Nevertheless, a spring or cistern containing water will remain clean, but one who touches a carcass in it will be unclean.
Parallel translations
- WEB Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is gathered shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.
- KJV Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.
- NKJV Nevertheless a spring or a cistern, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean, but whatever touches any such carcass becomes unclean.
- NASB Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass shall be unclean.
- NLT “However, if the carcass of such an animal falls into a spring or a cistern, the water will still be clean. But anyone who touches the carcass will be defiled.
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
A spring or cistern stays clean even if a carcass touches its water, though the carcass itself defiles. Flowing or stored fresh water was treated as a source of cleansing.
Overview
An exception is granted: natural water sources remain clean, even as the carcass touching them is unclean. This mercy ensured Israel always had access to clean water for life and purification. Living water became a rich biblical image fulfilled in Christ, who gives the water of life that never runs dry (John 4:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- John 4:14But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
- Zech 13:1“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 11:36 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.