broader theological context, it points to the necessity of Christ's atoning work for true purification, as human efforts alone are insufficient for achieving spiritual cleanliness. This foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on faith in Christ as the means of being made clean before God (Hebrews 9:13-14).

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Unclean Person
This refers to anyone who has come into contact with a dead body, which rendered them ceremonially unclean according to the Law of Moses.

2. The Water of Purification
A special mixture made with the ashes of a red heifer, cedarwood, hyssop, and scarlet yarn, used for ceremonial cleansing.

3. The Third and Seventh Days
Specific days designated for the purification process, emphasizing the importance of obedience and timing in the cleansing ritual.

4. The Camp of Israel
The community setting where these laws were practiced, highlighting the communal aspect of purity and holiness.

5. Moses and Aaron
Leaders who communicated God's laws to the Israelites, ensuring that the community adhered to God's standards of holiness.

Teaching Points

The Importance of Obedience
The specific instructions for purification highlight the necessity of following God's commands precisely. This teaches us the value of obedience in our spiritual walk.

Symbolism of Cleansing
The ritual points to the deeper need for spiritual cleansing, reminding us of our need for Christ's atoning sacrifice to be truly clean before God.

Community and Holiness
The communal aspect of the law underscores the impact of individual sin on the community, encouraging us to pursue personal holiness for the benefit of the body of Christ.

The Role of Rituals
While rituals were essential under the Old Covenant, they point us to the greater reality of inner transformation through the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant.

The Consequences of Neglect
Failing to purify oneself resulted in continued uncleanness, teaching us the importance of addressing sin promptly and thoroughly in our lives.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) He shall purify himself . . . --The verse may be rendered thus: He shall purify himself with it on the third day and on the seventh day; so shall he be clean; but if he purify not himself on the third day and on the seventh day, then he shall not be clean: so the LXX. and Vulg. (See Numbers 19:19.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - With it. בּו i.e., as the sense clearly demands, with the water of separation.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

He
ה֣וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

must purify himself with the water
יִתְחַטָּא־ (yiṯ·ḥaṭ·ṭā-)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

on the third
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛י (haš·šə·lî·šî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

day
בַּיּ֧וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

and the seventh
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י (haš·šə·ḇî·‘î)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 7637: Seventh (an ordinal number)

day;
וּבַיּ֥וֹם (ū·ḇay·yō·wm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

then he will be clean.
יִטְהָ֑ר (yiṭ·hār)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2891: To be clean or pure

But if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

he does not
לֹ֨א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

purify
יִתְחַטָּ֜א (yiṯ·ḥaṭ·ṭā)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

himself on the third
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛י (haš·šə·lî·šî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

and seventh
הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י (haš·šə·ḇî·‘î)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 7637: Seventh (an ordinal number)

days,
בַּיּ֧וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

he will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be clean.
יִטְהָֽר׃ (yiṭ·hār)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2891: To be clean or pure

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OT Law: Numbers 19:12 The same shall purify himself therewith (Nu Num.)