Heifer, Red
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Numbers 19 describes the ritual involving a red heifer whose ashes are mixed with running water to create a solution for removing ritual impurity.
What is the meaning of Heifer, Red in the Bible?
Numbers 19 describes the ritual involving a red heifer whose ashes are mixed with running water to create a solution for removing ritual impurity.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this practice clarifies the ancient Israelite concept of ritual purity and the specific legal mechanisms established in the Torah for restoring ceremonial cleanliness.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Heifer, Red. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Heifer, Red in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Heifer, Red clarify?
Related Topics
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.
How to Cite This Entry
"Heifer, Red." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/heifer-red/