Leviticus 14 49

Leviticus 14:49 kjv

And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

Leviticus 14:49 nkjv

And he shall take, to cleanse the house, two birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop.

Leviticus 14:49 niv

To purify the house he is to take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop.

Leviticus 14:49 esv

And for the cleansing of the house he shall take two small birds, with cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop,

Leviticus 14:49 nlt

To purify the house the priest must take two birds, a stick of cedar, some scarlet yarn, and a hyssop branch.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 49 Meaning

Leviticus 14:49 describes the materials required for the purification ritual of a house afflicted with "tsara'at" (often translated as leprosy, but here referring to a fungal growth or severe mildew). The priest is to gather two birds, cedar wood, scarlet material, and hyssop to perform the ritualistic cleansing. These elements symbolize purity, life, death, and atonement, indicating a divine provision for restoring a defiled dwelling to a state of ritual cleanliness.

Leviticus 14 49 Context

Leviticus Chapter 14 outlines the elaborate procedures for purifying individuals and houses from "tsara'at," a divinely sent affliction symbolizing severe impurity, separation, and sometimes even divine judgment. The verses immediately preceding (14:33-48) describe the signs and diagnosis of tsara'at in a house, requiring inspection by the priest. This specific verse (14:49) details the prescribed components the priest must gather for the subsequent ritual to cleanse the house, which mirrors the cleansing ritual for an affected person. The larger context of Leviticus emphasizes God's holiness and the meticulous requirements for maintaining ritual purity among His people, ensuring His continued presence within their camp. The physical "defilement" of the house extended to the community, signifying the interconnectedness of their spiritual and physical well-being.

Leviticus 14 49 Word analysis

• And he shall take:
  • Hebrew: וְלָקַח (ve·laqach), from לָקַח (laqach), "to take, receive."
  • Significance: This imperative emphasizes the divine command and the priest's essential role in carrying out the prescribed ritual. It is a specific instruction, not an option, highlighting the precise nature of God's purification laws.
• to cleanse:
  • Hebrew: לְחַטֵּא (lechatte'), from חָטָא (chata'), literally "to sin," but in its piel conjugation, it often means "to de-sin," "purify," or "make atonement for sin."
  • Significance: This is not merely a physical cleaning but a ritual purification that addresses the spiritual defilement associated with the affliction. It highlights that tsara'at, even in a house, carried a connotation of sin or impurity requiring expiation, restoring its ritual status.
• the house:
  • Hebrew: הַבָּיִת (habbayit), "the house, dwelling place."
  • Significance: This refers not just to a building but the sphere of the family's life, implying that the impurity affected their entire domestic environment and thus their communal standing. The house represents security, identity, and the stability of family life.
• two birds:
  • Hebrew: שְׁתֵּי צִפֳּרִים (shettey tsipporim), "two small birds," often sparrows or doves.
  • Significance: A crucial component of the ritual (see Lev 14:7, 50-53). One bird is killed over running water, representing the death required for atonement. The other, dipped in the bloody water and released into the open field, symbolizes the transfer of impurity and the freedom/cleansing received from the affliction. It beautifully portrays both death and life, payment and release.
• and cedar wood:
  • Hebrew: עֵץ אֶרֶז (etz erez), "cedar tree," particularly cedar of Lebanon.
  • Significance: Cedar was highly valued for its durability, resistance to decay, pleasant scent, and stately appearance. Its use here might symbolize strength, permanence, or anti-decay properties necessary for overcoming the contaminating agent, or even royalty. It was a costly and strong material, perhaps indicating the serious nature of the affliction and the robustness of the required purification.
• and scarlet:
  • Hebrew: שְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת (sheni tola'at), literally "worm of scarlet," referring to the dye extracted from a cochineal insect (similar to crimson).
  • Significance: Scarlet dye was potent and deep in color. It is often associated with blood (life force, atonement) or, paradoxically, with sin (Isa 1:18). In purification rituals, its inclusion implies a deep cleansing from ingrained impurity or sin, a restoration to vibrant life through atonement.
• and hyssop:
  • Hebrew: וְאֵזוֹב (ve'ezov), "hyssop," a small shrub, likely Origanum maru.
  • Significance: Hyssop, a humble plant, was widely used in ancient purification and sprinkling rites because of its capacity to act like a brush for applying liquid (Ex 12:22). It represents the means of cleansing and is spiritually symbolic of purification (Ps 51:7). Its smallness may also signify humility required in approaching God for cleansing.
• words-group by words-group analysis data:
  • "to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop": This phrase groups the purpose ("to cleanse") with the essential ritual components. The choice of specific items (life, death, strength, sin/atonement, cleansing) forms a potent symbolic system, working together to achieve a profound ritualistic purification beyond simple sanitation. The combination of items mirrors those used for human purification, underscoring that the contamination of the house carried similar spiritual implications as personal defilement.

Leviticus 14 49 Bonus section

The "tsara'at" of a house often manifested as green or reddish spots on the walls, deteriorating the plaster or stone. While this could refer to mold or fungus, the Mosaic Law elevates it beyond mere sanitation, portraying it as a severe, God-appointed condition requiring priestly intervention. This indicates that ritual purity in Israel extended to their physical surroundings as an expression of the holy nation. The priest's involvement, even in assessing and cleansing a house, underscores that all aspects of life under the covenant were subject to divine order and holiness. The act of tearing down the affected parts or the entire house (Lev 14:45) if cleansing was unsuccessful demonstrates the radical nature of eliminating impurity.

Leviticus 14 49 Commentary

Leviticus 14:49 serves as a concise yet powerful instruction for dealing with ritual impurity within the domestic sphere. The "tsara'at" in a house was more than a physical ailment; it represented a form of divine displeasure or severe defilement requiring specific atonement and cleansing. The components listed are not random but deeply symbolic. The two birds—one sacrificed, one set free—foreshadow the substitutionary atonement necessary for life and release from defilement. Cedar wood signifies durability and perhaps resistance to decay, contrasting the decaying nature of the mold. Scarlet emphasizes either the stain of the impurity (like sin) or the blood of atonement necessary to purge it. Hyssop is the humble instrument of application, enabling the symbolic washing. Together, these elements convey that restoration to purity is divinely prescribed and comes through a process involving death, atonement, and spiritual purging. The meticulous detail points to the seriousness of maintaining holiness in every aspect of life, even in the very structures people inhabited, reflecting the absolute holiness of God in their midst. This ritual also stood as a distinct polemic against contemporary pagan rites which often relied on superstitious charms; here, the purification comes by divine command and specific materials with symbolic, not magical, efficacy.