But when evening approaches, he shall bathe himself with water, and at sundown he may reenter 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.
- BSB When evening approaches, he must wash with water, and when the sun sets he may return to 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.
- NLT Toward evening he must bathe himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp.
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 15:5Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
- Eph 5:26–27that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
- Luke 11:38–39When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner.
- Heb 10:22let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
- Lev 14:9It 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. He shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his body in water, then he shall be clean.
- Ezek 36:25I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
- Matt 3:11I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Pet 3:21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you — not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- Ps 51:2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. 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 15:11“‘Whoever he who has the discharge touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
- Heb 9:9–10which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect;
- Lev 11:25Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.
- Lev 15:13“‘When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
- Rev 1:5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood;
- Lev 15:17–23Every garment, and every skin, whereon the semen is, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.
- Lev 22:6the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he bathe his body in water.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.