When evening approaches, he must wash with water, and when the sun sets he may return to the camp.
Parallel translations
- WEB but it shall be, when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water. When the sun is down, he shall come within the camp.
- KJV But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.
- ESV but when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water, and as the sun sets, he may come inside the camp.
- NKJV But it shall be, when evening comes, that he shall wash with water; and when the sun sets, he may come into the camp.
- NASB But when evening approaches, he shall bathe himself with water, and at sundown he may reenter the camp.
- NLT Toward evening he must bathe himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The man washes at evening and may return to the camp at sundown. Cleansing and restoration follow the prescribed process.
Overview
Bathing and the passing of the day restored the man to ritual cleanness and fellowship in the camp. The pattern of defilement, washing, and restoration taught Israel that fellowship with a holy God requires purity. This rhythm of cleansing points forward to the washing of regeneration and the cleansing blood of Christ that restores believers to God (Titus 3:5).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Lev 15:5Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
- Eph 5:26–27to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
- Luke 11:38–39But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
- Heb 10:22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Lev 14:9On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.
- Ezek 36:25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
- Matt 3:11I 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.
- 1 Pet 3:21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- Ps 51:2Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
- Ps 51:7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
- Lev 15:11If the man with the discharge touches anyone without first rinsing his hands with water, the one who was touched must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
- Heb 9:9–10It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.
- Lev 11:25and whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening.
- Lev 15:13When the man has been cleansed from his discharge, he must count off seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe himself in fresh water, and he shall be clean.
- Rev 1:5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,
- Lev 15:17–23Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.
- Lev 22:6the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening. He must not eat from the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water.
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 23:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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