Numbers 19:16 Anyone in the open field who touches someone who has been killed by the sword or has died of natural causes, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

◄ Numbers 19:16 ►

New International Version
“Anyone out in the open who touches someone who has been killed with a sword or someone who has died a natural death, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

New Living Translation
And if someone in an open field touches the corpse of someone who was killed with a sword or who died a natural death, or if someone touches a human bone or a grave, that person will be defiled for seven days.

English Standard Version
Whoever in the open field touches someone who was killed with a sword or who died naturally, or touches a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Berean Standard Bible
Anyone in the open field who touches someone who has been killed by the sword or has died of natural causes, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain by a sword or who has died, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

New American Standard Bible
Also, anyone who in the open field touches one who has been killed with a sword or one who has died naturally, or touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

NASB 1995
Also, anyone who in the open field touches one who has been slain with a sword or who has died naturally, or a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.

NASB 1977
‘Also, anyone who in the open field touches one who has been slain with a sword or who has died naturally, or a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.

Legacy Standard Bible
Also, anyone who in the open field touches one who has been slain with a sword or who has died naturally, or a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.

Amplified Bible
Also, anyone in the open field who touches one who has been killed with a sword or who has died [of natural causes], or a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.

Christian Standard Bible
Anyone in the open field who touches a person who has been killed by the sword or has died, or who even touches a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Anyone in the open field who touches a person who has been killed by the sword or has died, or who even touches a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

American Standard Version
And whosoever in the open field toucheth one that is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Contemporary English Version
If you touch the body of someone who died or was killed, or if you touch a human bone or a grave, you will be unclean for seven days.

English Revised Version
And whosoever in the open field toucheth one that is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Whoever is outdoors and touches someone who was killed or has died naturally or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave will be unclean for seven days.

Good News Translation
If any touch a person who has been killed or has died a natural death outdoors or if any touch a human bone or a grave, they become unclean for seven days.

International Standard Version
Whoever is out in an open field and touches the body of someone who was killed by a sword, or a dead body, or someone's bones, or a grave, he is to be considered unclean for seven days.

Majority Standard Bible
Anyone in the open field who touches someone who has been killed by the sword or has died of natural causes, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

NET Bible
And whoever touches the body of someone killed with a sword in the open fields, or the body of someone who died of natural causes, or a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean seven days.

New Heart English Bible
"Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Webster's Bible Translation
And whoever 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.

World English Bible
“Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And everyone on the face of the field who comes against the pierced of a sword, or against the dead, or against a bone of man, or against a grave, is unclean [for] seven days;

Young's Literal Translation
'And every one who cometh, on the face of the field, against the pierced of a sword, or against the dead, or against a bone of man, or against a grave, is unclean seven days;

Smith's Literal Translation
And every one who shall touch upon the face of the field, upon the wounded of the sword, or upon the dead, or upon the bone of man, or upon a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
If any man in the field touch the corpse of a man that was slain, or that died of himself, or his bone, or his grave, he shall be unclean seven days.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If anyone in the field will have touched the corpse of a man, who was killed or who died on his own, or his bone, or his grave, he shall be unclean for seven days.

New American Bible
Moreover, everyone who in the open country touches a person who has been slain by the sword or who has died naturally, or who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

New Revised Standard Version
Whoever in the open field touches one who has been killed by a sword, or who has died naturally, or a human bone, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And whosoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body or a bone of a man or a grave shall be unclean seven days.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And everyone who will touch one killed by the sword on the face of the field, or one dead, or the bone of a man, or a tomb, shall be defiled seven days.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And every one who shall touch a man slain by violence, or a corpse, or human bone, or sepulchre, shall be unclean seven days.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Purification of the Unclean
…15and any open container without a lid fastened on it is unclean. 16Anyone in the open field who touches someone who has been killed by the sword or has died of natural causes, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days. 17For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh water over them.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Leviticus 21:1-4
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people, / except for his immediate family—his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother, / or his unmarried sister who is near to him, since she has no husband. ...

Leviticus 11:31-32
These animals are unclean for you among all the crawling creatures. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening. / When one of them dies and falls on something, that article becomes unclean; any article of wood, clothing, leather, sackcloth, or any implement used for work must be rinsed with water and will remain unclean until evening; then it will be clean.

Leviticus 22:4-6
If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen, / or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be— / the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening. He must not eat from the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water.

Haggai 2:13
So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

Numbers 5:2
“Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body.

Numbers 31:19
All of you who have killed a person or touched the dead are to remain outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and the seventh day you are to purify both yourselves and your captives.

Ezekiel 44:25
A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person. However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so,

Leviticus 5:2
Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty.

Leviticus 7:21
If one touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable thing, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.”

Deuteronomy 21:22-23
If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, / you must not leave the body on the tree overnight, but you must be sure to bury him that day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Matthew 23:27
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.

Luke 11:44
Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”

Acts 10:28
He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

Acts 21:26
So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.

Hebrews 9:13-14
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, / how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

Treasury of Scripture

And whoever touches 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.

toucheth

Numbers 19:11
He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.

Numbers 31:19
And 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.

a bone

Ezekiel 39:11-16
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog…

a grave

Matthew 23:27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Luke 11:44
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

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Numbers 19

1. The water of separation made of the ashes of a red heifer
11. The law for the use of it in purification of the unclean

Berean Study Bible

And anyone who
This phrase sets the stage for a directive that applies universally to individuals within the community of Israel. The Hebrew word for "anyone" is "אִישׁ" (ish), which can mean man or person, indicating that the law is applicable to all, regardless of status or gender. This universality underscores the communal nature of the law and the collective responsibility of the Israelites to maintain purity.

touches
The Hebrew root for "touches" is "נָגַע" (naga), which implies physical contact. In the context of ancient Israel, physical touch was significant, often leading to ritual impurity. This highlights the tangible nature of holiness and impurity in the Old Testament, where physical actions had spiritual consequences.

the dead body
The term "dead body" in Hebrew is "חָלָל" (chalal), which refers to a corpse. In the ancient Near Eastern context, death was considered the ultimate impurity, a stark contrast to the holiness of God, who is the source of life. This reflects the biblical theme of life and death, where death is seen as a result of sin and separation from God.

of a human being
This phrase specifies the type of corpse, emphasizing the sanctity of human life. The Hebrew word for "human being" is "אָדָם" (adam), which is also the name of the first man, symbolizing humanity. This connection to Adam reminds the reader of the fall and the introduction of death into the world, reinforcing the need for purification.

who dies
The phrase "who dies" uses the Hebrew root "מוּת" (muth), meaning to die. This word is often used in the context of mortality and the human condition post-Fall. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of life and the ever-present reality of death, which necessitates a system of purification.

or who is slain
The word "slain" comes from the Hebrew "חָלָל" (chalal), which can also mean pierced or fatally wounded. This indicates a violent death, which was often associated with impurity due to the shedding of blood. The inclusion of those who are slain highlights the comprehensive nature of the law, covering all forms of death.

in the open field
The phrase "in the open field" suggests a place outside the controlled environment of the camp or city, where the body might be exposed to the elements and animals. The Hebrew word "שָׂדֶה" (sadeh) for field implies a lack of boundaries, symbolizing chaos and disorder, contrasting with the orderliness required by God's law.

or touches a human bone
Touching a "human bone" extends the impurity to contact with any part of a deceased person. The Hebrew word for bone is "עֶצֶם" (etsem), which can also mean essence or substance. This reflects the belief that even the remnants of a person carry impurity, necessitating careful adherence to purification rituals.

or a grave
A "grave" in Hebrew is "קֶבֶר" (kever), a place of burial. Graves were considered unclean because they housed the dead. This highlights the importance of respecting boundaries between life and death, and the need for purification when those boundaries are crossed.

shall be unclean
The state of being "unclean" is described by the Hebrew word "טָמֵא" (tame), which means ritually impure. This impurity is not just physical but spiritual, affecting one's ability to participate in communal worship. It underscores the need for holiness and the separation from anything that defiles.

for seven days
The "seven days" period of uncleanness reflects the biblical significance of the number seven, often associated with completion and perfection. This time allows for a full cycle of purification, symbolizing a return to wholeness and readiness to re-enter the community and worship.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - One that is slain with a sword. This would apply especially, it would seem, to the field of battle; but the law must certainly have been relaxed in the case of soldiers. Or a bone of a man, or a grave. Thus the defilement was extended to the mouldering remains of humanity, and even to the tombs (μνήματα. Cf. Luke 11:44) which held them.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Anyone
וְכֹ֨ל (wə·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

in
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the open field
פְּנֵ֣י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

touches
יִגַּ֜ע (yig·ga‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

someone who has been killed
בַּֽחֲלַל־ (ba·ḥă·lal-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2491: Pierced, polluted

by the sword
חֶ֙רֶב֙ (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

or
א֣וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

has died of natural causes,
בְמֵ֔ת (ḇə·mêṯ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

or
אֽוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

anyone who touches a human
אָדָ֖ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

bone
בְעֶ֥צֶם (ḇə·‘e·ṣem)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame

or
א֣וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

a grave,
בְקָ֑בֶר (ḇə·qā·ḇer)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6913: A grave, sepulcher

will be unclean
יִטְמָ֖א (yiṭ·mā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean

for seven
שִׁבְעַ֥ת (šiḇ·‘aṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

days.
יָמִֽים׃ (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

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OT Law: Numbers 19:16 Whoever in the open field touches one (Nu Num.)