Leviticus 14 43

Leviticus 14:43 kjv

And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plastered;

Leviticus 14:43 nkjv

"Now if the plague comes back and breaks out in the house, after he has taken away the stones, after he has scraped the house, and after it is plastered,

Leviticus 14:43 niv

"If the defiling mold reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house scraped and plastered,

Leviticus 14:43 esv

"If the disease breaks out again in the house, after he has taken out the stones and scraped the house and plastered it,

Leviticus 14:43 nlt

"But if the mildew reappears after all the stones have been replaced and the house has been scraped and replastered,

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 43 Meaning

Leviticus 14:43 dictates the decisive step in the priestly assessment of a house afflicted by a "leprous mark" or destructive mildew. If, after an initial quarantine and scraping, the mark reappears and demonstrably spreads, the priest declares the house irredeemably contaminated. This spreading indicates a deep-seated and unyielding impurity, requiring the definitive pronouncement of "unclean."

Leviticus 14 43 Context

Leviticus Chapter 14 continues the detailed instructions regarding tzara'at, a condition often translated as "leprosy" but encompassing a wider range of skin diseases in humans, and in chapters 13 and 14, also certain molds or mildews afflicting garments and houses. The specific verses, 14:33-53, address the procedures for dealing with a "leprous mark" in a house, which likely refers to an invasive and spreading fungus, mildew, or rot that made a dwelling unhealthy and ceremonially defiled. The passage establishes a meticulous protocol: initial inspection, emptying the house (to save contents), seven-day quarantine, re-inspection, removal of affected stones and scraping, and if the "plague" re-emerges and spreads, the house is irrevocably unclean, necessitating its demolition. Verse 43 falls precisely at this critical point of re-inspection and final declaration. Historically and culturally, ritual purity was paramount in Israel, emphasizing a clear distinction between the holy (related to God) and the common or profane. Uncleanness defiled not only individuals but also their dwellings and possessions, necessitating removal from the community's midst to preserve the holiness of the camp and the presence of God among them. This law also had a practical dimension, promoting health by identifying and eradicating dangerous contagions and decay, which would have been critical in ancient settlements. Spiritually, it serves as a powerful symbol of sin's invasive, corrupting, and defiling nature, which, if not dealt with, necessitates removal or judgment.

Leviticus 14 43 Word analysis

• וְרָאָה (və-rā’â): "and he sees/shall look." From the root ראה (ra'ah), meaning "to see, perceive, discern." This implies not a mere glance but a careful, informed observation and assessment by the qualified priest. It underscores the priest's role as the divine diagnostician and arbiter of ritual status.
• הַכֹּהֵן (hakōhēn): "the priest." The definite article highlights the specific and unique authority invested in this office by God to judge matters of purity and impurity, thereby maintaining the holiness of the community.
• וְהִנֵּה (və-hinnêh): "and behold!" An interjection drawing immediate attention to the discovery or observation, indicating a crucial turn of events and a definite finding. It signals the objective reality the priest encounters.
• אִם (ʾim): "if." Introduces the condition upon which the subsequent judgment is made.
• פָּשְׂתָה (pāsĕtâ): "has spread." From the root פשׂה (pasah), meaning "to spread, extend, be diffused." This is the key diagnostic criterion for incurable "leprosy," whether on a person, garment, or house. It denotes an aggressive, advancing, and deeply rooted corruption beyond superficial treatment.
• הַנֶּגַע (hannega‘): "the mark/plague/lesion." From נגע (nega'), meaning "a stroke, a blow, a mark, a plague, an affliction." In this context, it refers to the discoloration or outbreak on the house walls. It's a divinely sent "stroke" indicating an underlying problem.
• בַּבַּיִת (babbayit): "in the house." Focuses the condition directly on the dwelling place, a foundational unit of the Israelite society and symbolic of one's belonging and security.
• צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת (ṣāra‘at mamʾeret): "a spreading/malignant leprosy."
  • צָרַעַת (ṣāra‘at): "leprosy" (specifically the term for the defiling condition, not necessarily medical leprosy as understood today). When applied to houses, it refers to a deep, destructive decay or infestation. It is a ritual condition requiring strict adherence to prescribed rites for cleansing or removal.
  • מַמְאֶרֶת (mamʾeret): "malignant, festering, spreading." From מאר (maʾar), meaning "to be malignant, to cause pain, fester." This intensifying adjective emphasizes the progressive and destructive nature of the tzara'at, making it untreatable by superficial means.
• הִוא טָמֵא (hîʾ ṭāmēʾ): "it is unclean."
  • הִוא (hîʾ): "it (is)." Pronoun establishing the direct identification.
  • טָמֵא (ṭāmēʾ): "unclean." The definitive ritual status declared by the priest. This means ritually defiled, separated from sacred spaces, and requiring specific purification or removal from the community's midst. It is the antithesis of holy (קָדוֹשׁ, qadosh).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "and the priest sees, and behold": Establishes the priestly authority and the objective, undeniable nature of the observation. The priest is not guessing; he is authoritatively confirming a visible truth. This divine authority distinguishes YHWH's purity laws from arbitrary superstition.
• "if the mark has spread in the house": This phrase encapsulates the decisive diagnostic criterion. The spread of the nega' signifies that the defilement is deep, aggressive, and past the point of mere containment or surface repair. It's an internal corruption manifesting outwardly.
• "it is a spreading leprosy in the house": This declares the identity of the mark. It's not just a superficial spot, but the full, malignant form of tzara'at. This marks the shift from potential uncleanness to confirmed, incurable defilement requiring drastic action.
• "it is unclean": This is the unequivocal verdict, the formal legal declaration of ritual impurity. This status dictates all subsequent actions, namely, the dismantling of the house. It highlights God's demand for absolute purity within the community that houses His presence. This declaration impacts not only the physical house but symbolically implies the need to sever connection with such deep-seated defilement.

Leviticus 14 43 Bonus section

The "leprosy" of houses, as distinct from human skin conditions, reinforces the idea that tzara'at in Leviticus carries a broader symbolic weight beyond mere pathology. It often signified something destructive, deeply entrenched, and potentially sent by God as a judgment or sign, causing widespread defilement. The law regarding houses may have also functioned as a way to maintain structural integrity in houses and protect public health against harmful molds or bacteria. This highlights a convergence of ritual law with practical wisdom, often seen in Mosaic Law. The detailed, staged approach—initial quarantine, partial removal, re-inspection—underscores God's grace and patience in dealing with defilement, providing opportunities for remediation. However, when defilement proves mam'eret (malignant) and pasa (spreading), absolute and final separation is decreed, symbolizing God's ultimate intolerance for corruption within His holy habitation (the tabernacle, the camp, and ultimately the New Jerusalem where nothing unclean will enter).

Leviticus 14 43 Commentary

Leviticus 14:43 reveals a critical turning point in addressing "leprous" houses, embodying both a practical hygienic measure and a profound spiritual lesson for the Israelite community. When the priest returns and finds the nega' (mark) has pasa (spread) despite the initial attempt at remediation, it indicates an inherent, virulent corruption—a mam'eret (malignant) tzara'at. This isn't just surface contamination; it's deep, pervasive, and resistant to minor intervention.

The priest's declaration, "it is unclean," isn't merely an observation of a physical state but a pronouncement of ritual separation. In a holiness-centric covenant with God, anything declared ṭāmē’ (unclean) could not stand in the proximity of God's presence or His holy people without defiling them. The house, like a garment or a person, had to be either cleansed through precise ritual (if possible) or, if incurable, utterly removed.

This specific verse serves as a metaphor for spiritual reality. Just as physical defilement, if unchecked, necessitates drastic measures, so too does sin or spiritual corruption. When sinful tendencies, unaddressed, take root and pasa (spread) within an individual or community, they become a mam'eret (malignant) defilement. The only recourse is a decisive and often drastic "removal" or "breaking down" of what harbors such persistent impurity. This might manifest as radical repentance, separation from defiling influences, or in extreme cases, divine judgment. The emphasis on "the priest sees" highlights the divine scrutiny and judgment which acknowledges and deals with spreading defilement decisively for the sake of preserving holiness.