The Ashes of the Red Heifer
Numbers 19
The Lord gives the ordinance of the red heifer, slaughtered and burned outside the camp with cedar, hyssop, and scarlet wool, its ashes kept for a water of purification. This water is used to cleanse anyone defiled by contact with a dead body, a bone, or a grave, with the timing and washing required of both the unclean person and those who assist.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonAGAIN the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ Ἀαρὼν, λέγων,
KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying:
2
ThomsonThis is the purification of the law in respect to all the things which the Lord hath enjoined, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and let them bring thee a red heifer, without blemish, which hath no spot in her, and on which there hath never been put a yoke.
BrentonThis is the constitution of the law, as the Lord has commanded, saying, Speak to the sons of Israel, and let them take for thee a red heifer without spot, which has no spot on her, and on which no yoke has been put.
Greekαὕτη ἡ διαστολὴ τοῦ νόμου, ὅσα συνέταξε Κύριος, λέγων, λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ· καὶ λαβέτωσαν πρὸς σὲ δάμαλιν πυῤῥὰν ἄμωμου, ἥτις οὐκ ἔχει ἐν αὐτῇ μῶμον, καὶ ᾗ οὐκ ἐπεβλήθη ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ζυγός.
KJVThis is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
JPSThis is the statute of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer, faultless, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke.
3
ThomsonAnd thou shalt give her to Eleazar the priest; and they shall lead her out of the camp, to a clean place, and kill her in his presence.
BrentonAnd thou shalt give her to Eleazar the priest; and they shall bring her out of the camp into a clean place, and shall kill her before his face.
GreekΚαὶ δώσεις αὐτὴν πρὸς Ἐλεάζαρ τὸν ἱερέα· καὶ ἐξάξουσιν αὐτὴν ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς εἰς τόπον καθαρὸν, καὶ σφάξουσιν αὐτὴν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:
JPSAnd ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, and she shall be brought forth without the camp, and she shall be slain before his face.
4
ThomsonAnd Eleazar shall take some of the blood thereof, and shall sprinkle, over against the front of the tabernacle of the testimony, some of the blood thereof seven times.
BrentonAnd Eleazar shall take of her blood, and sprinkle of her blood seven times in front of the tabernacle of witness.
GreekΚαὶ λήψεται Ἐλεάζαρ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς, καὶ ῥανεῖ ἀπέναντι τοῦ προσώπου τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς ἑπτάκις.
KJVAnd Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times:
JPSAnd Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.
5
ThomsonThen they shall burn her in his sight; and when her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, and dung, are burned,
BrentonAnd they shall burn her to ashes before him; and her skin and her flesh and her blood, with her dung, shall be consumed.
GreekΚαὶ κατακαύσουσιν αὐτὴν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ· καὶ τὸ δέρμα καὶ τὰ κρέα αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ αἷμα αὐτῆς σὺν τῇ κόπρῳ αὐτῆς κατακαυθήσεται.
KJVAnd one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:
JPSAnd the heifer shall be burnt in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall be burnt.
6
Thomsonthe priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet yarn, and throw them into the midst of the cinders of the heifer.
BrentonAnd 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.
GreekΚαὶ λήψεται ὁ ἱερεὺς ξύλον κέδρινον καὶ ὕσσωπον καὶ κόκκινον, καὶ ἐμβαλοῦσιν εἰς μέσον τοῦ κατακαύματος τῆς δαμάλεως.
KJVAnd the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.
JPSAnd the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.
7
ThomsonThen the priest shall wash his clothes, and wash his whole body with water, and, after that, he shall come into the camp. And the priest shall be unclean until the evening.
BrentonAnd the priest shall wash his garments, and bathe his body in water, and afterwards he shall go into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean till evening.
GreekΚαὶ πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ὁ ἱερεὺς, καὶ λούσεται τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ὕδατι, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν, καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ὁ ἱερεὺς ἕως ἑσπέρας.
KJVThen 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.
JPSThen the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he may come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.
8
ThomsonAnd he who burned her shall wash his clothes, and wash his body with water, and be unclean until evening.
BrentonAnd he that burns her shall wash his garments, and bathe his body, and shall be unclean till evening.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ κατακαίων αὐτὴν πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, καὶ λούσεται τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας.
KJVAnd he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.
JPSAnd he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.
9
ThomsonAnd a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them without the camp, in a clean place, and water of sprinkling shall be kept in store for the congregation of Israel. It is a purification.
BrentonAnd a clean man shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up in a clean place outside the camp; and they shall be for the congregation of the children of Israel to keep: it is the water of sprinkling, a purification.
GreekΚαὶ συνάξει ἄνθρωπος καθαρὸς τὴν σποδὸν τῆς δαμάλεως, καὶ ἀποθήσει ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς εἰς τόπον καθαρόν· καὶ ἔσται τῇ συναγωγῇ υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ εἰς διατήρησιν· ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ ἅγνισμά ἐστι.
KJVAnd a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.
JPSAnd a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of sprinkling; it is a purification from sin.
10
ThomsonAnd he who gathereth up the ashes of the heifer, shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. And it shall be for the children of Israel, and for the proselytes who have joined them, an everlasting ordinance,
BrentonAnd he that gathers up the ashes of the heifer shall wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening; and it shall be a perpetual statute for the children of Israel and for the strangers joined to them.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ συνάγων τὴν σποδιὰν τῆς δαμάλεως, πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτου, καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας· καὶ ἔσται τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ καὶ τοῖς προσηλύτοις προσκειμένοις νόμιμον αἰώνιον.
KJVAnd he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.
JPSAnd he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even; and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.
11
Thomsonthat whoever toucheth the dead body of a man shall be unclean seven days.
BrentonHe that touches the dead body of any man, shall be unclean seven days.
GreekὉ ἁπτόμενος τοῦ τεθνηκότος πάσης ψυχῆς ἀνθρώπου, ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας.
KJVHe that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.
JPSHe that toucheth the dead, even any man’s dead body, shall be unclean seven days;
12
ThomsonHe shall be purified on the third, and on the seventh day, then he shall be clean: but if he be not purified on the third, and on the seventh day, he shall not be clean.
BrentonHe 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.
GreekΟὗτος ἁγνισθήσεται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ, καὶ καθαρὸς ἔσται· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφαγνισθῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ καὶ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ, οὐ καθαρὸς ἔσται.
KJVHe 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.
JPSthe 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.
13
ThomsonIf any person, who hath touched the dead, die, without being purified, he hath defiled the tabernacle of the Lord; that soul shall be blotted out from among Israel. Because the water of sprinkling hath not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean. His impurity is still in him.
BrentonEvery one that touches the carcase of the person of a man, if he should have died, and the other not have been purified, has defiled the tabernacle of the Lord: that soul shall be cut off from Israel, because the water of sprinkling has not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
GreekΠᾶς ὁ ἁπτόμενος τοῦ τεθνηκότος ἀπὸ ψυχῆς ἀνθρώπου, ἐὰν ἀποθάνῃ, καὶ μὴ ἀφαγνισθῇ, τὴν σκηνὴν Κυρίου ἐμίανεν· ἐκτριβήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐξ Ἰσραὴλ, ὅτι ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ οὐ περιεῤῥαντίσθη ἐπʼ αὐτόν· ἀκάθαρτός ἐστιν· ἔτι ἡ ἀκαθαρσία αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἐστι.
KJVWhosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
JPSWhosoever toucheth the dead, even the body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself—he hath defiled the tabernacle of the LORD—that soul shall be cut off from Israel; because the water of sprinkling was not dashed against him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
14
ThomsonThis also is the law, that if any man die in a house, every one who goeth into the house, and all the things in the house, shall be unclean seven days.
BrentonAnd this is the law; if a man die in a house, every one that goes into the house, and all things in the house, shall be unclean seven days.
GreekΚαὶ οὗτος ὁ νόμος· ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν ἀποθάνῃ ἐν οἰκίᾳ, πᾶς ὁ εἰσπορευόμενος εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, καὶ ὅσα ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ, ἀκάθαρτα ἔσται ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας.
KJVThis is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.
JPSThis is the law: when a man dieth in a tent, every one that cometh into the tent, and every thing that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.
15
ThomsonAnd every open vessel which hath not a cover fastened on it, is unclean.
BrentonAnd every open vessel which has not a covering bound upon it, shall be unclean.
GreekΚαὶ πᾶν σκεῦος ἀνεῳγμένον ὅσα οὐχὶ δεσμὸν καταδέδεται ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, ἀκάθαρτά ἐστι.
KJVAnd every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean.
JPSAnd every open vessel, which hath no covering close-bound upon it, is unclean.
16
ThomsonAnd every one who, in the open field, toucheth one slain, or dead, or a human bone, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
BrentonAnd every one who shall touch a man slain by violence, or a corpse, or human bone, or sepulchre, shall be unclean seven days.
GreekΚαὶ πᾶς ὃς ἂν ἅψηται ἐπὶ προσώπου τοῦ πεδίου τραυματίου ἢ νεκροῦ ἢ ὀστέου ἀνθρωπίνου ἢ μνήματος, ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd whosoever in the open field toucheth one that is slain with a sword, or one that dieth of himself, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
17
ThomsonNow, for one who is unclean, they shall take some of the burnt ashes of the purification, and pour spring water thereon, in a vessel;
BrentonAnd they shall take for the unclean of the burnt ashes of purification, and they shall pour upon them running water into a vessel.
GreekΚαὶ λήψονται τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἀπὸ τῆς σποδιᾶς τῆς κατακεκαυμένης τοῦ ἁγνισμοῦ, καὶ κέχεοῦσιν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ὕδωρ ζῶν εἰς σκεῦος.
KJVAnd 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:
JPSAnd for the unclean they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the purification from sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel.
18
Thomsonand a man who is clean shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the house, and on the vessels, and on the persons who may be in the house, and on him who hath touched a human bone, or a man who hath been slain, or one dead, or a grave.
BrentonAnd a clean man shall take hyssop, and dip it into the water, and sprinkle it upon the house, and the furniture, and all the souls that are therein, and upon him that touched the human bone, or the slain man, or the corpse, or the tomb.
GreekΚαὶ λήψεται ὕσσωπον, καὶ βάψει εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ ἀνὴρ καθαρὸς, καὶ περιῤῥανεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ σκεύη, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς ψυχὰς, ὅσαι ἂν ὦσιν ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἡμμένον τοῦ ὀστέου τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου, ἢ τοῦ τραυματίου, ἢ τοῦ τεθνηκότος, ἢ τοῦ μνήματος.
KJVAnd a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:
JPSAnd a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave.
19
ThomsonThe clean person shall sprinkle it on the unclean, on the third day, and on the seventh day. And on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and shall wash his clothes, and wash himself with water, and be unclean until evening.
BrentonAnd the clean man shall sprinkle the water on the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day, and on the seventh day he shall purify himself; and the other shall wash his garments, and bathe himself in water, and shall be unclean until evening.
GreekΚαὶ περιῤῥανεῖ ὁ καθαρὸς ἐπὶ τὸν ἀκάθαρτον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ καὶ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ, καὶ ἀφαγνισθήσεται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ· καὶ πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, καὶ λούσεται ὕδατι, καὶ ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας.
KJVAnd the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
JPSAnd the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he shall purify him; and he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
20
ThomsonAnd whoever shall be defiled, and not purified, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation, because he hath defiled the holy things of the Lord. Because the water of sprinkling hath not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean.
BrentonAnd whatever man shall be defiled and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of the congregation, because he has defiled the holy things of the Lord, because the water of sprinkling has not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
GreekΚαὶ ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἂν μιανθῇ, καὶ μὴ ἀφαγνισθῇ, ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ μέσου τῆς συναγωγῆς, ὅτι τὰ ἅγια Κυρίου ἐμίανεν, ὅτι ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ οὐ περιεῤῥαντίσθη ἐπʼ αὐτόν· ἀκάθαρτός ἐστι.
KJVBut the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
JPSBut the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD; the water of sprinkling hath not been dashed against him: he is unclean.
21
ThomsonAnd it shall be an everlasting statute for you, that he who sprinkleth the water of sprinkling, shall wash his clothes; and he who toucheth the water of sprinkling shall be unclean until evening:
BrentonAnd it shall be to you a perpetual statute; and he that sprinkles the water of sprinkling shall wash his garments; and he that touches the water of sprinkling shall be unclean until evening.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὑμῖν νόμιμον αἰώνιον· καὶ ὁ περιῤῥαίνων ὕδωρ ῥαντισμοῦ, πλυνεῖ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὁ ἁπτόμενος τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ ῥαντισμοῦ, ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας.
KJVAnd it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even.
JPSAnd it shall be a perpetual statute unto them; and he that sprinkleth the water of sprinkling shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of sprinkling shall be unclean until even.
22
Thomson—
BrentonAnd whatsoever the unclean man shall touch shall be unclean, and the soul that touches it shall be unclean till evening.
GreekΚαὶ παντὸς οὗ ἐὰν ἅψηται αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀκάθαρτος, ἀκάθαρτον ἔσται· καὶ ψυχὴ ἡ ἁπτομένη, ἀκάθαρτος ἔσται ἕως ἑσπέρας.
KJVAnd whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.
JPSAnd whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth him shall be unclean until even.