The Meaning of Numbers 19:6 Explained

Numbers 19:6

KJV: And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

YLT: and the priest hath taken cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and hath cast unto the midst of the burning of the cow;

Darby: And the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

ASV: and the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the priest  shall take  cedar  wood,  and hyssop,  and scarlet,  and cast  [it] into the midst  of the burning  of the heifer. 

What does Numbers 19:6 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 19:6 mean?

And shall take the priest wood cedar and hyssop and scarlet and cast [them] into the midst of the fire burning the heifer
וְלָקַ֣ח הַכֹּהֵ֗ן עֵ֥ץ אֶ֛רֶז וְאֵז֖וֹב וּשְׁנִ֣י תוֹלָ֑עַת וְהִשְׁלִ֕יךְ אֶל־ תּ֖וֹךְ שְׂרֵפַ֥ת הַפָּרָֽה

וְלָקַ֣ח  And  shall  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
הַכֹּהֵ֗ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
עֵ֥ץ  wood 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
אֶ֛רֶז  cedar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶרֶז  
Sense: cedar.
וְאֵז֖וֹב  and  hyssop 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵזׄוב  
Sense: hyssop, a plant used for medicinal and religious purposes.
תוֹלָ֑עַת  scarlet 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּולָע 
Sense: worm, scarlet stuff, crimson.
וְהִשְׁלִ֕יךְ  and  cast  [them] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַךְ  
Sense: to throw, cast, hurl, fling.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
תּ֖וֹךְ  the  midst 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: תָּוֶךְ  
Sense: midst, middle.
שְׂרֵפַ֥ת  of  the  fire  burning 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שְׂרֵפָה  
Sense: burning.
הַפָּרָֽה  the  heifer 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: פָּרָה  
Sense: cow, heifer.