Leviticus 14 42

Leviticus 14:42 kjv

And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house.

Leviticus 14:42 nkjv

Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other mortar and plaster the house.

Leviticus 14:42 niv

Then they are to take other stones to replace these and take new clay and plaster the house.

Leviticus 14:42 esv

Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other plaster and plaster the house.

Leviticus 14:42 nlt

Other stones will be brought in to replace the ones that were removed, and the walls will be replastered.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 42 Meaning

This verse specifies a critical step in the purification process for a house afflicted by a severe mold or fungal growth, known as "the plague" (nega') in its walls. It instructs that any stones containing this defiling condition must be thoroughly removed and disposed of in an officially designated "unclean place" situated outside the boundaries of the city or Israelite camp. This action signifies a complete and decisive separation from defilement, reinforcing God's demand for absolute holiness within the community.

Leviticus 14 42 Context

Leviticus 14 focuses on purification rituals related to "leprosy" (tsara'at), a term that encompassed various skin diseases in humans and mildew/fungal growths in clothing and houses. The specific verses, 14:33-53, detail the protocol for dealing with "the plague of leprosy" in a house. This intricate set of laws served to distinguish Israel as a holy people from surrounding nations. The detection, quarantine, examination by the priest, and prescribed actions (like stone removal) all reflect a deep concern for maintaining the ritual purity of the Israelite camp and individual homes, which was essential for God's holy presence to dwell among His people. Historically, "outside the city/camp" was a common and practical dumping ground for refuse and anything deemed unclean or condemned, serving as a boundary for sacred space.

Leviticus 14 42 Word analysis

• Then they shall take away (וְהִסִּירוּ, ve-hisîru): From the root sûr, meaning "to turn aside, remove, depart." This Hiphil perfect form signifies a direct, causative, and decisive action. It is not merely a passive detachment but an intentional, forceful removal of the affected elements.
• the stones (הָאֲבָנִים, ha-avanim): The definite article highlights that these are specific stones—those identified by the priest as afflicted by the plague. Stones formed the structural integrity of ancient houses, emphasizing that the defilement could affect the very foundation or fabric of one's dwelling.
• in which is (אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם, asher bahem): Literally "which in them." It clearly defines that the plague is located within or upon these particular stones, making them the source of the defilement.
• the plague (הַנֶּגַע, ha-nega'): This term, from naga' ("to touch, strike"), means "a stroke, mark, affliction." In Leviticus, nega' often denotes a divine visitation causing physical manifestation, whether on skin, garments, or, as here, a house. It points to a supernatural blight, beyond mere natural decay, signaling defilement that renders a house ritually impure.
• and cast them (וְהִשְׁלִיכוּ, ve-hishliku): From the root shâlach, meaning "to throw, cast, send." The Hiphil perfect implies a deliberate, forceful act of expulsion. This reinforces the complete rejection and expulsion of the contaminated material from the sphere of holiness.
• into an unclean place (אֶל מָקוֹם טָמֵא, el maqom tamé): Maqom means "place," and tamé means "unclean, impure, defiled." This is not just any place, but a specifically designated area for the disposal of ritually impure items. Such places were set apart from the dwelling areas to contain uncleanness, preventing its spread and signifying its exclusion from what is sacred.
• outside the city (חוּץ לָעִיר, hutz la'ir): Literally "outside to the city/camp." The "city" or "camp" represented the communal and spiritually defined holy space where Yahweh dwelled amidst His people. Anything defiled, especially profoundly so, had to be removed beyond this sacred boundary to preserve the holiness and purity of the community.

• Words-Group Analysis:
• "Then they shall take away the stones… and cast them": This sequence emphasizes an active, physical, and thorough eradication. The responsibility falls to the individuals designated (likely those purifying the house, under priestly instruction), underscoring human agency in maintaining purity under divine command.
• "the plague...into an unclean place": This highlights the nature of the "plague" as a defilement requiring ritual isolation. It transforms the affected objects into items fit only for discard in a specific segregated location, rather than reincorporation or purification within the community.
• "unclean place outside the city": This phrase precisely delineates the boundary of holiness. What is tamé (unclean) must not remain within the sacred dwelling spaces. The "outside" signifies complete alienation and separation from the presence of God and His people, demonstrating the radical measures required to safeguard community purity.

Leviticus 14 42 Bonus section

The severity of this command, requiring the dismantling of part of a house, highlights how seriously God views ritual defilement. The very foundation or structural integrity could be affected by this 'plague', implying a deep-seated issue that cannot be superficially cleansed. The fact that the priest's role was to discern and declare the presence of the plague, but the action of removing the stones fell to the homeowner or appointed individuals (as implied by "they shall take away"), underscores that while discernment comes through divinely appointed authority, the actual labor of cleansing often requires personal engagement. The 'unclean place' served as a practical teaching tool, a tangible representation of complete severance from impurity and rejection from the sacred presence of God. This ritual foreshadowed Christ's complete and radical work outside the "camp" of Judaism (Heb 13:12), cleansing us from sin's pervasive defilement and making us truly clean for God's indwelling.

Leviticus 14 42 Commentary

Leviticus 14:42 underscores the profound biblical emphasis on God's holiness and His expectation for corresponding purity among His people, extending even to their dwellings. The "plague" in a house was a visual manifestation of defilement that rendered a house uninhabitable for those striving for purity before God. The commanded removal and decisive casting away of infected stones to an unclean place outside the city demonstrates a foundational principle: that which pollutes and offends God's holiness must be radically identified, separated, and purged. This act was not merely hygienic but deeply symbolic, signifying the absolute necessity of removing all forms of defilement to maintain sacred space and communion with God. For the Israelites, this meant preventing the spread of ritual impurity, safeguarding the spiritual health of the community. This principle finds resonance in the New Testament's call for believers, who are now temples of the Holy Spirit, to purge themselves from every defilement of body and spirit, completing holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor 7:1), ensuring their lives and communities reflect Christ's purity. It teaches us to deal decisively with sources of sin or corruption, whether internal (thoughts, habits) or external (influences, relationships), rather than tolerating them.