Commentators explain the practical distinction in this law. Porous and inexpensive earthen pots that were touched had to be broken, while more durable and costly wooden vessels could be rinsed and reused. This highlights God's mercy, as the law took into account the economic circumstances of the people. One scholar also suggests a symbolic meaning: the broken pot represents destruction for the unrepentant, while the washed vessel signifies cleansing for the penitent.