Numbers 19:20 But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

◄ Numbers 19:20 ►

New International Version
But if those who are unclean do not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the community, because they have defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean.

New Living Translation
“But those who become defiled and do not purify themselves will be cut off from the community, for they have defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. Since the water of purification has not been sprinkled on them, they remain defiled.

English Standard Version
“If the man who is unclean does not cleanse himself, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, since he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. Because the water for impurity has not been thrown on him, he is unclean.

Berean Standard Bible
But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

King James Bible
But 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.

New King James Version
‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

New American Standard Bible
‘But the person who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD; the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, so he is unclean.

NASB 1995
‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself from uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD; the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean.

NASB 1977
‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself from uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD; the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself from uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly because he has made the sanctuary of Yahweh unclean; the water for impurity has not been splashed on him; he is unclean.

Amplified Bible
‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water for purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

Christian Standard Bible
But a person who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person will be cut off from the assembly because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But a person who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person will be cut off from the assembly because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

American Standard Version
But 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 Jehovah: the water for impurity hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.

Contemporary English Version
If you are unclean and refuse to be made clean by washing with the water mixed with ashes, you will be guilty of making my sacred tent unclean, and you will no longer belong to the people of Israel.

English Revised Version
But 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 separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if the person who becomes unclean doesn't have his sin taken away, that person must be excluded from the assembly. He has made the holy place of the LORD unclean. The water to take away uncleanness wasn't sprinkled on him. He is unclean.

Good News Translation
Those who have become ritually unclean and do not purify themselves remain unclean, because the water for purification has not been thrown over them. They defile the LORD's Tent and will no longer be considered God's people.

International Standard Version
"The person who is unclean but who doesn't purify himself is to be eliminated from contact with the assembly, since he has defiled the LORD's sanctuary and the water of impurity wasn't sprinkled on him. He is to be considered unclean

Majority Standard Bible
But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

NET Bible
But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person must be cut off from among the community, because he has polluted the sanctuary of the LORD; the water of purification was not sprinkled on him, so he is unclean.

New Heart English Bible
But the man who shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

Webster's Bible Translation
But 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.

World English Bible
But the man who shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of Yahweh. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him. He is unclean.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the man who is unclean and does not cleanse himself, indeed, that person has been cut off from the midst of the assembly; for he has defiled the sanctuary of YHWH; water of separation is not sprinkled on him; he [is] unclean.

Young's Literal Translation
And the man who is unclean, and doth not cleanse himself, even that person hath been cut off from the midst of the assembly; for the sanctuary of Jehovah he hath defiled; water of separation is not sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.

Smith's Literal Translation
And a man who shall be unclean and shall not be purified, and that soul was cut off from the midst of the gathering, for he defiled the holy place of Jehovah: the water of uncleanness was not sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
If any man be not expiated after this rite, his soul shall perish out of the midst of the church: because he hath profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, and was not sprinkled with the water of purification.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If anyone has not been expiated by this ritual, his soul shall perish from the midst of the Church. For he has polluted the Sanctuary of the Lord, and he has not been sprinkled with purifying waters.

New American Bible
Those who become unclean and fail to purify themselves—those people will be cut off from the assembly, because they defile the sanctuary of the LORD. The purification water has not been splashed over them; they remain unclean.

New Revised Standard Version
Any who are unclean but do not purify themselves, those persons shall be cut off from the assembly, for they have defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. Since the water for cleansing has not been dashed on them, they are unclean.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But the man who shall be unclean and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD; the water of sprinkling has not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a man who will be defiled and will not be sprinkled upon himself, that soul will be cut off from within the assembly because he defiled the Holy Place of LORD JEHOVAH; the water of sprinkling was not sprinkled upon him; he is defiled.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
But 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And 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.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Purification of the Unclean
…19The man who is ceremonially clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and that evening he will be clean. 20But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean. 21This is a permanent statute for the people: The one who sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water of purification will be unclean until evening.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Leviticus 7:20-21
But if anyone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people. / 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.”

Leviticus 15:31
You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.

Leviticus 22:3
Tell them that for the generations to come, if any of their descendants in a state of uncleanness approaches the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the LORD, that person must be cut off from My presence. I am the LORD.

Numbers 5:2-3
“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. / You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”

Numbers 15:30-31
But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people. / He shall certainly be cut off, because he has despised the word of the LORD and broken His commandment; his guilt remains on him.”

Deuteronomy 17:12
But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

2 Chronicles 30:19
who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

Ezekiel 14:7-8
For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself. / I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 20:38
And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Matthew 5:19
So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:17
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Acts 3:23
Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’

Treasury of Scripture

But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

shall not

Numbers 19:13
Whosoever 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.

Numbers 15:30
But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Genesis 17:14
And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

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Assembly Cleanse Cleansing Community Congregation Cut Dashed Defiled Impurity Midst Purify Sanctuary Separation Soul Sprinkled Sprinkling Thrown Unclean Uncleanness Water

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Assembly Cleanse Cleansing Community Congregation Cut Dashed Defiled Impurity Midst Purify Sanctuary Separation Soul Sprinkled Sprinkling Thrown Unclean Uncleanness Water

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

But the man who is unclean
The term "unclean" in Hebrew is "טָמֵא" (tamei), which refers to a state of ritual impurity. In the context of ancient Israel, being unclean was not merely a physical condition but a spiritual one that required purification. This concept underscores the holiness of God and the need for His people to approach Him with reverence and purity. The state of uncleanness could result from various causes, such as contact with a corpse, and it necessitated a process of cleansing to restore the individual to a state of ritual purity.

and does not purify himself
The act of purification was essential in maintaining one's relationship with God and the community. The Hebrew word for purify is "טָהֵר" (taher), which means to be clean or pure. This purification process often involved specific rituals, such as washing with water or offering sacrifices. The refusal or neglect to undergo purification was seen as a deliberate act of disobedience and rebellion against God's commandments, highlighting the importance of obedience and the seriousness of sin.

will be cut off from the assembly
To be "cut off" (Hebrew: "כָּרַת" - karat) from the assembly was a severe consequence, indicating exclusion from the community of Israel. This phrase implies both a social and spiritual separation, as the individual would be removed from the blessings and protection of the covenant community. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of maintaining holiness within the community of believers.

because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD
The sanctuary, or "מִקְדָּשׁ" (miqdash) in Hebrew, was the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. To defile the sanctuary was to bring impurity into the holy space, which was an affront to God's holiness. This phrase emphasizes the sanctity of the place where God chose to dwell and the responsibility of His people to uphold its purity. It reflects the broader biblical theme of God's holiness and the call for His people to be holy as He is holy.

The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on him
The "water of cleansing" refers to the water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer, as described earlier in Numbers 19. This water was used in the purification rites to cleanse those who had become ritually unclean. The act of sprinkling this water symbolized the removal of impurity and the restoration of the individual to a state of holiness. This ritual points forward to the ultimate cleansing provided through Christ, who purifies believers from sin.

and he is unclean
The repetition of the state of uncleanness underscores the seriousness of the condition. Remaining in a state of impurity was not merely a personal issue but affected the entire community's relationship with God. This phrase serves as a warning of the dangers of neglecting God's provision for cleansing and the need for continual purification in the life of a believer. It calls Christians to seek spiritual cleansing through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who offers the ultimate purification from sin.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But if a person
וְאִ֤ישׁ (wə·’îš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

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

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

does not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

purify
יִתְחַטָּ֔א (yiṯ·ḥaṭ·ṭā)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

himself,
הַהִ֖וא (ha·hi·w)
Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

[he]
הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ (han·ne·p̄eš)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

will be cut off
וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה (wə·niḵ·rə·ṯāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

from
מִתּ֣וֹךְ (mit·tō·wḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

the assembly,
הַקָּהָ֑ל (haq·qā·hāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6951: Assembly, convocation, congregation

because
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he has defiled
טִמֵּ֗א (ṭim·mê)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean

the sanctuary
מִקְדַּ֨שׁ (miq·daš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum

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

The water
מֵ֥י (mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

of [purification]
נִדָּ֛ה (nid·dāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5079: Rejection, impurity, personal, moral

has not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

been sprinkled
זֹרַ֥ק (zō·raq)
Verb - QalPass - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2236: Be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew

on him;
עָלָ֖יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

he
הֽוּא׃ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is unclean.
טָמֵ֥א (ṭā·mê)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2931: Unclean

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OT Law: Numbers 19:20 But the man who shall be unclean (Nu Num.)