Numbers 19:6

6 The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.

Numbers 19:6 in Other Translations

KJV

6 And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

ESV

6 And the priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn, and throw them into the fire burning the heifer.

NLT

6 Eleazar the priest must then take a stick of cedar, a hyssop branch, and some scarlet yarn and throw them into the fire where the heifer is burning.

MSG

6 The priest then will take a stick of cedar, some sprigs of hyssop, and a piece of scarlet material and throw them on the burning cow.

CSB

6 The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson yarn, and throw [them] onto the fire where the cow is burning.

Numbers 19:6 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 19:6

And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet,
&c.] Another priest, according to the Targum of Jonathan; but it seems to design Eleazar the priest, and so, in later times, the same priest that burnt the cow took these things; the Jews say ^F8, when he took them he said, is this cedar wood? is this hyssop? is this scarlet? so he said three times for everyone of them, and he was answered, yes, three times to each of them: these were the same that were used at the cleansing of the leper, ( Leviticus 14:4 ) ;

and cast [it] into the midst of the burning of the heifer;
these were rolled or bound up together, as the Jews say ^F9, and made one bundle of, that they might the more easily be cast into the fire; the hyssop was wrapped about the cedar wood with the scarlet wool: the true reason of the use of these, Maimonides says ^F11, was never clear to him; but the cedar wood, being durable, may denote the continued efficacy of Christ's sufferings; the hyssop, being purgative and of a good smell, the purging nature of Christ's sacrifice, who by himself purged away our sins, and the sweet odour thereof ascended to the Lord; and the scarlet, the sins of his people destroyed thereby.

FOOTNOTES:

F8 Misn. Parah, c. 3. sect. 10.
F9 Misn. Parah, c. 3. sect. 11. & Maimon. & Bartenora in ib.
F11 Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 47.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Numbers 19:6 In-Context

4 Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.

5 While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines.

6 The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.

7 After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening.

8 The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.