God’s Word Translation
Numbers 19:2
2“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.
Numbers 19:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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 International Version (NIV)“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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“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.
Context of Numbers 19:2
1The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “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. 3Give it to the priest Eleazar. It must be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. 4The priest Eleazar will take some of the blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.
Read all of Numbers 19Numbers 19:2 word by word
זֹ֚את חֻקַּ֣ת הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֣ר׀ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֣וּ אֵלֶיךָ֩ פָרָ֨ה אֲדֻמָּ֜ה תְּמִימָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵֽין־בָּהּ֙ מ֔וּם אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־עָלָ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ עֹֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- the ordinanceחֻקָּהchûqqâh · statuteH2708
- of the lawתּוֹרָהtôrâh tôrâh · instructionH8451
- which the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- hath commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- unto the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- that they bringלָקַחlâqach · to take: bringH3947
- thee a redאָדֹם'âdôm · redH122
- heiferפָּרָהpârâh · heiferH6510
- without spotתָּמִיםtâmîym · unblemishedH8549
- no blemishמוּםm'ûm mûm · blemishH3971
- upon which neverלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- cameעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- yokeעֹל‛ôl ‛ôl · yokeH5923
Cross-references for Numbers 19:2
- Numbers 31:21Then the priest Eleazar said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is what the Lord’s teachings told Moses to do:
- Hebrews 9:10These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things.
- Numbers 19:6The priest will take some cedar wood, a hyssop sprig, and some red yarn and throw them onto the burning cow.
- Leviticus 14:6The priest will take the living bird, the cedar wood, the red yarn, and the hyssop sprig and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.
- Isaiah 1:18“Come on now, let’s discuss this!” says the Lord. “Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow. Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool.
- Revelation 1:5and from Jesus Christ, the witness, the trustworthy one, the first to come back to life, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. Glory and power forever and ever belong to the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
- Exodus 12:5Your animal must be a one-year-old male that has no defects. You may choose a lamb or a young goat.
- Leviticus 22:20Never bring any animal with a physical defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.
- Malachi 1:13“You say, ‘Oh what a nuisance it is,’ and you sniff at it in disgust,” says the Lord of Armies. “You bring stolen, lame, and sick animals. When you bring such offerings, should I accept them from you?” asks the Lord.
- Luke 1:35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.
- Hebrews 7:26We need a chief priest who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and who holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.
- 1 Peter 1:19Rather, the payment that freed you was the precious blood of Christ, the lamb with no defects or imperfections.
- 1 Peter 2:22Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully.
- Deuteronomy 21:3When it has been determined which city is nearest the body, the leaders from that city must choose a heifer that has never been put to work and never worn a yoke.
- 1 Samuel 6:7Now get a new cart ready for two dairy cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart. Take their calves away, and leave them in their stall.
- Lamentations 1:14My rebellious acts are a heavy burden for me. They were tied together by God’s own hands. They were tied around my neck. He has weakened me ⌞with them⌟. The Lord has handed me over to people I cannot oppose.
Commentaries on Numbers 19:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Speak unto the children of Israel that they bring thee, etc. - The ordinance of the red heifer was a sacrifice of general application. All the people were to have an interest in it, and therefore the people at large are to provide the sacrifice. This Jewish rite certainly had a reference to things done under the Gospel, as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews has remarked: "For if," says he, "the blood of bulls and of goats," alluding, probably, to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2A red heifer - Red, in order to shadow forth man‘s earthly body, even as the name Adam bears allusion to the red earth of which man‘s body was fashioned. Without spot, wherein is no blemish - As with sin-offerings generally Leviticus 4:3. Upon which never came yoke - So here and elsewhere (see the marginal references), in the case of female victims.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-10They made the water for the purification ceremony with ashes of the red heifer (19:9). It might be the same as the water of purification in 8:7 (see also 31:19–24). This ceremony needed the ashes of a red heifer. The color probably represented blood (compare Hebrews 9:13–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-222. This is the ordinance of the law--an institution of a peculiar nature ordained by law for the purification of sin, and provided at the public expense because it was for the good of the whole community. Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, &c.--This is the only case in which the color of the victim is specified. It has been supposed the ordinance was designed in opposition to the superstitious notions of the…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 19:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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