The Meaning of Numbers 19:11 Explained

Numbers 19:11

KJV: He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.

YLT: He who is coming against the dead body of any man -- is unclean seven days;

Darby: He that toucheth a dead person, any dead body of a man, shall be unclean seven days.

ASV: He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that toucheth  the dead  body  of any man  shall be unclean  seven  days. 

What does Numbers 19:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 19:1-22 - Purification For Uncleanness
We might have expected this chapter to occur in Leviticus. Is it not incongruous in this narrative of the pilgrimage? Nay; this is the most appropriate place, since in the desert march we are more exposed to the touch of defilement, such as needs daily cleansing, lest we be shut out from fellowship with God.
The ashes of an heifer are emblematic of the work of our Lord. See Hebrews 9:13. No blemish; never a yoke; "slain without the camp," counted an unclean thing! It was easy for the Jew to contract ceremonial defilement. To walk over a grave was enough. But the ashes of the heifer mingled with spring-or running-water restored the polluted soul to the family and the Tabernacle. So as we confess our sins, we are sprinkled from an evil conscience, we are restored to unity with God and His people, and we walk in newness of life.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 19

1  The water of separation made of the ashes of a red heifer
11  The law for the use of it in purification of the unclean

What do the individual words in Numbers 19:11 mean?

He who touches the dead of anyone body man and shall be unclean seven days
הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ בְּמֵ֖ת לְכָל־ נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָדָ֑ם וְטָמֵ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים

הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ  He  who  touches 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
בְּמֵ֖ת  the  dead 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
לְכָל־  of  anyone 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
נֶ֣פֶשׁ  body 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
אָדָ֑ם  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
וְטָמֵ֖א  and  shall  be  unclean 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טָמֵא 
Sense: to be unclean, become unclean, become impure.
שִׁבְעַ֥ת  seven 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
יָמִֽים  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.