Numbers 19:2 "This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer that has no defect and has never been placed under a yoke.

◄ Numbers 19:2 ►

New International Version
“This is a requirement of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.

New Living Translation
“Here is another legal requirement commanded by the LORD: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer, a perfect animal that has no defects and has never been yoked to a plow.

English Standard Version
“This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come.

Berean Standard Bible
“This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer that has no defect and has never been placed under a yoke.

King James Bible
This 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:

New King James Version
“This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come.

New American Standard Bible
“This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never been mounted.

NASB 1995
“This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.

NASB 1977
“This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect, and on which a yoke has never been placed.

Legacy Standard Bible
“This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they take to you a red heifer without blemish, in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.

Amplified Bible
“This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded: ‘Tell the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.

Christian Standard Bible
“This is the legal statute that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red cow that has no defect and has never been yoked.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is the legal statute that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red cow that has no defect and has never been yoked.

American Standard Version
This is the statute of the law which Jehovah 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.

English Revised Version
This 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 without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"This is what the LORD's teachings have commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red cow that is perfect, with no defects. Also, it must never have worn a yoke.

Good News Translation
to give the Israelites the following regulations. Bring to Moses and Aaron a red cow which has no defects and which has never been worked,

International Standard Version
"This is the ordinance of the law that the LORD commanded that the Israelis be told: They are to bring you a spotless red heifer, without physical defect, that has never been fitted with a yoke.

Majority Standard Bible
?This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer that has no defect and has never been placed under a yoke.

NET Bible
"This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded: 'Instruct the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without blemish, which has no defect and has never carried a yoke.

New Heart English Bible
"This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded: Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no blemish, and which was never yoked.

Webster's Bible Translation
This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, in which is no blemish, and upon which never came a yoke:

World English Bible
“This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded. Tell the children of Israel to bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no defect, and which was never yoked.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
“This [is] a statute of the law which YHWH has commanded, saying, Speak to the sons of Israel, and they bring a red cow to you, a perfect one, in which there is no blemish, on which no yoke has gone up;

Young's Literal Translation
This is a statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the sons of Israel, and they bring unto thee a red cow, a perfect one, in which there is no blemish, on which no yoke hath gone up;

Smith's Literal Translation
This is the law of the precept which to Jehovah commanded, saying, Speak the sons of Israel and they shall take to thee a red, blameless heifer, to which not a blemish in her, and which a yoke was not lifted up upon her.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
This is the observance of the victim, which the Lord hath ordained. Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee a red cow of full age, in which there is no blemish, and which hath not carried the yoke:

Catholic Public Domain Version
“This is the ritual that the Lord has appointed for a victim. Instruct the sons of Israel, so that they may bring to you a red cow of full maturity, in which there is no blemish, and which has not carried a yoke.

New American Bible
This is the statute for the ritual which the LORD has commanded. Tell the Israelites to procure for you a red heifer without defect and free from every blemish and on which no yoke has ever been laid.

New Revised Standard Version
This is a statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish and on which no yoke has been laid.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer, perfect, in which there is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“This is the commandment of the law that LORD JEHOVAH commanded and said, ‘Say to the children of Israel that they will bring to you a perfect blood red heifer without a defect on which a yoke has not fallen.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
This 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
This 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.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Red Heifer
1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2“This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer that has no defect and has never been placed under a yoke. 3Give it to Eleazar the priest, and he will have it brought outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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!

Leviticus 4:3
If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.

Leviticus 16:3-5
This is how Aaron is to enter the Holy Place: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. / He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them. / And he shall take from the congregation of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.

Hebrews 9:19-22
For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people, / saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” / In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship. ...

Leviticus 14:4-7
the priest shall order that two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed. / Then the priest shall command that one of the birds be slaughtered over fresh water in a clay pot. / And he is to take the live bird together with the cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, and dip them into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water. ...

1 Peter 1:19
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Leviticus 1:3
If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to present an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for its acceptance before the LORD.

Leviticus 22:20-21
You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. / When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD from the herd or flock to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without blemish or defect to be acceptable.

Deuteronomy 21:3-4
Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work, / bring the heifer to a valley with running water that has not been plowed or sown, and break its neck there by the stream.

Exodus 29:10-14
You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head. / And you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. / Take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ...

Leviticus 9:2
He said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and present them before the LORD.

Leviticus 16:27
The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp; and their hides, flesh, and dung must be burned up.

Numbers 8:7
This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.

Leviticus 5:6
and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.

Leviticus 6:25
“Tell Aaron and his sons that this is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, the sin offering shall be slaughtered before the LORD; it is most holy.

Treasury of Scripture

This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and on which never came yoke:

The ordinance

Numbers 31:21
And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;

Hebrews 9:10
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

a red heifer.

Numbers 19:6
And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Leviticus 14:6
As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:

Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

no blemish

Exodus 12:5
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

Leviticus 22:20-25
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you…

Malachi 1:13,14
Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD…

upon which

Deuteronomy 21:3
And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

1 Samuel 6:7
Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

Lamentations 1:14
The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

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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

This is the statute of the law
The phrase "statute of the law" refers to a specific decree or ordinance given by God. In Hebrew, the word for "statute" is "חֻקָּה" (chukkah), which implies a divine decree that is to be followed without question. This highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands, even when the reasons are not fully understood. It underscores the concept of divine authority and the need for the Israelites to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty.

that the LORD has commanded
The use of "LORD" in all capital letters signifies the translation of the Hebrew name "YHWH," the covenant name of God. This emphasizes the personal relationship between God and His people, Israel. The command is not from a distant deity but from the covenant-keeping God who has chosen Israel as His people. It reflects the seriousness and divine origin of the command, reminding the Israelites of their special relationship with God and their obligation to follow His instructions.

Tell the Israelites
This phrase indicates the role of Moses as the mediator between God and the people. The Hebrew word for "tell" is "דַּבֵּר" (daber), which implies a direct and authoritative communication. It highlights the communal aspect of the law, as it is given to the entire nation of Israel. This communal instruction underscores the unity and collective responsibility of the Israelites to adhere to God's commands.

to bring you a red heifer
The "red heifer" is a unique sacrificial animal in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word for "heifer" is "פָרָה" (parah), and the specification of "red" (אֲדֻמָּה, adumah) is significant. The rarity of a completely red heifer symbolizes purity and uniqueness. In a broader theological context, the red heifer is often seen as a type of Christ, whose sacrifice purifies believers from sin. The requirement for a red heifer points to the meticulous nature of God's requirements for holiness and purification.

without blemish or defect
This requirement for the heifer to be "without blemish or defect" underscores the theme of perfection and purity in sacrifices. The Hebrew word for "blemish" is "תָּמִים" (tamim), meaning complete or whole. This reflects God's standard of holiness and the need for offerings to be perfect, symbolizing the sinlessness required for atonement. It foreshadows the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was without sin.

that has never been under a yoke
The phrase "never been under a yoke" indicates that the heifer must not have been used for labor, symbolizing freedom and purity. The Hebrew word for "yoke" is "עֹל" (ol), which often represents burden or servitude. This requirement signifies that the sacrifice must be wholly dedicated to God, untouched by worldly use. It points to the idea of total consecration to God, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture, calling believers to offer themselves fully to God without reservation.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - This is the ordinance of the law. חֻקַּת הַתּורָה. Law-statute: an unusual combination only found elsewhere in Numbers 31:21, which also concerns legal purifications. A red heifer. This offering was obviously intended, apart from its symbolic significance, to be studiedly simple and cheap. In contradiction to the many and costly and ever-repeated sacrifices of the Sinaitic legislation, this was a single individual, a female, and of the most common description: red is the most ordinary colour of cattle, and a young heifer is of less value than any other beast of its kind. The ingenuity indeed of the Jews heaped around the choice of this animal a multitude of precise requirements, and supplemented the prescribed ritual with many ceremonies, some of which are incorporated by the Targums with the sacred text; but even so they could not destroy the remarkable contrast between the simplicity of this offering and the elaborate complexity of those ordained at Sinai. Only six red heifers are said to have been needed during the whole of Jewish history, so far-reaching and so long-enduring were the uses and advantages of a single immolation. It is evident that this ordinance had for its distinguishing character oneness as opposed to multiplicity, simplicity contrasted with elaborateness. Without spot, wherein is no blemish. See on Leviticus 4:8. However little, comparatively speaking, the victim might cost them, it must yet be perfect of its kind. The later Jews held that three white hairs together on any part of the body made it unfit for the purpose. On the sex and color of the offering see below. Upon which never came yoke. Cf. Deuteronomy 21:3; 1 Samuel 6:7. The imposition of the yoke, according to the common sentiment of all nations, was a species of degradation, and therefore inconsistent with the ideal of what was fit to be offered in rids ease. That the matter was wholly one of sentiment is nothing to the point: God doth not care for oxen of any kind, but he doth care that man should give him what is, whether in fact or in fancy, the best of its sort.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“This
זֹ֚את (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

is the statute
חֻקַּ֣ת (ḥuq·qaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2708: Something prescribed, an enactment, statute

of the law
הַתּוֹרָ֔ה (hat·tō·w·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

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

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has commanded:
צִוָּ֥ה (ṣiw·wāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

Instruct
דַּבֵּ֣ר ׀ (dab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

the Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

to bring
וְיִקְח֣וּ (wə·yiq·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

you
אֵלֶיךָ֩ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

an unblemished
תְּמִימָ֗ה (tə·mî·māh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8549: Entire, integrity, truth

red
אֲדֻמָּ֜ה (’ă·ḏum·māh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 122: Rosy

heifer
פָרָ֨ה (p̄ā·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6510: A heifer, cow

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

has no
אֵֽין־ (’ên-)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

defect
מ֔וּם (mūm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3971: To stain, a blemish

and has never
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

been placed
עָלָ֥ה (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

under a yoke.
עֹֽל׃ (‘ōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5923: A yoke

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OT Law: Numbers 19:2 This is the statute of the law (Nu Num.)