God commands the preparation of the parah adumah ('red heifer') — a completely red, unblemished cow that has never worn a yoke. It is slaughtered and burned outside the camp with cedar, hyssop, and scarlet yarn. The resulting ashes, mixed with water, create the mei niddah ('water of purification') used to cleanse anyone contaminated by contact with a corpse. Those who refuse purification are cut off from the community.
The red heifer is introduced as chukkat ha-torah ('the statute of the law,' v. 2) — a category of commandment whose rationale the Torah does not explain. Rabbinic tradition calls it the ultimate paradox: the ashes purify the contaminated but render the clean priest who prepares them temporarily impure. Everyone who participates in producing the purification water becomes impure in the process. Purity is achieved through a mechanism that generates impurity.
The animal is parah adumah — literally a 'red cow,' not a heifer in the strict English sense (young cow that has not calved). However, 'red heifer' is deeply established in English translation tradition, and we retained it while noting the discrepancy. The term mei niddah ('water of impurity/separation,' v. 9) is counterintuitive — purification water named with an impurity word. We rendered it 'water of purification' to reflect its function rather than its paradoxical label.
The red heifer ashes produce the mei chata't ('water of purification') referenced in Numbers 8:7 for Levitical consecration. The ritual's location outside the camp parallels the Day of Atonement scapegoat (Leviticus 16:21-22). Hebrews 9:13-14 cites this ritual as a type of Christ's purifying work. The cedar, hyssop, and scarlet yarn (v. 6) match the skin disease purification materials in Leviticus 14:4.
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃
The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron:
KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
זֹ֚את חֻקַּ֣ת הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֣ר ׀ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֣וּ אֵלֶ֩יךָ֩ פָרָ֨ה אֲדֻמָּ֜ה תְּמִימָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵֽין־בָּהּ֙ מ֔וּם אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־עָלָ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ עֹֽל׃
This is the ritual statute that the LORD has commanded. Tell the Israelites to secure a red heifer (parah adumah) that is flawless — no defect, and one that has never worn a yoke.
KJV This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
Samaritan Pentateuch (4th c. BCE divergence)minor
"a red heifer, unblemished"
The red heifer legislation is identical in MT and SP. Both traditions preserve this ritual, though Samaritans last performed it on Mount Gerizim.
וּנְתַתֶּ֣ם אֹתָ֔הּ אֶל־אֶלְעָזָ֖ר הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְהוֹצִ֤יא אֹתָהּ֙ אֶל־מִח֣וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְשָׁחַ֥ט אֹתָ֖הּ לְפָנָֽיו׃
Hand it over to Eleazar the priest. He is to take it outside the camp, where it shall be slaughtered in his presence.
KJV And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:
וְלָקַ֞ח אֶלְעָזָ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן מִדָּמָ֖הּ בְּאֶצְבָּע֑וֹ וְהִזָּ֞ה אֶל־נֹ֨כַח פְּנֵ֧י אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֛ד מִדָּמָ֖הּ שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים׃
Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood on his finger and flick it toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.
KJV And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times:
וְשָׂרַ֥ף אֶת־הַפָּרָ֖ה לְעֵינָ֑יו אֶת־עֹרָ֤הּ וְאֶת־בְּשָׂרָ֔הּ וְאֶת־דָּמָ֔הּ עַל־פִּרְשָׁ֖הּ יִשְׂרֹֽף׃
The heifer is then to be burned in his sight — its hide, flesh, blood, and dung — burned completely.
KJV And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:
וְלָקַ֣ח הַכֹּהֵ֗ן עֵ֥ץ אֶ֛רֶז וְאֵז֖וֹב וּשְׁנִ֣י תוֹלָ֑עַת וְהִשְׁלִ֕יךְ אֶל־תּ֖וֹךְ שְׂרֵפַ֥ת הַפָּרָֽה׃
The priest shall take cedarwood, hyssop, and crimson yarn and throw them into the fire where the heifer is burning.
KJV And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.
וְכִבֶּ֨ס בְּגָדָ֜יו הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְרָחַ֤ץ בְּשָׂרוֹ֙ בַּמַּ֔יִם וְאַחַ֖ר יָבֹ֣א אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וְטָמֵ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן עַד־הָעָֽרֶב׃
The priest shall then wash his garments and bathe his body in water. After that he may reenter the camp, but he remains ritually impure until evening.
KJV Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.
וְהַשֹּׂרֵ֣ף אֹתָ֔הּ יְכַבֵּ֤ס בְּגָדָיו֙ בַּמַּ֔יִם וְרָחַ֥ץ בְּשָׂר֖וֹ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְטָמֵ֖א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב׃
Whoever burns the heifer shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water. He too remains ritually impure until evening.
KJV And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.
וְאָסַ֣ף ׀ אִ֣ישׁ טָה֗וֹר אֵ֚ת אֵ֣פֶר הַפָּרָ֔ה וְהִנִּ֛יחַ מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה בְּמָק֣וֹם טָה֑וֹר וְ֠הָיְתָ֠ה לַעֲדַ֨ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל לְמִשְׁמֶ֛רֶת לְמֵ֥י נִדָּ֖ה חַטָּ֥את הִֽוא׃
A ritually clean person shall gather the heifer's ashes and store them in a clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept for the community of Israel for use in the water of impurity (mei niddah). It is a sin offering.
KJV And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.
וְ֠כִבֶּ֠ס הָאֹסֵ֨ף אֶת־אֵ֤פֶר הַפָּרָה֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וְטָמֵ֖א עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב וְֽהָיְתָ֞ה לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֛ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכָ֖ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָֽם׃
Whoever gathers the ashes shall wash his clothes and remains ritually impure until evening. This is a permanent statute for the Israelites and for the resident alien living among them.
KJV And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.
הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ בְּמֵ֖ת לְכׇל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָדָ֑ם וְטָמֵ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃
Anyone who touches a human corpse is ritually impure for seven days.
KJV He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.
ה֣וּא יִתְחַטָּא־ב֞וֹ בַּיּ֧וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛י וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י יִטְהָ֑ר וְאִם־לֹ֨א יִתְחַטָּ֜א בַּיּ֧וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛י וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י לֹ֥א יִטְהָֽר׃
That person must purify himself with it on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. If he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.
KJV He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.
כׇּֽל־הַנֹּגֵ֡עַ בְּמֵ֣ת בְּנֶ֩פֶשׁ֩ הָאָדָ֨ם אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֜וּת וְלֹ֣א יִתְחַטָּ֗א אֶת־מִשְׁכַּ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ טִמֵּ֔א וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּי֩ מֵ֨י נִדָּ֜ה לֹא־זֹרַ֤ק עָלָיו֙ טָמֵ֣א יִהְיֶ֔ה ע֖וֹד טֻמְאָת֥וֹ בֽוֹ׃
Anyone who touches a human corpse and does not purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person shall be cut off from Israel. Since the water of impurity was not sprinkled on him, he remains unclean; his impurity stays with him.
KJV Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
זֹ֚את הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אָדָ֖ם כִּֽי־יָמ֣וּת בְּאֹ֑הֶל כׇּל־הַבָּ֤א אֶל־הָאֹ֙הֶל֙ וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּאֹ֔הֶל יִטְמָ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃
This is the rule when someone dies inside a tent: everyone who enters the tent and everyone already in it becomes ritually impure for seven days.
KJV This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.
וְכֹל֙ כְּלִ֣י פָת֔וּחַ אֲשֶׁ֛ר אֵין־צָמִ֥יד פָּתִ֖יל עָלָ֑יו טָמֵ֖א הֽוּא׃
Every open vessel that has no lid fastened on it is unclean.
KJV And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean.
וְכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁר־יִגַּ֜ע עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה בַּֽחֲלַל־חֶ֙רֶב֙ א֣וֹ בְמֵ֔ת אֽוֹ־בְעֶ֥צֶם אָדָ֖ם א֣וֹ בְקָ֑בֶר יִטְמָ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃
Anyone who touches in the open field a person slain by the sword, or a corpse, or a human bone, or a grave, is ritually impure for seven days.
KJV And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ לַטָּמֵ֔א מֵעֲפַ֖ר שְׂרֵפַ֣ת הַֽחַטָּ֑את וְנָתַ֥ן עָלָ֛יו מַ֥יִם חַיִּ֖ים אֶל־כֶּֽלִי׃
For the impure person they shall take some of the ashes from the burned sin offering and pour fresh water over them into a vessel.
KJV 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:
וְלָקַ֨ח אֵז֜וֹב וְטָבַ֣ל בַּמַּ֘יִם֮ אִ֣ישׁ טָהוֹר֒ וְהִזָּ֤ה עַל־הָאֹ֙הֶל֙ וְעַל־כׇּל־הַכֵּלִ֔ים וְעַל־הַנְּפָשׁ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָֽיוּ־שָׁ֑ם וְעַל־הַנֹּגֵ֗עַ בַּעֶ֙צֶם֙ א֣וֹ בֶֽחָלָ֔ל א֥וֹ בַמֵּ֖ת א֥וֹ בַקָּֽבֶר׃
A ritually clean person shall take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the people who were there, and on whoever touched a bone, a slain person, a corpse, or a grave.
KJV And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:
וְהִזָּ֤ה הַטָּהֹר֙ עַל־הַטָּמֵ֔א בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖י וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י וְחִטְּאוֹ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וְכִבֶּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָהֵ֥ר בָּעָֽרֶב׃
The clean person shall sprinkle on the impure person on the third day and on the seventh day. On the seventh day the impure person shall purify himself, wash his clothes, and bathe in water. Then he will be clean at evening.
KJV And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
וְאִ֤ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִטְמָא֙ וְלֹ֣א יִתְחַטָּ֔א וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַקָּהָ֑ל כִּי֩ אֶת־מִקְדַּ֨שׁ יְהֹוָ֜ה טִמֵּ֗א מֵ֥י נִדָּ֛ה לֹא־זֹרַ֥ק עָלָ֖יו טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא׃
But anyone who becomes impure and does not purify himself shall be cut off from the assembly. He has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD; the water of impurity has not been sprinkled on him — he remains unclean.
KJV But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
וְהָיְתָ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם וּמַזֵּ֤ה מֵֽי־הַנִּדָּ֗ה יְכַבֵּ֣ס בְּגָדָ֔יו וְהַנֹּגֵ֙עַ֙ בְּמֵ֣י הַנִּדָּ֔ה יִטְמָ֖א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב׃
This shall be a permanent statute for them: whoever sprinkles the water of impurity shall wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water of impurity shall be ritually impure until evening.
KJV And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even.
וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יִגַּע־בּ֥וֹ הַטָּמֵ֖א יִטְמָ֑א וְהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַנֹּגַ֖עַת תִּטְמָ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב׃ {פ}
Whatever the impure person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches that thing shall be ritually impure until evening.
KJV And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.