Numbers 19:6

And the priest must take cedar wood, hyssop, ¹  and scarlet wool and throw them into the midst of the fire where the heifer is burning. ² 

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

‘The priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer.

Eleazar the priest must then take cedarwood, a hyssop branch, and scarlet thread and throw them into the fire where the heifer is burning.

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.

Then let the priest take cedar-wood and hyssop and red thread, and put them into the fire where the cow is burning.

The priest shall take cedarwood, hyssop, and crimson material, and throw them into the fire in which the heifer is burning.

‘And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer.

And the priest must take cedar wood, hyssop, ¹  and scarlet wool and throw them into the midst of the fire where the heifer is burning. ² 

¹ sn In addition to the general references, see R. K. Harrison, “The Biblical Problem of Hyssop,” EvQ 26 (1954): 218-24.

² sn There is no clear explanation available as to why these items were to be burned with the heifer. N. H. Snaith suggests that in accordance with Babylonian sacrifices they would have enhanced the rites with an aroma (Leviticus and Numbers [NCB], 272). In Lev 14 the wood and the hyssop may have been bound together by the scarlet wool to make a sprinkling device. It may be that the symbolism is what is important here. Cedar wood, for example, is durable; it may have symbolized resistance to future corruption and defilement, an early acquired immunity perhaps (R. K. Harrison, Numbers [WEC], 256).