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Numbers 19:4

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Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 4

This chapter is only concerning the preparing and using of the ashes which were to impregnate the water of purification. The people had complained of the strictness of the law, which forbade their near approach to the tabernacle, Num 17:13. In answer to this complaint, they are here directed to purify themselves, so as that they might come as far as they had occasion without fear. Here is, I. The method of preparing these ashes, by the burning of a red heifer, with a great deal of ceremony (Num 19:1-10). II. The way of using them. 1. They were designed to purify persons from the pollution contracted by a dead body (Num 19:11-16). 2. They were to be put into running water (a small quantity of them), with which the person to be cleansed must be purified (Num 19:17-22). And that this ceremonial purification was a type and figure of the cleansing of the consciences of believers from the pollutions of sin appears by the apostle's discourse, Heb 9:13, Heb 9:14, where he compares the efficacy of the blood of Christ with the sanctifying virtue that was in "the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean."

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 4

אֶלְעָזָר (ʼElʻâzâr, H499) — Elazar, the name of seven Israelites כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice… אֶצְבַּע (ʼetsbaʻ, H676) — something to sieze with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe נָזָה (nâzâh, H5137) — to spirt, i.e. besprinkle (especially in expiation) נֹכַח (nôkach, H5227) — properly, the front part; used adverbially (especially with preposition), opposite, in… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… אֹהֶל (ʼôhel, H168) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance) מוֹעֵד (môwʻêd, H4150) — properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival;… שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… פַּעַם (paʻam, H6471) — a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow)

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Cross-references

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Leviticus 4:17rank 5

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

Leviticus 4:6rank 4

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 16:14rank 4

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.

Leviticus 16:19rank 3

He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

Hebrews 12:24rank 2

to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

I Peter 1:2rank 2

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

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