Leviticus 14 1

Leviticus 14:1 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Leviticus 14:1 nkjv

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Leviticus 14:1 niv

The LORD said to Moses,

Leviticus 14:1 esv

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Leviticus 14:1 nlt

And the LORD said to Moses,

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 1 Meaning

Leviticus 14:1 serves as a declarative statement, indicating that the following laws regarding the purification of those healed from an infectious skin disease originate directly from Yahweh Himself. It establishes the divine authority and covenantal foundation for the intricate rituals described in the chapter, signifying that these instructions are not human invention but divine revelation crucial for Israel's holiness and communal life.

Leviticus 14 1 Context

Leviticus chapter 14 describes the elaborate and detailed rituals for the purification of a person who has recovered from tzara'at, often translated as "leprosy" but encompassing various severe, contagious skin afflictions that rendered individuals ritually impure and socially isolated. Chapter 13 focuses on the diagnosis and procedures for identifying and quarantining those afflicted. Chapter 14:1 serves as the divine introduction to the subsequent instructions (14:2-32) that enable the healed person to be re-integrated into the Israelite community and religious life. This reintegration involved a two-stage process: an initial outside-the-camp purification rite involving birds, cedarwood, scarlet yarn, hyssop, and a living animal (representing new life and cleansing), followed by an atoning sacrifice and anointing upon full re-entry into the camp, including offerings for sin, guilt, and burnt offerings. Historically and culturally, infectious diseases brought extreme social ostracism and fear. God's provision of a purification process demonstrated His concern for communal health, ritual purity, and the re-admission of the sick, highlighting His order and compassion in a world where such conditions were often associated with divine punishment or absolute exclusion. The meticulous nature of these laws underscored the gravity of impurity and the necessity of divine intervention for cleansing and restoration, implicitly contrasting with pagan rituals that lacked divine authority or the concept of comprehensive atonement.

Leviticus 14 1 Word analysis

• Then / And (וַיְדַבֵּר - Waydabber):

  • This opening conjunction links the preceding instructions (Leviticus 13 on diagnosing skin diseases) with the subsequent ones (Leviticus 14 on purifying the healed).
  • From the Hebrew verb dabar (דָּבַר), meaning "to speak," "to say," "to declare." The Waw consecutive prefix here makes it "And He spoke."
  • Significance: Denotes a direct, purposeful, and authoritative utterance. It is a common literary device in the Pentateuch to introduce new sections of divine instruction.

• The LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH):

  • Refers to the personal, covenantal name of God, revealed to Moses (Exod 3:14-15). Transliterated as Yahweh, it emphasizes His self-existence ("I AM WHO I AM") and His faithfulness to His covenant people.
  • Significance: The laws are not merely wise human ordinances but divine decrees from the God who has bound Himself to Israel in covenant love and calls them to holiness (Lev 11:44-45, 19:2). It underscores the source and authority of the forthcoming regulations, making their observance non-negotiable for Israel. This stands in stark contrast to human or pagan religious laws.

• spoke (דָּבַר - davar):

  • Repetition of the root emphasizes the act of communication.
  • Significance: Implies divine revelation as verbal and intelligible. God communicates His will clearly to His chosen mediator. It is not an indirect impression but a direct utterance, suitable for relaying precise, legal-ceremonial details.

• to Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה - el-Mosheh):

  • to (אֶל - el): A preposition indicating direction, signifying Moses as the specific recipient of this divine message.
  • Moses (מֹשֶׁה - Mosheh): The appointed mediator and leader through whom God delivered the Law to Israel.
  • Significance: Highlights Moses' unique role as the covenant mediator (Gal 3:19). God did not speak directly to the whole congregation in such specific detail for ceremonial law, but through Moses, thereby establishing the authority of Moses' commands as God's own (Deut 18:18). This underscores Moses' unparalleled intimacy with God compared to other prophets (Num 12:8).

• saying (לֵּאמֹר - lemor):

  • This is an infinitive construct meaning "to say," functioning adverbially, often preceding direct speech.
  • Significance: It indicates that what immediately follows are the very words, commands, or detailed instructions directly from Yahweh. It serves to emphasize the direct quote or explicit directive from God through Moses, removing any ambiguity about the divine origin and binding nature of the laws.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying": This phrase is a common divine formula throughout the Pentateuch, especially Leviticus (over 50 occurrences in Leviticus alone). Its repetition reinforces the consistent theme of divine revelation and the ultimate authority behind every commandment and statute given to Israel. It acts as a divine timestamp and signatory, validating the entire corpus of law as God's direct word to His people.

Leviticus 14 1 Bonus section

• The repetition of "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying" acts as a structuring device throughout Leviticus, often demarcating new sections of law, showing that each specific set of instructions has independent divine origination, rather than being a continuous monologue.
• In ancient Near Eastern cultures, many legal codes existed (e.g., Code of Hammurabi), but their authority rested on human rulers or polytheistic deities. The Levitical phrase fundamentally grounds Israel's law in the unique, personal, and singular God, Yahweh, emphasizing His sovereignty over all aspects of their life, including health and hygiene.
• The emphasis on God speaking (dabar) implies not just transmission of information but active creation and ordering. Just as God spoke the world into existence, He speaks the laws that order His people's holy lives.

Leviticus 14 1 Commentary

Leviticus 14:1 is a concise yet profoundly significant introductory verse. Far from being a mere heading, it asserts the divine authorship of the meticulously detailed purification laws that follow. The consistent use of "The LORD spoke to Moses" across Leviticus ensures the Israelites understood these complex, often burdensome, regulations were not arbitrary human inventions but commands from their holy, covenant-keeping God. This emphasis on divine origin provides the foundational authority for ritual purity, community inclusion, and ultimately points towards God's plan for absolute spiritual cleansing. The transition from diagnostic laws (chapter 13) to purification rituals (chapter 14) implies God's mercy; He not only isolates impurity but provides a means for restoration, a testament to His redemptive nature within the covenant. This principle of restoration, divinely ordained and mediated, foreshadows the perfect cleansing and reintegration offered by Christ, our ultimate High Priest, who fulfills all typological purifications.