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Leviticus 14

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1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2“This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, 3and the priest shall go out of the camp. The priest shall examine him, and behold, if the plague of leprosy is healed in the leper, 4then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. 5The priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 6As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. 7He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird go into the open field. 8“He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days. 9It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off. He shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his body in water, then he shall be clean. 10“On the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without defect, and one ewe lamb a year old without defect, and three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11The priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed, and those things, before Yahweh, at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 12“The priest shall take one of the male lambs, and offer him for a trespass offering, with the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh. 13He shall kill the male lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary; for as the sin offering is the priest’s, so is the trespass offering. It is most holy. 14The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 15The priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand. 16The priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before Yahweh. 17The priest shall put some of the rest of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering. 18The rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, and the priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh. 19“The priest shall offer the sin offering, and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness: and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering; 20and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meal offering on the altar. The priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21“If he is poor, and can’t afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil; 22and two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. 23“On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, before Yahweh. 24The priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh. 25He shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering. The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 26The priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand; 27and the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Yahweh. 28Then the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the trespass offering. 29The rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before Yahweh. 30He shall offer one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he is able to afford, 31even such as he is able to afford, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meal offering. The priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before Yahweh.” 32This is the law for him in whom is the plague of leprosy, who is not able to afford the sacrifice for his cleansing. 33Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 34“When you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put a spreading mildew in a house in the land of your possession, 35then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, ‘There seems to me to be some sort of plague in the house.’ 36The priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest goes in to examine the plague, that all that is in the house not be made unclean. Afterward the priest shall go in to inspect the house. 37He shall examine the plague; and behold, if the plague is in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and it appears to be deeper than the wall; 38then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days. 39The priest shall come again on the seventh day, and look. If the plague has spread in the walls of the house, 40then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which is the plague, and cast them into an unclean place outside of the city: 41and he shall cause the inside of the house to be scraped all over, and they shall pour out the mortar, that they scraped off, outside of the city into an unclean place. 42They shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house. 43“If the plague comes again, and breaks out in the house, after he has taken out the stones, and after he has scraped the house, and after it was plastered; 44then the priest shall come in and look; and behold, if the plague has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew in the house. It is unclean. 45He shall break down the house, its stones, and its timber, and all the house’s mortar. He shall carry them out of the city into an unclean place. 46“Moreover he who goes into the house while it is shut up shall be unclean until the evening. 47He who lies down in the house shall wash his clothes; and he who eats in the house shall wash his clothes. 48“If the priest shall come in, and examine it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the house, after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49To cleanse the house he shall take two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. 50He shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 51He shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52He shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar wood, with the hyssop, and with the scarlet; 53but he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field. So shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean.” 54This is the law for any plague of leprosy, and for an itch, 55and for the destructive mildew of a garment, and for a house, 56and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot; 57to teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean. This is the law of leprosy.

World English Bible (public domain)

And the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be clean.”

Leviticus 14:20

Summary

Leviticus chapter 14 provides detailed instructions for the ceremonial cleansing of a person who has been healed from leprosy, as well as guidelines for purifying houses affected by mold. The chapter begins with a focus on the priest's role in examining the affected individual to determine if they are indeed healed, emphasizing the importance of community and the priesthood in spiritual restoration. After the diagnosis, the chapter outlines specific rituals involving sacrifices and the use of birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop to symbolize purification. This demonstrates God’s intentions for cleanliness, both physical and spiritual, in the lives of His people. Moreover, the second part of the chapter addresses the cleansing of a house that has been contaminated by mildew, illustrating how God cares for not only individuals but also their living environments. The prescribed rituals include removing affected stones and using specific offerings, highlighting a holistic approach to purity in the community. Ultimately, the chapter underscores the grace and mercy of God, who provides a means for restoration and fellowship with Him after defilement. The theological significance of this chapter lies in its foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who cleanses and restores us spiritually, and in its call for believers to pursue holiness in all aspects of life. The steps outlined in the restoration process reflect God's desire for His people to live in health and community, reinforcing the idea that purity and wholeness are essential components of a life dedicated to God.

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Chapter outline

How Leviticus 14 unfolds

  1. Leviticus 14:1–8 Laws for Cleansing a Leper

    Yahweh instructs Moses on the cleansing process for a leper, beginning with the priest inspecting the healed individual.

  2. Leviticus 14:9–20 Ceremonial Cleansing Rituals

    The leper undergoes specific rituals involving sacrifices, symbolizing purification and atonement, facilitated by the priest.

  3. Leviticus 14:21–32 Provision for the Poor

    Instructions are given for those who cannot afford the standard sacrifices, ensuring all can participate in the cleansing.

  4. Leviticus 14:33–48 Laws for Houses with Mildew

    Yahweh outlines the procedures for examining and cleansing houses affected by mildew, emphasizing community hygiene.

  5. Leviticus 14:49–53 Purification of the House

    The priest performs rituals similar to those for the leper, using birds and other materials to signify cleansing.

  6. Leviticus 14:54–57 Summary of Cleansing Laws

    The chapter concludes by summarizing the laws regarding various impurities, highlighting guidelines for cleanliness.

Key verses

  • Leviticus 14:20Leviticus 14:20 encapsulates the chapter's focus on atonement and the priest's role in restoring purity.

Main themes in Leviticus 14

ceremonial cleansing

The theme of ceremonial cleansing is prominent in the first half of Leviticus 14, particularly in verses 1-4, where the leper's purification process is outlined. The chapter elaborates on various rituals involving blood, oil, and birds, which symbolize the restoration of the individual to the community and their atonement before God. This emphasis illustrates God's desire for His people to maintain both spiritual and physical cleanliness, reflecting His holiness and care for their well-being.

role of the priest

The role of the priest is crucial throughout Leviticus 14, as seen in verses 2 and 15, where they oversee the cleansing rituals for individuals afflicted by leprosy and for homes. This chapter emphasizes the priest’s authority in declaring someone clean or unclean, reflecting their responsibility to maintain the community's purity and facilitate reconciliation with God. Their actions highlight the importance of spiritual leadership in ensuring the health and holiness of the community as a whole.

God's mercy and restoration

God's mercy is evident in the provisions made for the leper’s restoration in Leviticus 14, as well as for those unable to afford sacrifices. The chapter highlights God's desire to cleanse and restore His people, offering them means to return to community and worship. This reflects the overarching theme of God's grace throughout the Law.

holiness in community

Holiness is a recurring theme in Leviticus 14, particularly as the chapter provides detailed laws that ensure both individual and community purity, especially in verses 8-9. The instructions for cleansing the leper and the house demonstrate how personal holiness directly impacts the well-being of the community. By adhering to these laws, the community is called to live in accordance with God's standards, promoting a society that reflects His holiness and commitment to righteousness.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Leviticus 14

Study questions

Questions for studying Leviticus 14

  1. What specific items does the priest use in the cleansing rituals for leprosy?
  2. How does the law address those who cannot afford the full offerings?
  3. What similarities exist between the cleansing of a person and that of a house?
  4. How does the role of the priest emphasize community health and spiritual restoration?
  5. What significance do the rituals have in demonstrating God's mercy and grace?
  6. How does this chapter reflect the larger theme of holiness in Israelite life?

Leviticus 14: frequently asked questions

What is Leviticus 14 about?+
Leviticus chapter 14 provides detailed instructions for the ceremonial cleansing of a person who has been healed from leprosy, as well as guidelines for purifying houses affected by mold. The chapter begins with a focus on the priest's role in examining the affected individual to determine if they are indeed healed, emphasizing the importance of community and the priesthood in spiritual restoration. After the diagnosis, the chapter outlines specific rituals involving sacrifices and the use of birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop to symbolize purification. This demonstrates God’s intentions for cleanliness, both physical and spiritual, in the lives of His people. Moreover, the second part of the chapter addresses the cleansing of a house that has been contaminated by mildew, illustrating how God cares for not only individuals but also their living environments. The prescribed rituals include removing affected stones and using specific offerings, highlighting a holistic approach to purity in the community. Ultimately, the chapter underscores the grace and mercy of God, who provides a means for restoration and fellowship with Him after defilement. The theological significance of this chapter lies in its foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who cleanses and restores us spiritually, and in its call for believers to pursue holiness in all aspects of life. The steps outlined in the restoration process reflect God's desire for His people to live in health and community, reinforcing the idea that purity and wholeness are essential components of a life dedicated to God.
What is the key verse in Leviticus 14?+
Leviticus 14:20: "And the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be clean.”"
What are the main themes of Leviticus 14?+
The main themes of Leviticus 14 are ceremonial cleansing, role of the priest, God's mercy and restoration, holiness in community.

Related chapters

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Study Notes