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.
That person must cleanse himself with the water on the third day, and on the seventh day he will be clean. But if he doesn't cleanse himself on the third day, then he won't be clean on the seventh day either.
This verse explains that ritual cleansing must happen exactly as God commanded - on both the third and seventh days - or it won't work at all.
📚 Historical Context
In the context of ancient Israel, God gave Moses specific laws for ritual purification, including the use of ashes from a red heifer to cleanse people who had come into contact with the dead, as the Israelites were journeying through the wilderness. This verse outlines the precise timeline for the purification process, requiring the individual to perform the ritual on the third day and again on the seventh day to be declared clean. Failure to follow these instructions exactly meant the person remained unclean, underscoring the emphasis on strict obedience to maintain holiness within the community.
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