What does the Bible say about the tenth red heifer?

While the red heifer is explicitly described in the Torah, references to a “tenth” red heifer are not found in the Bible itself but emerge in later Jewish commentary. This blog post will explore what the Bible says about the red heifer, the significance attached to it, and how the idea of the tenth red heifer developed in later traditions.

The Red Heifer in the Bible

The red heifer is introduced in the Book of Numbers. Numbers 19 details the commandment God gave to Moses and Aaron regarding purification rituals for the Israelites:

“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: ‘This is a statute of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come. And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered before him.’” (Numbers 19:1-3, ESV)

The ashes of this red heifer were to be mixed with water and used for the purification of those who had become ritually impure, especially through contact with a corpse. This ritual was unique; it was the only known biblical sacrifice performed outside the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple), and the animal had to be entirely red, without even two hairs of another color.

Purpose and Symbolism

The red heifer sacrifice was central to restoring ritual purity, a critical aspect in the religious life of ancient Israel. Any contact with death resulted in impurity, which could only be removed through this specific rite. The process required a perfect, unblemished animal, signifying complete purity. The ashes, mixed in water, symbolized a paradox: contact with death (impurity) could only be cleansed through a sacrifice (life) destroyed by fire.

Rabbinic tradition often describes the decree of the red heifer as a “chok”—a commandment without an apparent rational explanation. Even King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, is said to have been unable to fully understand its meaning (Midrash Numbers Rabbah 19:3). The sacrifice’s mystery is part of its enduring fascination.

How Many Red Heifers? The Biblical Record

The Bible does not specify how many red heifers were sacrificed throughout Israel’s history. The original commandment in Numbers 19 is given during the Israelites’ desert wanderings, and the first red heifer is believed to have been offered then. Subsequent references to the ritual are indirect, as the focus of biblical narrative shifts after the wilderness period.

Jewish tradition, reflected in later sources such as the Mishnah and Talmud, holds that very few red heifers have ever existed due to the stringent requirements. The Mishnah (Parah 3:5) states that from the time of Moses until the destruction of the Second Temple, only nine red heifers were actually prepared.

The Tenth Red Heifer: Rabbinic Tradition

The concept of the “tenth” red heifer is not found in the Bible itself but in later Jewish rabbinic literature. The Mishnah, in tractate Parah, preserves the tradition that there were nine red heifers in all of Israel’s history up to the destruction of the Second Temple. The Mishnah states:

“Moses prepared the first; Ezra prepared the second; and seven were prepared from Ezra until the destruction of the Temple. The tenth will be prepared by the King Messiah. May he be revealed speedily, Amen.” (Mishnah Parah 3:5)

This statement, attributed to Rabbi Maimonides (the Rambam) in his commentary on the Mishnah, connects the tenth red heifer to the coming of the Messiah. In this view, the tenth red heifer will be prepared in the Messianic era, when the Temple is rebuilt and ritual purity is restored to Israel.

Why Is the Tenth Red Heifer Significant?

While the Bible itself does not mention a tenth red heifer, the preparation of the tenth red heifer is linked to messianic hope—the belief that its appearance will herald the coming of the Messiah and the rebuilding of the Third Temple in Jerusalem.

This expectation has fueled centuries of speculation and, in recent years, practical efforts to breed a suitable red heifer in Israel. Some groups believe that finding and sacrificing a red heifer according to biblical specifications is a necessary step for restoring Temple rituals and hastening the Messianic age.

Interpretations in Christian Thought

While the tenth red heifer is not a topic of central focus in Christian theology, the ritual of the red heifer has been interpreted typologically by many Christian scholars. The author of the Book of Hebrews, for example, draws a parallel between the red heifer’s ashes (which purify the flesh) and Christ’s sacrifice (which purifies the conscience):

“For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:13-14, ESV)

Some modern Christian groups that focus on prophecy and the end times pay close attention to reports of red heifers in Israel, seeing them as possible signs of the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, particularly concerning the rebuilding of the Temple.

The Red Heifer and the Temple: Present-Day Implications

The search for a perfect red heifer continues today, led by organizations such as the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. These efforts are driven by the belief that a new red heifer is required for the purification rituals that would precede the rebuilding of the Temple. The criteria remain exacting: the animal must be entirely red, never have worn a yoke, and be without blemish.

Reports of red calves being born in Israel occasionally spark excitement and controversy, both within and outside the Jewish community. Each candidate is scrutinized by rabbinic experts, and most are ultimately found to be unsuitable due to minor imperfections. The excitement surrounding the potential appearance of a tenth red heifer is thus not just about ancient ritual but about the anticipation of a new era in Jewish—and, by extension, world—history.