• Hebrews 9:13
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 13 εἰ If γὰρ for τὸ the αἷμα blood τράγων of goats καὶ and ταύρων of bulls καὶ and σποδὸς ashes δαμάλεως of heifer ῥαντίζουσα sprinkling τοὺς the (ones) κεκοινωμένους having been made common ἁγιάζει it is sanctifying πρὸς toward τὴν the τῆς of the σαρκὸς flesh καθαρότητα, cleanness,

  • Hebrews Study Notes—Chapter 9
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 9:13

      the ashes of a heifer sprinkled: In the Mosaic Law, God outlined a procedure that would make the Israelites ceremonially clean, or acceptable to God in order to take part in pure worship. In that procedure, a sound heifer (or, “young cow”) was slaughtered and burned outside the Israelite camp. (Nu 19:1-10a) The heifer should be one that had never been under a yoke, that is, had never been used for common purposes, such as agricultural work. (Compare De 21:3; 1Sa 6:7.) The ashes were then deposited in a clean place. If someone became unclean because of contact with a dead human body, he was purified when some of those ashes were mixed with water and then sprinkled on him. (Nu 19:10b-22) Paul shows that this use of the heifer’s ashes prefigured the cleansing of “our consciences from dead works,” made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice.​—Heb 9:14.