Numbers 19:6
New International Version
The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.

New Living Translation
Eleazar the priest must then take a stick of cedar, a hyssop branch, and some scarlet yarn and throw them into the fire where the heifer is burning.

English Standard Version
And the priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn, and throw them into the fire burning the heifer.

Berean Standard Bible
The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.

King James Bible
And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

New King James Version
And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer.

New American Standard Bible
And the priest shall take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet material, and throw it into the midst of the burning heifer.

NASB 1995
The priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer.

NASB 1977
‘And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material, and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer.

Amplified Bible
The priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet [material] and cast them into the midst of the burning heifer.

Christian Standard Bible
The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson yarn, and throw them onto the fire where the cow is burning.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson yarn, and throw them onto the fire where the cow is burning.

American Standard Version
and the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Contemporary English Version
A priest is to throw a stick of cedar wood, a hyssop branch, and a piece of red yarn into the fire.

English Revised Version
and the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The priest will take some cedar wood, a hyssop sprig, and some red yarn and throw them onto the burning cow.

Good News Translation
Then he is to take some cedar wood, a sprig of hyssop, and a red cord and throw them into the fire.

International Standard Version
Then the priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet material and throw it into the middle of the burning heifer.

Majority Standard Bible
The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.

NET Bible
And the priest must take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them into the midst of the fire where the heifer is burning.

New Heart English Bible
And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

World English Bible
The priest shall take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the middle of the burning of the heifer.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the priest has taken cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and has cast [them] into the midst of the burning of the cow;

Young's Literal Translation
and the priest hath taken cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and hath cast unto the midst of the burning of the cow;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the priest took cedar wood and hyssop and double scarlet, and cast into the midst of the burning of the heifer.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The priest shall also take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet twice dyed, and cast it into the flame, with which the cow is consumed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Likewise, cedar wood, and hyssop, and twice-dyed scarlet he shall cast into the flame, by which the cow is consumed.

New American Bible
and the priest will take cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet yarn and throw them into the fire in which the heifer is being burned.

New Revised Standard Version
The priest shall take cedarwood, hyssop, and crimson material, and throw them into the fire in which the heifer is burning.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material, and cast them into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Priest shall take wood of cedar and hyssop and dye of scarlet and shall throw it within the burning of the heifer.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet wool, and they shall cast them into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Red Heifer
5Then the heifer must be burned in his sight. Its hide, its flesh, and its blood are to be burned, along with its dung. 6The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. 7Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that he may enter the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean until evening.…

Cross References
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!

Leviticus 14:4-7
the priest shall order that two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed. / Then the priest shall command that one of the birds be slaughtered over fresh water in a clay pot. / And he is to take the live bird together with the cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, and dip them into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water. ...

Leviticus 16:14-19
And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat. / Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it. / So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them in the midst of their impurities. ...

Exodus 30:34-38
The LORD also said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense—in equal measures, / and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. / Grind some of it into fine powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. ...

Revelation 8:3-4
Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. / And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.

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

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

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.

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

John 19:39
Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.

Leviticus 4:6
The priest is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary.

Leviticus 4:17
and he is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil.

Leviticus 5:9
then he is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood is drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.

Numbers 31:23
everything that can withstand the fire—must be put through the fire, and it will be clean. But it must still be purified with the water of purification. And everything that cannot withstand the fire must pass through the water.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the middle of the burning of the heifer.

Leviticus 14:6,49
As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: …

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

Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

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Burning Cast Cedar Cedarwood Cedar-Wood Heifer Hyssop Material Midst Onto Red Scarlet Stuff Thread Throw Wood Wool
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Burning Cast Cedar Cedarwood Cedar-Wood Heifer Hyssop Material Midst Onto Red Scarlet Stuff Thread Throw Wood Wool
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














The priest is to take cedar wood
Cedar wood is often associated with durability and incorruptibility, symbolizing strength and preservation. In biblical times, cedar was a valuable resource, used in the construction of temples and palaces, such as Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 6:9-10). Its inclusion in the purification ritual may signify the enduring nature of God's covenant and the purification process. Cedar's aromatic properties could also symbolize the pleasing nature of a life purified by God.

hyssop
Hyssop is a plant used in various purification rites in the Bible. It is mentioned in Exodus 12:22 during the Passover, where it was used to apply the blood of the lamb to the doorposts, symbolizing protection and deliverance. In Psalm 51:7, David asks to be cleansed with hyssop, indicating its association with spiritual purification. Hyssop's use here underscores the theme of cleansing from sin and impurity, pointing to the need for spiritual renewal.

and scarlet wool
Scarlet wool, with its vivid red color, often symbolizes sin and redemption. Isaiah 1:18 speaks of sins being as scarlet but becoming white as snow, highlighting the transformative power of God's forgiveness. The color scarlet is also linked to the blood of sacrifices, which foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses believers from sin (Hebrews 9:14). The use of scarlet wool in this ritual emphasizes the need for atonement and the covering of sin.

and throw them onto the burning heifer
The burning of the heifer, along with the cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool, is a unique aspect of this purification ritual. The heifer itself, being without blemish and never having borne a yoke, represents purity and submission to God's will. The act of burning these elements together signifies a complete offering to God, with the smoke rising as a symbol of prayers and intercession. This ritual prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who offered Himself wholly for the purification of humanity's sins. The burning heifer, in its entirety, points to the comprehensive nature of Christ's atonement, fulfilling the law and providing a way for believers to be cleansed and reconciled to God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Priest
The priest plays a crucial role in the purification process, acting as a mediator between God and the people. In this context, the priest is responsible for performing the ritual of the red heifer, which is essential for the purification from sin.

2. Cedar Wood
Cedar wood is known for its durability and pleasant aroma. In biblical symbolism, it often represents strength and incorruptibility. It is used here as part of the purification ritual.

3. Hyssop
A plant used in purification rites, hyssop symbolizes cleansing and purification. It is often associated with the application of blood or water for ceremonial cleansing.

4. Scarlet Wool
Scarlet wool, dyed with a bright red color, symbolizes sin and its consequences, as well as the blood required for atonement and purification.

5. The Burning Heifer
The red heifer is a unique sacrificial animal used in the purification process. Its ashes are used to create the water of purification, which cleanses those who have become ceremonially unclean.
Teaching Points
Symbolism of Purification
The elements used in the ritual (cedar wood, hyssop, scarlet wool) each carry deep symbolic meanings that point to the need for spiritual cleansing and the seriousness of sin.

The Role of the Priest
The priest's involvement underscores the necessity of mediation in the process of purification, pointing to Christ as our ultimate High Priest.

The Significance of Sacrifice
The burning of the red heifer and the use of its ashes highlight the cost of purification and foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.

The Continuity of Scripture
The connections between Old Testament rituals and New Testament fulfillment in Christ demonstrate the unity and continuity of God's redemptive plan.

Practical Purity
While the ritual is ancient, the principle of seeking purity in our lives remains relevant, calling us to live in holiness and seek cleansing through Christ.(6) And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet.--According to the Targum of Jonathan, another priest was to do this, but the reference seems to be to Eleazar. Cedar-wood may be regarded as the emblem of fragrance and incorruption; hyssop as the emblem of purification; and scarlet (or crimson) wool or cloth may be regarded as emblematical both of sin, which is compared to it in Isaiah 1:18, and also of the blood, which is the life, the shedding of which was needful in order to the remission of sin. All of these were used in the purification of the leper (Leviticus 14:4). In both cases there appears to be a typical reference to the sprinkling of the blood of Christ. (See. Hebrews 9:13-14).

Verse 6. - Cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. See on Leviticus 14:4-6 for the significance of these things. The antiseptic and medicinal qualities of the cedar (Juniperus oxycedrus) and hyssop (probably Capparis spinosa) make their use readily intelligible; the symbolism of the "scarlet" is much more obscure.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The priest
הַכֹּהֵ֗ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

is to take
וְלָקַ֣ח (wə·lā·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

cedar
אֶ֛רֶז (’e·rez)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 730: A cedar tree

wood,
עֵ֥ץ (‘êṣ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

hyssop,
וְאֵז֖וֹב (wə·’ê·zō·wḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 231: Hyssop

and scarlet wool
וּשְׁנִ֣י (ū·šə·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8144: Crimson, the insect, its color, stuff dyed with it

and throw
וְהִשְׁלִ֕יךְ (wə·hiš·lîḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

them
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

onto
תּ֖וֹךְ (tō·wḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

the burning
שְׂרֵפַ֥ת (śə·rê·p̄aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8316: Cremation

heifer.
הַפָּרָֽה׃ (hap·pā·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6510: A heifer, cow


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OT Law: Numbers 19:6 And the priest shall take cedar wood (Nu Num.)
Numbers 19:5
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