Definition: And for an unclean [person] they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Numbers 19:17. It’s a tricky one, so we'll go through it step-by-step. Here's the basic explanation: This verse deals with sacrifices offered to God for ritual cleansing and purification. It’s about how Jews (and some Christians) handled animal sacrifices when they were unclean – meaning they had done something that violated religious law. Let's unpack it further: “Numbers 19”: This refers to a specific part of the Jewish Law, particularly concerning offerings made to God for special occasions and ritual purity. “The ashes of the burnt heifer”: This is the key part. The “ heifer” was a young female cow, specifically used for sacrificial purposes in ancient Jewish rituals. It represented innocence and purity. "Burns" refers to a ritualistic burning process that cleansed the animal. “Of the ashes…”: This means they were to use those ashes. “…for sin…”: This is the core of the verse. The person is considered unclean because of something they did – it was a transgression against God's laws. "...and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:" This describes how to handle the ashes. They need to pour the ashes into a container (a "vessel") using water. In simpler terms: If someone is considered unclean – perhaps due to a mistake, impurity, or wrongdoing – they must use special ashes from a burnt animal and pour them into a container of water. It’s a way to purify themselves and show respect to God. Important Context (a little background): This practice was part of the Law of Moses and was incredibly strict. It was considered very serious and required careful handling and ritual. The verse is about demonstrating proper religious behavior and acknowledging that one wasn't perfectly clean. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific aspect of this verse in more detail? Give you some historical context surrounding this passage? Compare it to other similar rituals in the Bible?