Leviticus 11:36
New International Version
A spring, however, or a cistern for collecting water remains clean, but anyone who touches one of these carcasses is unclean.

New Living Translation
“However, if the carcass of such an animal falls into a spring or a cistern, the water will still be clean. But anyone who touches the carcass will be defiled.

English Standard Version
Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, but whoever touches a carcass in them shall be unclean.

Berean Standard Bible
Nevertheless, a spring or cistern containing water will remain clean, but one who touches a carcass in it will be unclean.

King James Bible
Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.

New King James Version
Nevertheless a spring or a cistern, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean, but whatever touches any such carcass becomes unclean.

New American Standard Bible
Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass shall be unclean.

NASB 1995
‘Nevertheless a spring or a cistern collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass shall be unclean.

NASB 1977
‘Nevertheless a spring or a cistern collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass shall be unclean.

Legacy Standard Bible
Nevertheless a spring or a cistern collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass shall be unclean.

Amplified Bible
Nevertheless a spring or a cistern (reservoir) collecting water shall be clean; but whoever touches one of these carcasses shall be unclean.

Christian Standard Bible
A spring or cistern containing water will remain clean, but someone who touches a carcass in it will become unclean.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A spring or cistern containing water will remain clean, but someone who touches a carcass in it will become unclean.

American Standard Version
Nevertheless a fountain or a pit wherein is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.

Contemporary English Version
A spring or a cistern where one of these dead animals is found is still clean, but anyone who touches the animal becomes unclean.

English Revised Version
Nevertheless a fountain or a pit wherein is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
However, a spring or a cistern holding water will remain clean. But anyone who touches their dead bodies will be unclean.

Good News Translation
but a spring or a cistern remains clean, although anything else that touches their dead bodies is unclean.

International Standard Version
"A spring or a cistern that holds water is clean, but whoever touches the carcass of an unclean animal will be unclean.

Majority Standard Bible
Nevertheless, a spring or cistern containing water will remain clean, but one who touches a carcass in it will be unclean.

NET Bible
However, a spring or a cistern which collects water will be clean, but one who touches their carcass will be unclean.

New Heart English Bible
Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is a gathered shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.

Webster's Bible Translation
Nevertheless, a fountain or pit, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.

World English Bible
Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is gathered shall be clean, but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Only, a fountain or pit, a collection of water, is clean, but that which is coming against their carcass is unclean;

Young's Literal Translation
'Only -- a fountain or pit, a collection of water, is clean, but that which is coming against their carcase is unclean;

Smith's Literal Translation
But a fountain and pit, a gathering of waters, shall be clean: and he touching upon their carcass shall be unclean.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But fountains and cisterns, and all gatherings together of waters shall be clean. He that toucheth their carcasses shall be defiled.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, fountains and cisterns, and all reservoirs of water shall be clean. Whoever will have touched their carcasses shall be defiled.

New American Bible
However, a spring or a cistern for collecting water remains clean; but whoever touches such an animal’s carcass becomes unclean.

New Revised Standard Version
But a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, while whatever touches the carcass in it shall be unclean.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Nevertheless a fountain or a cistern and the pools of water shall be clean; but whosoever touches their carcasses shall be unclean.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
However a spring and a fountain and reservoir of waters shall be pure, and who ever will touch their corpses shall be defiled.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Nevertheless a fountain or a cistern wherein is a gathering of water shall be clean; but he who toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Only if the water be of fountains of water, or a pool, or confluence of water, it shall be clean; but he that touches their carcases shall be unclean.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Clean and Unclean Animals
35Anything upon which one of their carcasses falls will be unclean. If it is an oven or cooking pot, it must be smashed; it is unclean and will remain unclean for you. 36Nevertheless, a spring or cistern containing water will remain clean, but one who touches a carcass in it will be unclean. 37If a carcass falls on any seed for sowing, the seed is clean;…

Cross References
Numbers 19:17-19
For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh water over them. / Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and the people who were there. He is also to sprinkle the one who touched a bone, a grave, or a person who has died or been slain. / The man who is ceremonially clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and that evening he will be clean.

Numbers 19:9
Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and store them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept by the congregation of Israel for preparing the water of purification; this is for purification from sin.

Numbers 19:13
Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

Numbers 19:20-21
But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean. / This is a permanent statute for the people: The one who sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water of purification will be unclean until evening.

Numbers 19:7-8
Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that he may enter the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean until evening. / The one who burned the heifer must also wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he too will be ceremonially unclean until evening.

Numbers 19:11
Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days.

Numbers 19:21
This is a permanent statute for the people: The one who sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water of purification will be unclean until evening.

Numbers 19:18
Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and the people who were there. He is also to sprinkle the one who touched a bone, a grave, or a person who has died or been slain.

Numbers 19:12
He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.

Numbers 19:14
This is the law when a person dies in a tent: Everyone who enters the tent and everyone already in the tent will be unclean for seven days,

Numbers 19:16
Anyone in the open field who touches someone who has been killed by the sword or has died of natural causes, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

Numbers 19:15
and any open container without a lid fastened on it is unclean.

Numbers 19:19
The man who is ceremonially clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and that evening he will be clean.

Numbers 19:10
The man who has gathered up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he will be ceremonially unclean until evening. This is a permanent statute for the Israelites and for the foreigner residing among them.

Numbers 19:22
Anything the unclean person touches will become unclean, and anyone who touches it will be unclean until evening.”


Treasury of Scripture

Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.

a fountain

Zechariah 13:1
In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

John 4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Jump to Previous
Bodies Carcase Carcass Carcasses Cistern Clean Collecting Collection Dead Fountain Gathered Gathering Holding However Nevertheless Pit Plenty Quantity Spring Stored Time Touches Toucheth Touching Unclean Use Water Whatever Wherein
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Bodies Carcase Carcass Carcasses Cistern Clean Collecting Collection Dead Fountain Gathered Gathering Holding However Nevertheless Pit Plenty Quantity Spring Stored Time Touches Toucheth Touching Unclean Use Water Whatever Wherein
Leviticus 11
1. What animals may be eaten
4. and what may not be eaten
9. What fishes
13. What fowls
29. The creeping things which are unclean














Nevertheless
This word serves as a transition, indicating an exception to the preceding rules about uncleanness. In the Hebrew text, the word is "אַךְ" (akh), which often introduces a contrast or exception. It highlights God's provision for purity even amidst impurity, emphasizing His grace and the possibility of maintaining holiness in a fallen world.

a spring or cistern
The Hebrew words here are "מַעְיָן" (ma'yan) for spring and "בּוֹר" (bor) for cistern. Springs are natural sources of flowing water, symbolizing life and purity in biblical literature. Cisterns, on the other hand, are man-made reservoirs for collecting water. Both are essential for survival in the arid climate of the ancient Near East, representing God's provision and the sustenance He offers His people.

that collects water
This phrase underscores the function of springs and cisterns as sources of life-giving water. Water is a powerful biblical symbol of cleansing and renewal. In the Hebrew context, water is often associated with God's Spirit and His ability to purify and sustain His people, as seen in passages like Isaiah 44:3 and John 4:14.

will remain clean
The Hebrew word for clean is "טָהוֹר" (tahor), which signifies ritual purity. Despite the potential for contamination, the water in these sources remains clean, illustrating God's power to preserve purity. This reflects the broader biblical theme that God can maintain holiness and purity even in a world tainted by sin.

but one who touches a carcass in it
The term "carcass" in Hebrew is "נְבֵלָה" (nevelah), referring to a dead body, which is a source of ritual impurity. The act of touching signifies a direct contact with death, which is contrary to the life-giving nature of God. This highlights the biblical principle that sin and death contaminate, and contact with them requires purification.

will be unclean
The Hebrew word for unclean is "טָמֵא" (tamei), indicating a state of ritual impurity. This impurity is not just physical but also spiritual, necessitating a process of cleansing. It serves as a reminder of the pervasive nature of sin and the need for atonement and purification, pointing ultimately to the redemptive work of Christ, who cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

(36) Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water.--Better, But wells and cisterns being gatherings together of water. But if the unclean carcase, or any portion of it, happens to fall or to be thrown into wells or cisterns, they are to be treated as large collections of water, such as pools, ponds, and lakes, and hence are exempt from contracting pollution. The constant change of water which takes place in these reservoirs counteracts the effects of the polluting carcase. When it is borne in mind how few are the wells and cisterns in the East, and how scarce water is, the merciful provision of this law will be apparent. According to the canon which obtained during the second Temple, this immunity was only applicable to receptacles of water actually in the ground, but not to collections of water in vessels.

But that which toucheth.--Better, but he who toucheth. But though the water into which the carcase has fallen is mercifully exempted, he who comes in contact with the carcase in the water and removes it from the water is unclean, because the carcase itself remains a source of defilement.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Nevertheless,
אַ֣ךְ (’aḵ)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

a spring
מַעְיָ֥ן (ma‘·yān)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4599: A fountain, a source

or cistern
וּב֛וֹר (ū·ḇō·wr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 953: A pit, cistern, well

containing
מִקְוֵה־ (miq·wêh-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4723: Something waited for, confidence, a collection, a pond, a caravan, drove

water
מַ֖יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

will remain
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

clean,
טָה֑וֹר (ṭā·hō·wr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2889: Clean, pure

but one who touches
וְנֹגֵ֥עַ (wə·nō·ḡê·a‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

a carcass in it
בְּנִבְלָתָ֖ם (bə·niḇ·lā·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5038: A flabby thing, a carcase, carrion, an idol

will be unclean.
יִטְמָֽא׃ (yiṭ·mā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean


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OT Law: Leviticus 11:36 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 11:35
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