Numbers 8:7

5 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

6 “Take the Levites from among the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.

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.

8 Then have them take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.

9 Bring the Levites before the Tent of Meeting and assemble the whole congregation of Israel.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
WEB
You shall do this to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.
ASV
And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of expiation upon them, and let them cause a razor to pass over all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.
DARBY
And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: sprinkle upon them water of purification from sin; and they shall pass the razor over all their flesh, and shall wash their garments, and make themselves clean.
BLB
Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle on them waters of purification, and let a razor pass over all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes and make themselves clean.
ÅB
Og slik skal du gjøre med dem for å rense dem: Du skal sprenge renselses-vann på dem, og de skal la rakekniv gå over hele sitt legeme og vaske sine klær og slik rense seg.
OTB
For å rense dem, gjør følgende: sprut dem med renselsesvann, la dem barbere hele kroppen med barberkniv, og vaske klærne sine. Slik skal de rense seg selv.
B1930
Og således skal du gjøre med dem for å rense dem: Du skal sprenge renselses-vann på dem, og de skal la rakekniv gå over hele sitt legeme og tvette sine klær og således rense sig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 19:13

    Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 19:7–10

    Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that he may enter the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean until evening.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 8:6

    Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 31:20

    And purify every garment and leather good, everything made of goat’s hair, and every article of wood.”

    Read in context
  • Matthew 23:25–26

    Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 19:17–19

    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
  • Revelation 7:14

    “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 15:27

    Anyone who touches these things will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

    Read in context