Numbers 19:9 Meaning and Explanation
“And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A clean person collects the ashes and stores them outside camp for use as purification water.
The Context of Numbers 19:9
The ashes are preserved as the basis of purification water.
What Does Numbers 19:9 Mean?
Once the burning is complete, a ritually clean person gathers the ashes—the transformed remains of the heifer. These ashes are stored in a clean place outside the camp, reserved for the entire nation's ongoing use.
This water of separation becomes the instrument of purification for the congregation. The ashes' purpose is to cleanse those who have touched death, restoring them to ritual purity.
Numbers 19:9 in the Original Language
mei niddah (מֵי נִדָּה), 'water of separation' — water mixed with ashes, set apart for cleansing death-related uncleanness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 19:9
What does Numbers 19:9 mean?
A clean person collects the ashes and stores them outside camp for use as purification water.
What is the context of Numbers 19:9?
The ashes are preserved as the basis of purification water.