Types of Christ: Red Heifer
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The concept of "types" in biblical theology refers to people, events, or institutions in the Old Testament that prefigure and foreshadow the person and work of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. One such type is the Red Heifer, a unique sacrificial animal described in the Old Testament, which holds significant typological importance in understanding the redemptive work of Christ.

Biblical Description

The ordinance of the Red Heifer is detailed in Numbers 19. The LORD instructed Moses and Aaron to bring a red heifer "without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke" (Numbers 19:2). The heifer was to be slaughtered outside the camp, and its blood was to be sprinkled toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. The entire heifer, including its hide, flesh, blood, and offal, was to be burned, and cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool were to be added to the fire (Numbers 19:5-6). The ashes of the heifer were then used to create the "water of purification" for the cleansing of those who had become ceremonially unclean through contact with a dead body (Numbers 19:9).

Typological Significance

1. Purity and Perfection: The requirement for the red heifer to be without defect or blemish symbolizes the sinless nature of Christ. Just as the heifer was to be perfect, so too was Christ, who "committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth" (1 Peter 2:22).

2. Sacrifice Outside the Camp: The red heifer was slaughtered outside the camp, which prefigures Christ's crucifixion outside the city walls of Jerusalem. Hebrews 13:12 states, "And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood."

3. Cleansing from Death: The ashes of the red heifer were used for purification from the defilement of death, pointing to Christ's power to cleanse from the ultimate defilement of sin and death. Hebrews 9:13-14 draws a parallel: "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling 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, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?"

4. Symbolism of Elements: The cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool used in the burning of the heifer carry rich symbolism. Cedar wood, known for its durability, can symbolize the enduring nature of Christ's sacrifice. Hyssop, often associated with purification (Psalm 51:7), underscores the cleansing power of Christ's blood. Scarlet wool, a vivid red, represents the blood of Christ, which washes away sin.

5. Eternal Redemption: The ritual of the red heifer was a temporary measure for ceremonial cleansing, but it pointed to the eternal redemption accomplished by Christ. The once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus provides a complete and lasting purification for believers, as emphasized in Hebrews 10:10 : "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

In summary, the Red Heifer serves as a profound type of Christ, illustrating key aspects of His sacrificial death and the purification it brings to those who believe. Through this Old Testament ordinance, believers gain a deeper understanding of the completeness and sufficiency of Christ's atoning work.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Numbers 19:2-6
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:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 9:13,14
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Numbers.
... The types of Christ and Christian experience: (a) The Nazarite; (b) Aaron's Budding
Rod, 17:8; Hebrews 9:4; (c) The Blue Ribband, 15:38; (d) The Red Heifer, 19 ...
/.../gerberding/the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iv numbers.htm

Scriptural Types.
... the characteristics belonging to the types themselves, beginning ... born, so does the
blood of Christ protect all ... 32); the sacrifice of the red heifer from which ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

The Epistle of Barnabas
... prophets. Chapter VII.--Fasting, and the goat sent away, were types of Christ.
Chapter VIII.--The red heifer a type of Christ. Chapter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /

Whether There Can be any Suitable Cause for the Sacraments of the ...
... we assigned (ad 5) to the sacrifice of the red heifer. ... Ghost, and with the sprinkling
of Christ's blood ... rational because in heaven, are the types [rationes] of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be any 2.htm

Subject Index
... of Ignatius to them, wherein he speaks of his bonds, of the true doctrine concerning
Christ against the ... the twelve, not types of the twelve ??ons, [121]389. ...
/.../irenaeus/fragments from the lost writings of irenaeus/subject index.htm

Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
... of Abraham, consisting of the red heifer, whose ashes ... And circumcision, prefiguring
Christ given for a covenant of ... These types and others all pointed to the ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vi covenanting provided for.htm

The Blood of Sprinkling
... of this sprinkling we must look to the types of the ... to make with men in the person
of our Lord Jesus Christ. ... There were the ashes of a red heifer laid up, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the blood of sprinkling.htm

Of the Times of Moses and Joshua the Son of Nun, of the Judges ...
... At last the Egyptians were destroyed in the Red Sea while ... things done before by way
of types, and because ... succeeded to the kingdom, whose son Christ is chiefly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 43 of the times of.htm

Letter xiv. --(For 342. ) Coss. Augustus Constantius iii, Constans ...
... learnt through shadows, and from the types recognise the ... the invisible God [4417] ,'
our Lord Jesus Christ, the true ... after we have passed over the Red Sea heat ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter xiv for 342 coss augustus.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... of Abraham's oak under which he saw Christ's day and was ... [2832] Here year by year
a red heifer was burned ... their sight from the Lord, [2841] became types of the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

Resources
Why does the Bible speak against wearing clothing made of different types of fabric? | GotQuestions.org

What are the different types of psalms? | GotQuestions.org

What are the different types of prayer? | GotQuestions.org

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Types

Types of Christ: Aaron

Types of Christ: Abel

Types of Christ: Abraham

Types of Christ: Adam

Types of Christ: Ark

Types of Christ: Ark of the Covenant

Types of Christ: Atonement, Sacrifices offered on the Day of

Types of Christ: Brazen Altar

Types of Christ: Brazen Serpent

Types of Christ: Burnt offering

Types of Christ: Cities of Refuge

Types of Christ: David

Types of Christ: Eliakim

Types of Christ: First-Fruits

Types of Christ: Golden Altar

Types of Christ: Golden Candlestick

Types of Christ: Isaac

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Types of Christ: Jacob's Ladder

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Types of Christ: Melchizedek

Types of Christ: Mercy-Seat

Types of Christ: Morning and Evening Sacrifices

Types of Christ: Moses

Types of Christ: Noah

Types of Christ: Paschal Lamb

Types of Christ: Peace offerings

Types of Christ: Red Heifer

Types of Christ: Rock of Horeb

Types of Christ: Samson

Types of Christ: Scape Goat

Types of Christ: Sin offering

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Types of Christ: Table and Show Bread

Types of Christ: Temple

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Types of Christ: Trespass offering

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Types of the Saviour

Types of the Saviour: Abel

Types of the Saviour: Adam

Types of the Saviour: David

Types of the Saviour: Eliakim

Types of the Saviour: High Priest, Typical of the Mediatorship

Types of the Saviour: Jonah

Types of the Saviour: Manna

Types of the Saviour: Melchizedek

Types of the Saviour: Moses

Types of the Saviour: Noah

Types of the Saviour: The Bronze Altar

Types of the Saviour: The Bronze Laver

Types of the Saviour: The Bronze Serpent

Types of the Saviour: The Cities of Refuge

Types of the Saviour: The Curtain

Types of the Saviour: The Institutions Ordained by Moses

Types of the Saviour: The Mercy-Seat

Types of the Saviour: The Morning and Evening Sacrifice

Types of the Saviour: The Paschal Lamb

Types of the Saviour: The Red Heifer

Types of the Saviour: The Sacrifices

Types of the Saviour: The Tree of Life

Types: Miscellaneous: Bride, a Type of the Body of Christ

Types: Miscellaneous: The Sanctuary a Type of the Heavenly Sanctuary

Types: Miscellaneous: The Saving of Noah and his Family, of the Salvation Through the Gospel

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Types of Christ: Peace offerings
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