Leviticus 14:47 kjv
And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.
Leviticus 14:47 nkjv
And he who lies down in the house shall wash his clothes, and he who eats in the house shall wash his clothes.
Leviticus 14:47 niv
Anyone who sleeps or eats in the house must wash their clothes.
Leviticus 14:47 esv
and whoever sleeps in the house shall wash his clothes, and whoever eats in the house shall wash his clothes.
Leviticus 14:47 nlt
and all who sleep or eat in the house must wash their clothing.
Leviticus 14 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 11:25 | Every carcass of theirs ... shall wash his clothes... | Ritual cleansing via washing clothes after contact with uncleanness |
| Lev 11:40 | Whoever eats of its carcass ... shall wash his clothes... | Similar defilement by eating, requiring washing clothes |
| Lev 15:5 | ...he who touches his bed shall wash his clothes... | Defilement by contact with an unclean person/object, requiring washing |
| Lev 15:8 | If one who has the discharge spits on one who is clean... shall wash his clothes... | Contamination through contact, necessitating purification |
| Lev 15:10 | ...he who touches anything under him ... shall wash his clothes... | Widespread transfer of impurity requiring ritual washings |
| Lev 15:11 | And whoever the one with the discharge touches, and has not rinsed his hands in water... | Emphasis on direct and indirect transfer of impurity |
| Lev 15:17 | Also every garment and every leather article ... shall be washed in water... | General principle of washing items that become unclean |
| Num 19:10 | ...he who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes... | Paradoxical defilement even in rituals of purification |
| Num 19:21 | And the one who sprinkles the water of purification shall wash his clothes... | Contact with holy, yet powerful (and thus dangerous) things, causes temporary impurity |
| Deut 23:10-11 | If there is among you any man who becomes unclean ... he shall not come into the camp... | Broader command to maintain purity within the Israelite camp |
| Lev 10:10 | ...that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; | Priestly role to teach distinction between pure and impure |
| Heb 9:14 | how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ... cleanse your conscience... | Superior spiritual cleansing by Christ’s sacrifice |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | ...you were not redeemed with corruptible things... but with the precious blood of Christ... | Redemption from the corruptible world’s defilement through Christ’s blood |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | But if we walk in the light... the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. | Spiritual cleansing from sin through fellowship and Christ's blood |
| Rom 6:6 | ...that our body of sin might be done away with... | Identification of defilement with the "body of sin" needing removal |
| 1 Cor 5:6-7 | Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? | Metaphorical "leaven" of sin (moral impurity) contaminating the community |
| Eph 5:26 | ...that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, | Christ’s cleansing of the Church, implying spiritual purification |
| 2 Cor 7:1 | Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh... | Call for spiritual and moral purity |
| Lev 13:46 | He shall dwell alone; outside the camp shall his dwelling be. | Isolation required for individuals with tsara'at due to their highly contagious impurity |
| Matt 8:3 | Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. | Christ’s power over tsara'at and physical uncleanness, not becoming unclean Himself |
| Isa 6:5 | Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips... | Recognition of inherent human impurity in contrast to God’s holiness |
| Hag 2:13 | If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these things, will it be unclean? | Concept of impurity being easily transmitted through contact |
Leviticus 14 verses
Leviticus 14 47 Meaning
This verse outlines the consequences of contact with a house afflicted by the contagious skin disease, tsara'at, or severe mildew/mold. It stipulates that anyone who enters the house and lies down or eats within it incurs ceremonial defilement, necessitating the washing of their clothes. This immediate purification act signifies the transmissible nature of impurity and underscores the meticulous standards of ritual cleanness required by God.
Leviticus 14 47 Context
Leviticus 14:47 is part of a detailed section (Lev 14:33-57) addressing the specific protocol for a "leprous disease" (tsara'at) affecting a house. This affliction, which scholars identify as severe mold or mildew, was treated with the same seriousness as tsara'at on the human body, indicating its significant impact on ceremonial purity. The surrounding verses detail the initial inspection, the various stages of contamination (from partial to severe requiring demolition), and the rites for purification or destruction. Verse 47 specifically warns against physical contact with such a defiled structure. The historical context reveals that the Mosaic Law emphasized the sacredness and holiness of the Israelite camp, aiming to distinguish them from surrounding pagan nations where ritual defilement might be understood differently or less rigorously. Maintaining a pure dwelling, alongside a pure body and community, was essential for the people to dwell in God's presence.
Leviticus 14 47 Word analysis
- Also (וַאֲשֶׁר - va'asher): A conjunction linking this action to the prior warnings (Lev 14:46) regarding simply entering the house. It expands the scope of defilement to include actions that imply dwelling or significant time spent inside.
- he who lies down (יִשְׁכַּב - yishkav): From the root shakav, meaning "to lie down," "rest," or "sleep." This indicates an extended stay, not just a brief passage through, suggesting the individual settled in the unclean dwelling. This could mean resting, taking a nap, or even sleeping overnight.
- in the house (בַּבַּיִת - ba'bayit): Refers specifically to the dwelling identified as being affected by tsara'at, highlighting the locus of contamination. The house itself is ceremonially defiled.
- shall wash (יְכַבֵּס - yechabbes): From the verb kabas, "to wash by treading," signifying a thorough and often laborious cleaning process, more intensive than a simple rinse. It represents a required ritual act for purification.
- his clothes (בְּגָדָיו - begadav): The garment worn by the person, which absorbs and becomes contaminated by the impurity through physical proximity and prolonged exposure within the defiled space. Washing clothes is a recurrent symbol of external ritual purification throughout Leviticus (e.g., Lev 11:25, 28; 15:5, 17).
- and he who eats (יֹאכַל - yokhal): From the root akhal, "to eat" or "consume." Eating implies a period of settlement, fellowship, or obtaining sustenance within the house, thus deepening the contact with the impurity and necessitating purification. It shows commitment to staying within that space.
- in the house (בַּבַּיִת - ba'bayit): Repeated to re-emphasize that the eating takes place specifically in the contaminated structure.
- shall wash his clothes (יְכַבֵּס בְּגָדָיו - yechabbes begadav): Repetition stresses the universal consequence of substantial interaction with the defiled house: ritual washing of garments is required to cleanse the contact impurity.
- "he who lies down...and he who eats": These two phrases highlight sustained and intimate contact with the house, indicating that merely entering and then exiting quickly (as covered in Lev 14:46) is distinct from resting or partaking of food, which incurs a greater level of defilement. These acts imply making oneself at home in the unclean place.
- "shall wash his clothes": This command for purification underscores that ritual impurity is highly transmissible by touch and presence. The clothes act as an intermediary, absorbing the contamination from the defiled house. This outward act symbolizes a removal of defilement, requiring the individual to separate themselves from the uncleanness before rejoining the clean community.
Leviticus 14 47 Bonus section
- The Nature of Tsara'at: The term tsara'at (צָרַעַת), traditionally translated "leprosy," is now widely understood by scholars to encompass various skin diseases, severe mold, or mildew, rather than strictly modern Hansen's disease. Its presence, whether on skin, garments, or houses, symbolized disorder, decay, and death—concepts fundamentally opposed to God’s life-giving holiness and the flourishing order of creation.
- A "Contagion" of Holiness vs. Impurity: These laws articulate a spiritual grammar where impurity is "contagious," just as holiness is. Just as something holy can consecrate what it touches, so can something unclean defile. This verse reinforces the ease with which unholiness could spread, demanding careful attention and specific rituals for containment and removal to protect the sacred space of the camp where God dwelt.
- Priestly Authority: The implementation of these laws required the discerning eye and authoritative pronouncements of the priest. The priest's judgment determined the course of action for the house and the resulting defilement of individuals, emphasizing the role of spiritual leadership in guiding God's people in matters of purity and sanctity.
Leviticus 14 47 Commentary
Leviticus 14:47 highlights the profound impact of ceremonial impurity, especially in the context of a house afflicted with tsara'at. The instructions signify that impurity is not merely a localized phenomenon but is contagious, affecting those who have significant contact with the defiled object or dwelling. Simply entering and departing (as in v.46) incurs uncleanness until evening, but lying down or eating within the house implies a deeper level of engagement or prolonged stay, signifying a more absorbed contact with the impurity, thus demanding the immediate and specific action of washing one’s clothes. This practice of washing clothes is a recurrent motif in the Mosaic Law, serving as a physical act to signify ritual cleansing and the separation from anything that could compromise the sanctity of the Israelite community, mirroring God’s own holiness. It teaches that sin (often depicted as defilement) can easily spread, impacting others, and necessitates intentional acts of purification to restore clean standing before God.