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.
But if someone becomes unclean and refuses to purify themselves, that person must be removed from the community, because they have made the Lord's sanctuary impure. The cleansing water has not been sprinkled on them, so they remain unclean.
This verse warns that anyone who becomes ritually unclean but refuses to go through the required purification process will be excluded from the community.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of the purification laws given to Israel while they wandered in the wilderness. The 'water of separation' was a special mixture made with the ashes of a red heifer, used to cleanse people who had become ritually unclean through contact with death. Being 'cut off from the congregation' meant losing one's place in the covenant community and potentially facing death.
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