Leviticus 14 16

Leviticus 14:16 kjv

And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD:

Leviticus 14:16 nkjv

Then the 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 the LORD.

Leviticus 14:16 niv

dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the LORD seven times.

Leviticus 14:16 esv

and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand and sprinkle some oil with his finger seven times before the LORD.

Leviticus 14:16 nlt

He will dip his right finger into the oil in his palm and sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the LORD.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 16 Meaning

This verse details a critical step in the purification ritual for someone cleansed of tzara'at, instructing the priest to apply sacred oil by dipping his right finger into the oil held in his left hand and sprinkling it seven times "before the Lord." This precise act signifies dedication, sanctification, and complete restoration of the individual into fellowship with God and community.

Leviticus 14 16 Context

Leviticus chapter 14 outlines the elaborate two-part ritual for the purification and restoration of a person afflicted with tzara'at. This condition, though appearing as a physical ailment, carried deep spiritual implications, marking the afflicted as unclean and separated from the community and God's presence. Verse 16 falls within the second part of this ritual, which occurs seven days after the initial pronouncement of cleansing. At this stage, after offerings have been made (a trespass offering and a sin offering), the anointing with oil takes place. This specific application of oil on the priest's right finger, performed "before the Lord," represents not just a physical cleansing but a profound spiritual anointing and re-consecration of the person back into full fellowship and purity. It demonstrates the meticulous nature of divine requirements for holiness and inclusion in the covenant community.

Leviticus 14 16 Word analysis

• And the priest: הַכֹּהֵן (ha'kohen). Refers specifically to the consecrated Aaronic priest, the divinely appointed mediator for Israel's worship and purification rituals. His actions carry divine authority.
• shall dip: וְטָבַל (v'taval). Implies immersion, suggesting a complete and thorough saturation of the finger in the oil, ensuring the element's efficacy in the sacred act.
• his right finger: אֶצְבָּעוֹ הַיְמָנִית (etzba'o ha'yemanit). The "right" (יָמִין - yamin) hand/finger commonly symbolizes strength, prominence, precision, and favor in biblical contexts (Exod 15:6; Ps 8:3). This detail emphasizes the specific, purposeful, and consecrated nature of the action.
• in the oil: בַּשָּׁמֶן (ba'shemen). This is the "log of oil" brought for the purification (Lev 14:10). Oil frequently symbolizes divine anointing, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, provision, and gladness (Ps 23:5; Isa 61:1). Its use here signifies a spiritual endowment.
• that is in his left hand: בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ (bis'molo). The left hand, typically seen as the non-dominant or supporting hand, here holds the vessel of oil. This demonstrates the orderly, deliberate, and ceremonial execution of the ritual, with the left hand supporting the more significant action of the right.
• and shall sprinkle: וְהִזָּה (v'hizzah). A verb denoting a casting or sprinkling of liquid. This act of sprinkling is foundational in purification rites, signifying the distribution of sacred efficacy for cleansing or sanctification over a person or object (Num 19:18-19).
• of the oil with his finger: This reiterates the controlled, direct, and intentional application of the sacred oil, ensuring the purity and specific focus of the ritual.
• seven times: שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (sheva pe'amim). The number seven holds immense biblical significance, denoting completion, perfection, divine fullness, and holiness (Gen 2:2-3; Rev 1:4). Performing the act seven times underscores its thoroughness, divine institution, and the completeness of the restoration and sanctification being enacted.
• before the Lord: לִפְנֵי יְהוָה (lifnei YHWH). This crucial phrase signifies that the action is performed in God's immediate presence and under His divine gaze. It highlights the sacredness and spiritual accountability of the rite, indicating divine sanction, acceptance, and efficacy of the purification process.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle...": This detailed action sequence highlights the precision, intentionality, and order commanded by God for sacred rituals. It underscores the priest's active mediatorial role and the careful handling of holy elements.
• "Sprinkle of the oil...seven times before the Lord": This phrase emphasizes the spiritual essence and divine significance of the entire ritual. The anointing oil, applied with divine completeness and witnessed by God, signifies thorough sanctification and spiritual endowment, transforming the defiled into the consecrated.

Leviticus 14 16 Bonus section

• The ritual for the cleansed tzara'at sufferer (Lev 14) involves a progression from sin offering and guilt offering to cleansing and anointing with oil. This sequence teaches that the impartation of God's Spirit (symbolized by the oil) and spiritual empowerment only truly comes after atonement for sin and a recognition of one's trespass against God. Cleansing precedes empowering.
• The meticulous instructions for dipping and sprinkling highlight that divine acts of cleansing and consecration are not haphazard but precise, ordered, and divinely mandated, contrasting with any human attempts at self-purification.
• This verse provides a tangible Old Testament picture of spiritual realities in the New Testament, where believers are cleansed by Christ's blood and subsequently anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 2 Cor 1:21-22).

Leviticus 14 16 Commentary

Leviticus 14:16 provides a vivid snapshot of the sacred anointing ceremony within the tzara'at purification rite. The priest, as God's appointed representative, meticulously applies the sacred oil, first by dipping his right finger into it (held in his left hand) and then sprinkling it seven times. This action, performed "before the Lord," is saturated with spiritual meaning. The right finger signifies precision and active engagement in a divinely sanctioned task, while the oil itself foreshadows the Holy Spirit's anointing. The seven-fold application conveys divine completion and the thoroughness of God's work in cleansing and sanctifying. This particular act marked the complete restoration of the previously excluded individual into a state of ritual purity and spiritual favor, allowing them to re-enter communal and divine fellowship. It subtly points forward to Christ's all-encompassing work of atonement and subsequent endowment of believers with the Holy Spirit for sanctification and service.