Leviticus 14 26

Leviticus 14:26 kjv

And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand:

Leviticus 14:26 nkjv

And the priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand.

Leviticus 14:26 niv

The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand,

Leviticus 14:26 esv

And the priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand,

Leviticus 14:26 nlt

"The priest will also pour some of the olive oil into the palm of his own left hand.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 26 Meaning

Leviticus 14:26 details a specific step in the purification ritual for a recovered leper (or one healed from a severe skin disease), indicating that the officiating priest is to take a portion of the consecrated oil and sprinkle it with his right finger seven times directly in the presence of the Lord. This act symbolizes a sacred, complete, and divinely sanctioned application of divine provision, contributing to the ceremonial restoration and reinstatement of the individual into the community and before God.

Leviticus 14 26 Context

Leviticus 14 outlines the detailed, multi-stage process for purifying someone healed of tzara'at (often translated as leprosy, but likely referring to a range of severe skin conditions) and for making atonement for them. This was crucial as tzara'at rendered an individual ceremonially unclean and separated them from the Israelite community and the sanctuary. The purification involved both symbolic cleansing actions (birds, water, wood, scarlet yarn, hyssop, shaving, washing) and various sacrifices (guilt offering, sin offering, burnt offering, grain offering). Verse 26 occurs in the second stage of this process, after the former leper has entered the camp (but not yet his tent) and presented the prescribed offerings at the door of the Tent of Meeting. It specifically pertains to the application of the oil from the guilt offering, demonstrating God's meticulous instructions for restoration and atonement within the covenant. This ritual underlines the severity of defilement and the divine provision for restoration through priestly mediation and specific acts of sacrifice and cleansing, prefiguring the ultimate purification provided by Christ.

Leviticus 14 26 Word analysis

• And the priest: (וְהִזָּה הַכֹּהֵן - vəhizzah hakōhēn) - "The priest" (HaKohen) specifically refers to the one divinely appointed to mediate and perform sacred rites on behalf of the people before God. This highlights the indispensable role of authorized religious authority in Old Testament worship and prefigures the unique priestly office of Christ.
• shall sprinkle: (וְהִזָּה - vəhizzah) - From the root nazah (נָזָה), meaning to spatter or sprinkle. This denotes a controlled, precise application rather than a pouring. It's a common action in ritual purification, emphasizing ceremonial separation or consecration through direct, deliberate application.
• some of the oil: (מֵהַשֶּׁמֶן - mêhaššemen) - "From the oil" implies a portion of the special, consecrated oil that was brought as part of the purification offering (Lev 14:10, 15). Oil (shemen, שֶׁמֶן) consistently symbolizes the Holy Spirit, divine anointing, consecration, blessing, provision, and sometimes healing throughout Scripture. Its use here points to the spiritual component of cleansing and restoration.
• with his right finger: (בְּאֶצְבַּע יַד-יְמִינֹו - bəʾeṣbaʿ yad-yəmînô) - The "right finger" is specified. The right hand in Hebrew culture frequently denotes strength, authority, power, and favor (e.g., God's right hand). Its use signifies an active, precise, and consecrated action performed with divine authority, emphasizing that the application is intentional and effective through divine design.
• seven times: (שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים - sheva peʿāmîm) - The number "seven" consistently represents completeness, perfection, divine fullness, covenant, and sacredness in biblical thought. Sprinkling "seven times" conveys thoroughness, divine perfection, and the completeness of the purification process by divine decree. It assures the individual of a full and effective cleansing.
• before the Lord: (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lipnê Yahweh) - This phrase emphasizes that the act is performed in the immediate, conscious presence of God Himself, highlighting the ritual's sacredness and divine validation. It signifies that the cleansing is divinely witnessed, recognized, and made effective by His authority and grace. It underscores that all true worship and atonement are ultimately directed toward God.

Leviticus 14 26 Bonus section

• The tzara'at purification ceremony is one of the most elaborate in the Mosaic Law, emphasizing the gravity of ceremonial uncleanness and the depth of divine provision required for restoration.
• The oil used in this ceremony (as with other priestly anointings and Tabernacle consecrations) connects to the broader biblical theme of anointing with the Spirit for empowerment, setting apart, and healing.
• The ritual involves both blood (Lev 14:14, 17) and oil applied to the right earlobe, thumb, and big toe of the one being cleansed, paralleling the consecration of priests (Lev 8:23-24). This signifies that the cleansed individual is not merely medically recovered but is being made holy and reinstated into fellowship, having had "ears to hear" God's commands, "hands to do" His will, and "feet to walk" in His ways.
• The precision demanded by God in this purification ritual, including the exact number of sprinkles and the specific finger, underscores His perfect order and the spiritual significance embedded in every detail of the Mosaic Law. Nothing was arbitrary; everything was designed to convey deep theological truth about sin, holiness, and redemption.

Leviticus 14 26 Commentary

Leviticus 14:26, though a seemingly minute detail in an ancient purification ritual, holds profound theological significance. It showcases the divine meticulousness in matters of holiness and demonstrates God's ordained path for restoring a defiled individual. The sprinkling of the consecrated oil by the priest, using his right finger, precisely seven times, before the Lord, is not an arbitrary act. It represents the comprehensive and divinely approved means by which the one cleansed from tzara'at is reintegrated into covenant fellowship. The oil, often typifying the Holy Spirit, signifies that the cleansing is not merely external but involves a spiritual impartation and consecration. The number seven signifies the divine completion of this process. This elaborate ritual served as a vivid shadow, pointing forward to the ultimate, perfect, and complete cleansing from sin available through Christ's work, applied by the Holy Spirit. It reinforces the biblical truth that true purity and acceptance before God come only through His prescribed method, not human efforts or a perfunctory act, offering a template of God's provision for dealing with deep defilement.