Numbers 19:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

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.
Douay-Rheims

וְאִ֤ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִטְמָא֙ וְלֹ֣א יִתְחַטָּ֔א וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַקָּהָ֑ל כִּי֩ אֶת־מִקְדַּ֨שׁ יְהוָ֜ה טִמֵּ֗א מֵ֥י נִדָּ֛ה לֹא־זֹרַ֥ק עָלָ֖יו טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

God instructed that by mixing these ashes with water, those who came into contact with the deceased, touched the bones, or were contaminated in a similar manner should be purified. It is written: ‘And the man, if he defile himself ..., that soul shall be consumed from the midst of the host ...: as the water of sprinkling shall not be sprinkled upon him.’ Likewise, the Lord proclaimed in the sacred Gospel: ‘Except a man be born of water and spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God’ (John 3:5).

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.