Numbers 31:23

Purity

²¹ Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded Moses:

²² Only the gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead—

everything that can withstand the fire—must be put through the fire, and it will be clean. But it must still be purified with the water of purification. And everything that cannot withstand the fire must pass through the water.

²⁴ On the seventh day you are to wash your clothes, and you will be clean. After that you may enter the camp.”

²⁵ The LORD said to Moses,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: everything that can withstand the fire—must be put through the fire, and it will be clean. But it must still be purified with the water of purification. And everything that cannot withstand the fire must pass through the water.
KJV: Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.
WEB: everything that may withstand the fire, you shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity. All that doesn’t withstand the fire you shall make to go through the water.
ASV: everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make to go through the water.
DARBY: everything that passeth through the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean; only it shall be purified with the water of separation; and everything that cannot pass through the fire ye shall make go through the water.
BLB: everything that can endure the fire—you⁺ shall put through the fire, and it shall be clean. Nevertheless, with the water of purification it shall be cleansed from sin. And all that cannot endure the fire, you⁺ shall put through the water.

ÅB: alt som tåler ild, skal dere la gå gjennom ilden, så blir det rent; men det skal også renses med renselsesvannet. Men alt som ikke tåler ild, skal dere la gå gjennom vann.
OTB: alt som kan tåle ild, skal dere føre gjennom ilden, og det skal bli rent. Det må også renses med renselsesvannet. Men alt som ikke kan tåle ild, må føres gjennom vannet.
B1930: alt som tåler ild, skal I la gå gjennem ilden, så blir det rent; men det skal også renses med renselsesvannet. Men alt som ikke tåler ild, skal I la gå gjennem vann.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 19:9
Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and store them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept by the congregation of Israel for preparing the water of purification; this is for purification from sin.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 3:13
his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.
Read in context
Numbers 19:17
For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh water over them.
Read in context
Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
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Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Read in context
Leviticus 11:32
When one of them dies and falls on something, that article becomes unclean; any article of wood, clothing, leather, sackcloth, or any implement used for work must be rinsed with water and will remain unclean until evening; then it will be clean.
Read in context
Numbers 8:7
This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.
Read in context
Revelation 3:18
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
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