And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. (Numbers 8:7)
Literally, “water of transgression,” that is, water that washes away transgression. This expression is not found elsewhere in the Bible. What was added to the water we are not told. Compare “waters of bitterness” and “water of impurity” (see on ch. 19:9, 18, 19), and the water for cleansing the leper (Lev. 14:4-7).
Shave.
Literally, “cause a razor to pass over.” Compare this case with that of the Nazirite (ch. 6:9), the leper (Lev. 14:8), and the captive woman (Deut. 21:12).