Leviticus 14 41

Leviticus 14:41 kjv

And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place:

Leviticus 14:41 nkjv

And he shall cause the house to be scraped inside, all around, and the dust that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city.

Leviticus 14:41 niv

He must have all the inside walls of the house scraped and the material that is scraped off dumped into an unclean place outside the town.

Leviticus 14:41 esv

And he shall have the inside of the house scraped all around, and the plaster that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city.

Leviticus 14:41 nlt

Next the inside walls of the entire house must be scraped thoroughly and the scrapings dumped in the unclean place outside the town.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 41 Meaning

Leviticus 14:41 describes a specific stage in the purification process for a house affected by mildew or fungoid growth (tsara'at habbayit). After initial inspection and the removal of contaminated stones, the inner surfaces of the house walls must be thoroughly scraped. The scraped material, considered highly contaminated and defiling, must then be carefully collected and disposed of outside the city in a designated "unclean place." This act underscores the absolute necessity of removing all traces of impurity from the dwelling, ensuring the sanctity of the Israelite camp and its individual homes in the presence of a holy God.

Leviticus 14 41 Context

Leviticus Chapter 14 meticulously details the purification rituals for individuals and houses afflicted with tsara'at, a broad term covering severe skin ailments and fungal or mildew growths in buildings. Verses 33-53 focus specifically on cleansing a house. Prior to verse 41, the priest inspects the house; if the tsara'at persists after an initial quarantine and replacement of certain contaminated stones, then the entire inner surface of the house must undergo this thorough scraping. This command emphasizes the depth of the defilement and God's demand for complete eradication of impurity, ensuring ritual purity within Israelite homes and the larger community. These laws served to maintain the holiness essential for God's indwelling presence among His people, acting as both a physical health measure and a profound spiritual lesson.

Leviticus 14 41 Word analysis

• And he shall cause the house: The phrase indicates a mandatory action overseen by the priest but performed by the house owner or appointed workers. The Hebrew verb yiqṣaṣ (יִקְצָץ), derived from qaṣaṣ, denotes a strong, decisive act of cutting or scraping. The "house" (bayit) symbolizes not only the physical dwelling but also the household and its occupants within the consecrated community.
• to be scraped: The Hebrew yiqṣaṣ (יִקְצָץ), from qaṣaṣ (קצץ), implies an intense and complete removal of the surface material, far beyond simple cleaning. This signifies the profound contamination caused by the tsara'at, necessitating a thorough and vigorous act to leave no residue.
• within round about: Hebrew: mibbêt mibbîbbîb (מִבַּיִת מִסָּבִיב). "Within" (mibbêt) specifies the internal surfaces, and "round about" (mibbîbbîb) indicates comprehensiveness—every wall, every corner. This emphasizes the need for an exhaustive cleansing of the entire interior, symbolically representing a demand for deep, internal purity rather than mere superficiality.
• and they shall pour out: Hebrew: wəšāpakū (וְשָׁפְכוּ), from the root šāpak (שָׁפַךְ). This is an intentional and precise act of disposing, not a careless spilling. It denotes the careful handling and removal of highly defiling material. "They" refers to the individuals tasked with executing this part of the purification under priestly guidance.
• the dust that they scrape off: Hebrew: hā'āp̄ār 'ăšer gārədū (הֶעָפָר אֲשֶׁר גָּרְדוּ). "Dust" (ʻāp̄ār) refers to the physical particles, plaster, and any microscopic elements removed from the walls. The verb gāraḏ (גָּרַד) reinforces that this material is scratched or scraped off the surface. This specificity highlights that even minute particles of the contamination had to be treated with utmost care and completely removed.
• without the city: Hebrew: michutz la'ir (מִחוּץ לָעִיר). This geographical instruction is pivotal. "Without the city" (or "outside the camp") designates the spatial boundary between the ritually pure domain of Israel and the sphere of impurity. It mandates the physical separation of all defiling agents to prevent re-contamination.
• into an unclean place: Hebrew: 'el-māqôm ṭāmē' (אֶל-מָקוֹם טָמֵא). This indicates a specific, designated area outside the city for the disposal of all ritually impure items. It ensures the defiling material is not left randomly but is concentrated where it cannot spread contamination. This designated "unclean place" further stresses the absolute segregation required for impurities, marking them as entirely banished from God's holy dwelling place.

Words-group analysis:

• "he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about": This comprehensive instruction highlights the rigorous and non-negotiable nature of the cleansing. It indicates that the contamination was deep-seated, affecting the very integrity of the dwelling. This points to a theological principle that impurity (and sin) affects us internally and systemically, requiring radical and thorough inner purification to eradicate it completely, similar to how God demands true internal transformation, not just outward conformity.
• "they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place": This phrase details the methodical and ritualistic disposal of the contaminating material. The emphasis on both "without the city" and "into an unclean place" signifies a total, definitive expulsion of defilement from the holy communal space. This act is a potent symbol of banishment and judgment upon impurity, echoing how sin must be removed far from God's presence, as was ultimately accomplished by Christ's sacrificial death outside the camp.

Leviticus 14 41 Bonus section

The Hebrew concept of tsara'at in Leviticus 13-14 often extends beyond a simple disease, serving as a physical manifestation of sin and spiritual impurity, especially due to its contagious and defiling nature within the community. Thus, the physical cleansing rituals of Leviticus 14:41 had profound theological implications. The rigorous and repetitive steps – inspecting, quarantine, removing stones, scraping, and disposal – all underscored the gravity of defilement and the exacting standards for restoration to purity. The potential for the entire house to be demolished if tsara'at persisted (Lev 14:45) signifies that certain levels of entrenched corruption or sin may necessitate drastic and complete eradication, even if it means destroying what was once valued. This extreme measure points to God's zero tolerance for lingering defilement in His presence, a foreshadowing of the comprehensive and definitive work Christ performed to utterly deal with sin.

Leviticus 14 41 Commentary

Leviticus 14:41 provides a tangible illustration of God's unyielding standard for holiness and purity within the Israelite community. The requirement for a house to be meticulously "scraped within round about" (mibbêt mibbîbbîb) emphasizes that divine purity extends to every internal aspect of life and dwelling. It's not a superficial fix but a thorough removal of everything contaminated. This level of detail communicates that any lingering defilement, even material 'dust,' is intolerable in God's holy presence.

The subsequent disposal "without the city into an unclean place" is crucial. This act created a physical boundary between holiness and impurity. The scraped material, laden with ritual defilement, had to be removed to a location designated for contamination, ritually preventing it from polluting the holy camp where God dwelled. This powerfully prefigures the radical removal of sin accomplished by Jesus Christ. Just as the house's tsara'at was expelled from the clean community, Christ, bearing the full weight of human sin and defilement, suffered and was put to death "outside the gate" (Heb 13:12). He took our uncleanness upon Himself, removing it to the uttermost, thereby providing ultimate purification and enabling His people to dwell in holiness within God's spiritual presence. This law therefore calls believers to ongoing, thorough spiritual self-examination and the active purging of sin, which contaminates the "temple" of their bodies and the church community.