Leviticus 14 48

Leviticus 14:48 kjv

And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plastered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.

Leviticus 14:48 nkjv

"But if the priest comes in and examines it, and indeed the plague has not spread in the house after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.

Leviticus 14:48 niv

"But if the priest comes to examine it and the mold has not spread after the house has been plastered, he shall pronounce the house clean, because the defiling mold is gone.

Leviticus 14:48 esv

"But if the priest comes and looks, and if the disease has not spread in the house after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, for the disease is healed.

Leviticus 14:48 nlt

"But if the priest returns for his inspection and finds that the mildew has not reappeared in the house after the fresh plastering, he will pronounce it clean because the mildew is clearly gone.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 48 Meaning

Leviticus 14:48 describes the positive outcome of the cleansing process for a house affected by a "leprous disease" or mildew. If, after initial purification steps (removing contaminated materials and replastering), the priest inspects the house and finds that the mold or discoloration has not reappeared or spread, he is to officially declare the house clean. This declaration signifies that the affliction has truly ceased, and the house is fit for habitation and remains ritually pure.

Leviticus 14 48 Context

Leviticus chapter 14 outlines the detailed laws for the purification of a person afflicted with ṣāraʿaṯ (often translated "leprosy," though covering a range of skin afflictions) and the laws for a "leprous disease" in a house. The overall context emphasizes ritual purity within the Israelite community, essential for maintaining fellowship with a holy God and for His presence to dwell among His people.

Specifically, verses 33-47 detail the initial procedures for a house suspected of having the "disease." This involves the priest's inspection, quarantining the house, removing contaminated stones, scraping the interior, and replastering it (Lev 14:38-42). Verse 48 falls after these remedial actions. It addresses the hopeful outcome where the physical interventions succeed. If the "disease" reemerges and spreads after replastering, the house must be completely demolished (Lev 14:43-47). Thus, verse 48 provides the contrast, representing successful healing and restoration, allowing the community to live without fear of contamination.

Leviticus 14 48 Word analysis

• But if: Implies a conditional scenario, presenting a positive alternative to the preceding negative outcome (demolition if the disease spreads again, vv. 43-47).
• the priest: Hebrew hakkohen (הַכֹּהֵן). Refers to the anointed descendant of Aaron, authorized by God to officiate in sacred matters. His role is to act as God's appointed representative and mediator, discerning between clean and unclean (Lev 10:10).
• comes and looks: Hebrew yābō wə-rāʾāh (יָבֹא וְרָאָה). More than a casual glance. Rāʾāh signifies careful observation, discerning inspection, and judging based on visual evidence, as part of his sacerdotal duty. The act of "coming" emphasizes the priest's active, personal involvement.
• and indeed: An intensifying particle, affirming the truth of the subsequent observation. It underscores the certainty of the findings.
• the disease: Hebrew hannagaʿ (הַנֶּגַע). Lit. "the stroke" or "the plague." In this context, it refers specifically to the manifestation of the "leprous disease" on the house walls, which is understood as mold, mildew, or fungus. This word often carries a sense of a divine affliction or sign.
• has not spread: Hebrew lōʾ pāshaṭ (לֹא פָשַׁט). Pāshaṭ means "to spread out," "stretch out," or "advance." The negative "not spread" is the crucial diagnostic indicator here. It means the efforts to contain and eradicate the mold were successful; it did not grow further or re-establish itself.
• in the house after the house was plastered: Hebrew babayît ʾaḥărē šĕṭuaḥ habayît (בַּבַּיִת אַחֲרֵי שֶׁטֻּחַ הַבַּיִת). This specifies the location and critically, the timing of the inspection. The "plastered" (ṭûaḥ) indicates that the previous ritual procedures (removing affected stones, scraping, and replastering from Lev 14:40-42) have been completed. The passage of time allows for the recurrence or cessation of the "disease" to be properly observed.
• then the priest shall pronounce the house clean: Hebrew wəṭihaṛ hakkohen ʾeṯ habayît (וְטִהַר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַבַּיִת). This is a declarative act. The priest does not make the house clean by ritual but states its clean status based on his discerning observation of the facts. It’s an authoritative verdict from God's representative, certifying the house's return to ritual purity.
• because the disease is healed: Hebrew kī nirpaʾ hannagaʿ (כִּי נִרְפָּא הַנֶּגַע). This provides the divine rationale for the priest's declaration. Rāphāʾ (רָפָא) means "to heal" or "to cure." The application of "healed" to an inanimate house highlights God's comprehensive oversight of all creation and the spiritual nature of these "diseases" in Levitical thought. The cessation of the plague is understood as an act of divine "healing," allowing for restoration.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But if the priest comes and looks, and indeed the disease has not spread": This sequence emphasizes the rigorous, systematic, and factual basis of the priestly judgment. The priest isn't guessing; his decision is contingent upon concrete, observable evidence of non-proliferation after a waiting period. This points to a standard of truth and empirical verification within a theological context.
• "in the house after the house was plastered": This phrase highlights the complete and prior efforts undertaken to remediate the disease. It underscores that this inspection is not the first intervention, but a final verification step following all necessary (and sometimes severe, like removing stones) prior actions. This signifies that complete obedience and necessary action precedes full restoration.
• "then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the disease is healed": This concluding part presents the logical and divine consequence of the observation. The priestly declaration of "clean" is directly tied to the fact that the "disease" has been "healed." The priest is God's instrument for articulating the objective reality of healing and purity according to God's standard, thereby integrating divine order with practical human living.

Leviticus 14 48 Bonus section

The Hebrew word ṣāraʿaṯ, translated as "leprous disease," is not strictly referring to modern Hansen's disease but rather a broader category of skin conditions and, in this chapter, fungal growths or mildew on objects and houses. Scholarly consensus confirms this wider scope. This underlines that the Levitical laws were comprehensive in dealing with various forms of "affliction" that were deemed to violate Israel's ceremonial purity and hence their readiness for God's presence.

The concept of a "healed" house (verse 48) emphasizes that physical phenomena in Israel were not merely natural occurrences but carried spiritual and covenantal significance. A house becoming clean, not just from human effort but because the "disease is healed" by divine allowance, highlights God's sovereignty over the material world and His involvement in maintaining His people's sanctity in every aspect of life. This system aimed to instil an awareness of pervasive holiness and impurity, training the Israelites to recognize that true life and blessedness came from being in a right, pure relationship with God. The rigorous steps ensured that the Israelites truly confronted the problem of uncleanness and the comprehensive measures required to overcome it, pointing ultimately to a radical solution in Christ.

Leviticus 14 48 Commentary

Leviticus 14:48 underscores several vital principles in the Mosaic Law. Firstly, it reveals God's meticulous concern for order, health, and purity within the covenant community. Even inanimate objects like houses are subject to divine oversight regarding cleanliness, impacting the communal well-being and suitability for God's holy presence. Secondly, the role of the priest is crucial as a discerning judge and a divinely appointed authority figure. He acts not on his own initiative but according to precise, objective standards laid out by God. His function is to declare a status—clean or unclean—based on observable facts, rather than to magically effect the cleansing himself. This highlights that cleansing (or healing in this case) is fundamentally a divine act, and the priest's declaration is its recognition.

The specific "healing" of the house after replastering implies divine favor and a successful intervention. This is not mere physical sanitation, but a cessation of an affliction understood to carry ceremonial impurity. The repeated process of observation, action (removing stones, replastering), and re-observation speaks to the thoroughness required in dealing with impurity. Spiritually, this passage foreshadows the complete work of Christ. Unlike the Old Testament priest who could only declare clean, Christ actually makes clean, providing true and lasting healing for our spiritual "diseases" (sin). He is the ultimate diagnostician and physician, whose definitive work of purification leaves no room for recurrence of the "disease."

Practical application:

• We are called to diligent self-examination, addressing "diseases" of sin in our lives thoroughly (like scraping and replastering).
• The cessation of sin's power and evidence of spiritual growth allow God to declare us truly clean through Christ.