Numbers 19:7
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.
Original Language Analysis
וְכִבֶּ֨ס
shall wash
H3526
וְכִבֶּ֨ס
shall wash
Strong's:
H3526
Word #:
1 of 14
to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative
הַכֹּהֵ֖ן
Then the priest
H3548
הַכֹּהֵ֖ן
Then the priest
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
3 of 14
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
וְרָחַ֤ץ
and he shall bathe
H7364
וְרָחַ֤ץ
and he shall bathe
Strong's:
H7364
Word #:
4 of 14
to lave (the whole or a part of a thing)
בְּשָׂרוֹ֙
his flesh
H1320
בְּשָׂרוֹ֙
his flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
5 of 14
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
בַּמַּ֔יִם
in water
H4325
בַּמַּ֔יִם
in water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
6 of 14
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְאַחַ֖ר
and afterward
H310
וְאַחַ֖ר
and afterward
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
7 of 14
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
יָבֹ֣א
he shall come
H935
יָבֹ֣א
he shall come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
8 of 14
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה
into the camp
H4264
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה
into the camp
Strong's:
H4264
Word #:
10 of 14
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
וְטָמֵ֥א
shall be unclean
H2930
וְטָמֵ֥א
shall be unclean
Strong's:
H2930
Word #:
11 of 14
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
הַכֹּהֵ֖ן
Then the priest
H3548
הַכֹּהֵ֖ן
Then the priest
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
12 of 14
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
Historical Context
This temporary contamination applied to everyone involved in the ritual (verses 7-10), demonstrating the inadequacy of the system itself. The best Old Covenant provisions couldn't fully remove death's taint; they only provided temporary, ceremonial cleansing pointing to something better.
Questions for Reflection
- How do the limitations of Old Covenant rituals help you appreciate New Covenant realities?
- What does Christ's remaining undefiled while bearing sin teach about His unique nature?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The priest who conducted the ceremony became unclean until evening despite his holy service. This paradox—the purifying agent contaminating those who handle it—reveals that Old Covenant rituals could not permanently resolve death's pollution. Christ alone, as priest who offered Himself, remained undefiled while bearing our uncleanness (Hebrews 7:26).