Numbers 19:11

Authorized King James Version

PDF

He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.

Original Language Analysis

הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ He that toucheth H5060
הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ He that toucheth
Strong's: H5060
Word #: 1 of 8
properly, to touch, i.e., lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive
בְּמֵ֖ת the dead H4191
בְּמֵ֖ת the dead
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 2 of 8
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
לְכָל H3605
לְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 3 of 8
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
נֶ֣פֶשׁ body H5315
נֶ֣פֶשׁ body
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 4 of 8
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
אָדָ֑ם of any man H120
אָדָ֑ם of any man
Strong's: H120
Word #: 5 of 8
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
וְטָמֵ֖א shall be unclean H2930
וְטָמֵ֖א shall be unclean
Strong's: H2930
Word #: 6 of 8
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
שִׁבְעַ֥ת seven H7651
שִׁבְעַ֥ת seven
Strong's: H7651
Word #: 7 of 8
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
יָמִֽים׃ days H3117
יָמִֽים׃ days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 8 of 8
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

Cross References

Numbers 5:2Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:Numbers 31:19And 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.Leviticus 21:1And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:Leviticus 21:11Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;Numbers 9:6And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:Numbers 19:16And 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.Numbers 9:10Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.Hebrews 9:14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?Ephesians 2:1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;Romans 5:12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Analysis & Commentary

The law states: 'He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.' Contact with death brought ceremonial uncleanness, requiring purification via red heifer ashes mixed with water (v.17-19). The Hebrew 'tame' (unclean) indicates unfitness for worship and community. This teaches that death - sin's consequence - pollutes and separates from holy God. The seven-day period with purification on days three and seven emphasized thoroughness. This foreshadows how sin's defilement requires Christ's cleansing blood (1 John 1:7, 9). Death's污染 reminds us that only Christ conquers death, making believers clean and acceptable to God (Heb 10:19-22).

Historical Context

This law addressed frequent death in wilderness - whether from natural causes, plagues, or warfare. Proper purification maintained camp holiness with God dwelling in tabernacle's midst. Failure to purify defiled God's sanctuary (v.13) and brought excommunication. The ritual's complexity (red heifer sacrifice, cedar wood, hyssop, scarlet, running water) emphasized death's serious pollution. The paradox that those preparing purifying water became unclean (v.7-10) pointed to Christ who bore our uncleanness to make us clean (2 Cor 5:21). After 70 AD without temple, Judaism lost this purification system; only Christ's blood truly cleanses from death's defilement.

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

Study Resources