Leviticus 14 45

Leviticus 14:45 kjv

And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.

Leviticus 14:45 nkjv

And he shall break down the house, its stones, its timber, and all the plaster of the house, and he shall carry them outside the city to an unclean place.

Leviticus 14:45 niv

It must be torn down?its stones, timbers and all the plaster?and taken out of the town to an unclean place.

Leviticus 14:45 esv

And he shall break down the house, its stones and timber and all the plaster of the house, and he shall carry them out of the city to an unclean place.

Leviticus 14:45 nlt

It must be torn down, and all its stones, timbers, and plaster must be carried out of town to the place designated as ceremonially unclean.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 45 Meaning

Leviticus 14:45 details the mandatory final act of addressing an extremely stubborn, defiling tzaarat (a form of mold or mildew) on a house. If, after initial removal and replastering, the tzaarat reappeared, the entire structure—its stones, timber, and plaster—was to be utterly demolished and carried away from the consecrated city area to a designated unclean place. This uncompromising action underscored the gravity of sustained impurity and God's demand for holiness within the Israelite community, removing anything that could deeply corrupt its sacred space.

Leviticus 14 45 Context

Leviticus 14:45 is the culminating point in the purification ritual for a house afflicted by tzaarat (often translated as "leprosy," but here referring to a fungal growth or mold, perhaps "sick building syndrome"). The preceding verses (Lev 14:33-44) outline a specific, escalating procedure: initial inspection, quarantine, removal of affected stones, scraping and replastering. If the mold reappears after these measures, indicating deep, persistent contamination, the only recourse is total demolition. This severe response emphasizes that the presence of persistent tzaarat was seen not merely as a physical inconvenience, but as a ritual impurity that defiled the dwelling and, by extension, posed a threat to the holiness of the entire community, which was called to dwell in God's holy presence (Deut 23:14). Historically, such measures reinforced communal hygiene and the distinct nature of Israelite living.

Leviticus 14 45 Word analysis

• He shall break down (וְנָתַץ, wə-nāṯats): This verb signifies violent and thorough destruction, a tearing down to the foundation. It is used elsewhere for demolishing altars (Jdg 6:25), walls (2 Kgs 10:27), or strongholds (Jer 1:10). Its use here highlights the radical, uncompromising nature of the command; no partial demolition would suffice. It shows God's severity against pervasive impurity.
• the house (אֶת־הַבַּיִת, ʾeṯ-ha-bayiṯ): Refers specifically to the dwelling structure. In ancient Israel, the house was central to family life, identity, and economic stability. Its demolition implies a significant loss and disrupts the settled life of the inhabitants. This emphasizes the gravity of the defilement and the divine demand for complete purification.
• its stones (אֶת־אֲבָנָיו, ʾeṯ-ʾăvānāv): Stones were foundational, representing permanence and stability in construction. Demolishing them emphasizes that even the core elements, if thoroughly contaminated, must be destroyed.
• its timber (וְאֶת־עֵצָיו, wə-ʾeṯ-ʿētsāw): Timber or wood served as structural beams, doors, and roofing supports. Its destruction signifies that every part of the structure, no matter its function, must be removed if tainted.
• and all the plaster (וְאֶת־כָּל־הַטִּיחַ, wə-ʾeṯ-kol-ha-ṭîaḥ): Plaster (often a lime-based mixture) was used to smooth and finish walls, frequently covering the stones and timber. The specific mention of "all the plaster" ensures that no superficial or concealed part remains, reflecting a meticulousness in purging all sources of defilement. It might have also been where the visible tzaarat manifestation often appeared.
• and carry them outside the city (וְהוֹצִיא אֶל־מִחוּץ לָעִיר, wə-hôtsîʾ ʾel-mikhuts lāʿîr): The act of removal from "outside the city" (or "camp" in some contexts) is a recurring motif for impurity in Israel. It signifies expulsion from the community's holy bounds, where God's presence dwelt. Impure things, like an impure person, cannot remain where the holy God is.
• to an unclean place (אֶל־מָקוֹם טָמֵא, ʾel-māqôm ṭāmê): This destination indicates a location ritually unfit for human dwelling or sacred use. It would typically be a refuse dump, ash heap, or a barren area designated for cast-off, polluted materials. This marks the objects as utterly defiled, separated entirely from holiness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He shall break down the house, its stones, its timber, and all the plaster of the house": This phrase meticulously lists every component of the house, from the basic building blocks to the finished surfaces. This emphasis on totality indicates that the contamination is so pervasive that nothing is salvagable. It ensures the most radical possible eradication, leaving no potential hiding place for the impurity. This physical purging mirrors the spiritual imperative for radical removal of sin that permeates an individual or community (cf. 1 Cor 5:7).
• "and carry them outside the city to an unclean place": This describes the disposal process and location. It highlights the principle of separation, a fundamental aspect of Israel's ritual purity. By expelling the materials to an "unclean place," it reinforces their indelible state of defilement and prevents any further contamination of the consecrated space where Israel, as God's people, was meant to reside. This physical separation underscores a spiritual truth: that which is inherently opposed to God's holiness must be cast out from His presence.

Leviticus 14 45 Bonus section

The concept of tzaarat in houses has led some scholars to consider its metaphorical or spiritual dimensions beyond physical mold. Ancient Jewish sages and some Christian commentators have viewed this persistent tzaarat as symbolic of sin that deeply permeates a community, such as greed, gossip, injustice, or idolatry that corrupts the very "fabric" of a home or society. The destruction and removal of the house materials to an unclean place can thus be seen as God's judgment and purification for stubborn wickedness, demanding a radical uprooting of evil when it cannot be otherwise cleansed. The intense measures described reflect the value God places on holiness in all aspects of life—personal, communal, and even spatial—where His presence dwells. It warns against allowing hidden, festering sins to corrupt the sanctuary of one's life or the body of Christ, necessitating radical spiritual demolition and expulsion of sin from within to preserve purity.

Leviticus 14 45 Commentary

Leviticus 14:45 provides a dramatic conclusion to the law concerning persistent tzaarat in a house, underscoring the severe consequences of deeply rooted impurity in a community designed for God's holy presence. The thorough destruction, from "stones" to "plaster," signifies that nothing could remain if compromise on purity proved impossible. This act goes beyond mere hygiene; it is a profound theological statement. The physical demolition and removal "outside the city to an unclean place" mirrors the expulsion of an unclean person from the camp (Num 5:2-3). This action maintains the sacred integrity of the Israelite community, serving as a powerful visual lesson that defilement cannot be tolerated if it fundamentally compromises the community's holiness and relationship with God. It speaks to God's demand for radical separation from that which pollutes, a principle applicable to the believer's personal life and the church as the dwelling of God (2 Cor 6:17). This ancient law serves as a stark reminder of the uncompromising nature of God's holiness, where profound spiritual corruption ultimately warrants complete severance for the preservation of purity within His dwelling place among His people.