Numbers 19:22
And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.
Original Language Analysis
וְכֹ֛ל
H3605
וְכֹ֛ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 11
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הַנֹּגַ֖עַת
person toucheth
H5060
הַנֹּגַ֖עַת
person toucheth
Strong's:
H5060
Word #:
3 of 11
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
תִּטְמָ֥א
it shall be unclean
H2930
תִּטְמָ֥א
it shall be unclean
Strong's:
H2930
Word #:
6 of 11
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
וְהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ
and the soul
H5315
וְהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ
and the soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
7 of 11
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
הַנֹּגַ֖עַת
person toucheth
H5060
הַנֹּגַ֖עַת
person toucheth
Strong's:
H5060
Word #:
8 of 11
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
תִּטְמָ֥א
it shall be unclean
H2930
תִּטְמָ֥א
it shall be unclean
Strong's:
H2930
Word #:
9 of 11
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
Cross References
Haggai 2:13Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.Leviticus 7:19And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof.
Historical Context
The red heifer ritual (Numbers 19) addressed Israel's frequent exposure to death during wilderness wandering and ongoing life in Canaan. Unlike other offerings performed at the tabernacle, red heifer ashes were prepared outside the camp and stored for ongoing purification needs, making cleansing available continuously.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the contagious nature of uncleanness (spreading by mere touch) illustrate sin's corrupting influence?
- What does the temporal limitation ('until evening') teach about the availability of cleansing versus permanent defilement?
- How does the red heifer's cleansing from death-contamination point forward to Christ's purging of the conscience from 'dead works'?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until the even—The contagious nature of ritual uncleanness (טָמֵא tame) is emphasized by the double use of unclean—both the object touched and the person touching become defiled. The phrase until the even (עַד־הָעָרֶב ad-ha'arev) establishes temporal limitation—uncleanness wasn't permanent but required purification before nightfall.
This verse concludes the red heifer regulations (Numbers 19), which provided purification for corpse contamination—the most severe form of ritual uncleanness. The elaborate cleansing ritual (ashes of red heifer mixed with water, sprinkled on the defiled) foreshadows Christ's blood that 'purges the conscience from dead works to serve the living God' (Hebrews 9:13-14), providing cleansing unavailable through mere ceremonial washings.