Leviticus 14 52

Leviticus 14:52 kjv

And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet:

Leviticus 14:52 nkjv

And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and the running water and the living bird, with the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the scarlet.

Leviticus 14:52 niv

He shall purify the house with the bird's blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet yarn.

Leviticus 14:52 esv

Thus he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and with the fresh water and with the live bird and with the cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn.

Leviticus 14:52 nlt

When the priest has purified the house in exactly this way,

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 52 Meaning

Leviticus 14:52 describes the comprehensive cleansing and atonement ritual for a house affected by a "leprous" defilement. The verse lists the various symbolic elements — the blood of a bird, living water, anointing oil, the two birds initially prepared for the rite, cedarwood, hyssop, and scarlet yarn — that the priest was to use in the purification process. This multi-faceted ceremony aimed to remove impurity, make restitution for the house's defilement, and consecrate it, allowing it to be re-inhabited within the community of God's holy people.

Leviticus 14 52 Context

Leviticus chapter 14 outlines the detailed rituals for the purification of a person cured of tzara'at, a severe skin disease often translated as "leprosy," and then for a house affected by a similar "leprous" mold or mildew. This specific verse (14:52) is part of the final act in the house purification ceremony (Lev 14:48-53), which is performed if the priest declares the house clean after initial attempts at scraping and replastering.

The entire purification process for both individuals and houses emphasizes the serious nature of ritual impurity, which barred one from the holy community and God's presence. These elaborate rites underscore God's absolute holiness, the necessity of divine intervention for cleansing, and the restorative power He provides through prescribed sacrifices and ceremonies. The physical cleansing ritual prefigures the deeper spiritual cleansing from sin that only God can provide, ultimately through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Leviticus 14 52 Word Analysis

• And he shall make atonement: Hebrew: wə·ḵip·per (וְכִפֵּר). From the root kaphar (כפר), meaning "to cover," "to purge," "to make atonement," or "to propitiate." In this context, it signifies rendering the house ceremonially clean, neutralizing the defilement, and re-establishing its acceptable status for habitation within the holy community. This is not for moral sin of the house, but for its ritual impurity.
• for the house: Refers to the physical dwelling structure that had been affected by the "leprous" defilement (likely a fungal or mold growth). The impurity was contagious and rendered the house unfit, potentially requiring its demolition if not cleansed.
• with the blood of the bird: This refers to the blood of the first of the two clean birds mentioned in Lev 14:49-50, which was killed over fresh "living" water. Blood, in the biblical sense, represents life and is the medium for atonement (Lev 17:11). Its application symbolically purifies by vicarious sacrifice.
• and with the living water: Hebrew: u·ḇə·mayim ḥay·yim (וּבְמַיִם חַיִּים). "Living water" refers to fresh, flowing water, such as from a spring or stream. It symbolizes purity, life, and refreshment, and is essential for ritual cleansing, contrasting with stagnant or collected water which could itself be a source of impurity.
• and with the anointing oil: Hebrew: u·ḇaš·še·men ha·miš·ḥāh (וּבַשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה). Sacred oil, distinct from common oil. It was used to anoint priests, kings, and objects of the Tabernacle, signifying sanctification, dedication, and the impartation of the Spirit. Its inclusion here uniquely elevates the purification of the house to a level of consecration, indicating it is set apart again for its proper use within a holy nation.
• and with the two living birds: This phrase is crucial. While only one bird's blood (the killed bird) and the release of the other bird (the living bird) are mentioned as actions in 14:50-51, the verse 14:52 seems to encompass all the elements used for the ritual kit. The phrase represents the complete set of birds from which the necessary elements (blood and the 'carrier away' of impurity via release) are derived for the purification, signifying the duality of life given for cleansing and life set free from defilement.
• and with the cedarwood: Hebrew: u·ḇā·'e·rez (וּבָאֶרֶז). A durable, decay-resistant, and majestic wood. Symbolizes endurance, permanence, and deep-seated purity or restoration from decay. Its inclusion with hyssop and scarlet yarn is also found in purification rites for defilement by a corpse (Num 19:6).
• and with the hyssop: Hebrew: u·ḇā·'ê·zōḇ (וּבָאֵזֹב). A small, shrub-like plant used for sprinkling. Symbolizes humility and the agent for cleansing and purging (Psa 51:7). It served as the brush or applicator for sprinkling the purifying mixture.
• and with the scarlet yarn: Hebrew: u·ḇə·ṯō·la'·aṯ haš·šā·nî (וּבְתוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי). Crimson-dyed wool or thread. The color scarlet is often associated with blood, life, or profound sin (Isa 1:18). In purification rituals, it typically symbolizes either the defilement that is being purged or the vitality necessary for purification, especially from deep-seated impurities.

Leviticus 14 52 Bonus Section

• Holistic Purification: The combination of various elements (fluid, organic materials, and textile) indicates a holistic approach to cleansing, covering multiple aspects of defilement from source to pervasive influence.
• Atonement's Breadth: While the concept of kaphar (atonement) is primarily linked to sin in a moral sense for people, its application to a "house" demonstrates the biblical understanding of impurity as something that defiles not just persons, but also objects and places, requiring an appropriate ritual covering or purging for restoration. This broad understanding underscores God's sovereignty over all creation and His desire for purity in every sphere of His people's lives.
• Preparatory vs. Direct Use: The verse's reference to "the two living birds" emphasizes the complete set of ritual items provided. One bird provides the blood, while the other is released to carry away impurity, symbolizing death for cleansing and the removal of the defilement, respectively. This comprehensive mention serves as a summary of the required implements.
• Didactic Purpose: These rituals, though no longer practiced by believers today, served a vital didactic purpose for ancient Israel. They consistently taught the extreme seriousness of impurity, the necessity of God's prescribed means of purification, and pointed towards a greater, more perfect cleansing to come through Christ.

Leviticus 14 52 Commentary

Leviticus 14:52 marks the climactic moment in the purification of a leprous house. This detailed listing of ritual components highlights the solemnity and thoroughness required for spiritual and ceremonial cleansing in ancient Israel. The collective elements—blood, living water, anointing oil, birds, cedar, hyssop, and scarlet yarn—each carried profound symbolic weight. The blood signifies the vicarious life given for covering and removing the impurity; living water represents cleansing and life; cedar, hyssop, and scarlet embody the full extent of purification from the deepest contamination, stretching from grandeur to humility, encompassing a cleansing that penetrates and pervades. The inclusion of anointing oil, often reserved for sacred persons and objects, is particularly significant, suggesting that after purification, the house is not just clean but re-consecrated, once again made acceptable for divine dwelling within the holy community. The ritual was not merely for physical sanitation but for maintaining the spiritual purity of God's people and their living spaces, reflecting His own holiness. Ultimately, these tangible, Old Testament rituals serve as powerful types, pointing towards the complete spiritual cleansing and re-consecration that believers experience through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ and the purifying work of the Holy Spirit.