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.
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.
- BSB When evening approaches, he must wash with water, and when the sun sets he may return to the camp.
- 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 15:5And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- Eph 5:26–27That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
- Luke 11:38–39And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
- Heb 10:22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Lev 14:9But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.
- Ezek 36:25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
- Matt 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
- 1 Pet 3:21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
- Ps 51:2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
- Ps 51:7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- Lev 15:11And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- Heb 9:9–10Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
- Lev 11:25And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
- Lev 15:13And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
- Rev 1:5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
- Lev 15:17–23And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
- Lev 22:6The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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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