Leviticus 14 53

Leviticus 14:53 kjv

But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.

Leviticus 14:53 nkjv

Then he shall let the living bird loose outside the city in the open field, and make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean.

Leviticus 14:53 niv

Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields outside the town. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean."

Leviticus 14:53 esv

And he shall let the live bird go out of the city into the open country. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean."

Leviticus 14:53 nlt

he will release the live bird in the open fields outside the town. Through this process, the priest will purify the house, and it will be ceremonially clean.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 53 Meaning

Leviticus 14:53 concludes the priestly purification rite for a house afflicted with tsara'at, a serious form of ritual uncleanness. It states that the priest, after preparing the materials, is to release a live bird out of the city into the open field. This act symbolically transfers the defilement to the bird, which carries it away, thus making atonement for the house and rendering it ceremonially clean again, suitable for habitation within the holy community of Israel.

Leviticus 14 53 Context

The verse is the concluding step in the meticulous ritual prescribed in Leviticus chapter 14 for the purification of a house that has been afflicted with tsara'at, often translated as "leprosy," but more broadly referring to a severe, defiling, scaly affection of surfaces. This chapter distinctly addresses the cleansing of individuals from such skin afflictions in its first half and then transitions to the parallel ritual for affected houses (Lev 14:33-53). The entire process emphasizes the priest's careful observation, inspection, and administration of specific actions to determine if the affliction has left the house. The ritual prior to verse 53 includes bringing two clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet material, and hyssop to "living water" in an earthen vessel. One bird is killed over the living water, its blood mingling with the water. The priest then sprinkles the house seven times with this mixture, along with the cedar, scarlet, and hyssop, symbolizing purification and cleansing. The act of releasing the live bird in verse 53 serves as the final, public declaration and visible assurance of the completed cleansing, allowing the dwelling to be ritually reintegrated into the community of the pure. Historically and culturally, ancient Israel viewed such afflictions as more than mere physical ailments; they were deeply interconnected with ritual purity, God's holiness, and the maintenance of a holy dwelling place for God amidst His people. Defilement, whether of a person or a house, prevented full participation in the worshiping community, and thus the purification rites were crucial for spiritual and communal well-being. These laws underscored the radical separation between God's perfect holiness and any form of imperfection or impurity in His covenant people.

Leviticus 14 53 Word analysis

• And he shall let go: The subject "he" refers explicitly to the priest. The act of "letting go" (Hebrew: shilleach, שִׁלַּח) signifies releasing, dismissing, or sending away. It implies freedom from confinement and the cessation of association. This action completes the separation of impurity from the house.
• the live bird: Refers to the second of the two birds used in the purification ritual. The first bird was sacrificed, its blood used for sprinkling. This "live bird" (Hebrew: tsippor hahayah, צִפֹּר הַחַיָּה) represents vitality and continuity of life, acting as a bearer. Its preservation highlights the removal of impurity without itself being destroyed. It symbolically carries the defilement away.
• out of the city: Emphasizes separation from the communal dwelling place and areas of habitation. The "city" (Hebrew: ʻir, עִיר) here represents the inhabited, ordered, and purified space of the Israelite community, in contrast to the wild. Impurity cannot remain within God's holy encampment or settled area.
• into the open field: The "open field" (Hebrew: hasadeh haptuach, הַשָּׂדֶה הַפָּתוּחַ, literally "the opened field") is the uninhabited wilderness or unoccupied area. This destination signifies the permanent removal and dissipation of the uncleanness, never to return. It speaks of a boundless space where the defilement loses its power and cannot contaminate further.
• and make atonement: The phrase "make atonement" (Hebrew: wekipper, וְכִפֵּר, from the root kaphar, כָּפַר) indicates a covering, pacifying, or purifying act that brings about ritual reconciliation and cleanses from impurity. Here, it is specifically for ceremonial defilement, not an act of forgiveness for moral sin in the ultimate sense, but a ritual reconciliation that renders something clean. It's the act that restores ritual purity.
• for the house: The object of the atonement is "the house" (Hebrew: habayit, הַבַּיִת), referring to the dwelling structure itself that was afflicted with tsara'at. This specifies that the ritual's efficacy is directed at the physical habitation, purifying it so it may be properly used by ceremonially clean people.
• and it shall be clean: The outcome of the entire purification ritual. "Clean" (Hebrew: wetaher, וְטָהֵר, from the root tahar, טָהַר) signifies ritual purity. The house is restored to a state of ceremonial readiness, suitable for human habitation and the presence of the holy God within Israel.

• "And he shall let go the live bird out of the city into the open field": This phrase describes the symbolic removal of impurity. The "live bird" functions as a vessel, bearing the defilement away. The act of "letting it go" out of the city and into the open field powerfully illustrates the desire for total and permanent eradication of the uncleanness. It is sent into an uncontrolled, limitless space, where its taint cannot linger in the community.
• "and make atonement for the house": This phrase encapsulates the purpose and efficacy of the ritual action. The priest's act, divinely prescribed, achieves atonement. While the house itself cannot commit sin, its affliction creates a ceremonial impurity requiring ritual covering or purification. The kaphar applied here ensures that the structure is once again ritually acceptable for Israelite living under the covenant.
• "and it shall be clean": This final declaration signifies the successful completion and effect of the purification process. It represents a state of ceremonial purity, allowing the formerly defiled dwelling to be fully reintegrated into the community and to function as a suitable abode for people committed to God's holiness. This state of 'clean' or 'tahar' is the ultimate aim of the extensive purification rites.

Leviticus 14 53 Bonus section

The purification ritual described for tsara'at on a house serves as a potent pedagogical tool for Israel, illustrating the comprehensive reach of God's holiness, even to inanimate objects touched by ritual impurity. It teaches that impurity cannot abide in the community where God dwells. Furthermore, the selection of specific elements like "living water" (likely spring water, symbolizing life and purification), "cedar wood" (known for its durability and cleansing properties, associated with incorruptibility), "scarlet material" (symbolizing life or the stain of sin, also signifying the vibrant color of blood), and "hyssop" (a plant used for sprinkling in cleansing rites, associated with purification, Ps 51:7) underscores the divine detail and symbolic depth within these commands. Each component pointed beyond itself to the radical nature of divine cleansing necessary for any person or object to exist in a relationship with the Holy One. This layered symbolism provided a rich framework for understanding the nature of defilement and the divine process for its eradication, preparing the covenant people for a deeper grasp of ultimate cleansing that would one day be achieved by the Messiah.

Leviticus 14 53 Commentary

Leviticus 14:53 culminates a complex purification rite, emphasizing God's meticulous concern for holiness within the covenant community. The imagery of the released bird is potent: one bird died (Lev 14:51) as a means of 'atonement' through its blood, while the second live bird, laden symbolically with the impurity, is released to carry that defilement far "into the open field." This duality mirrors profound spiritual truths found throughout Scripture regarding sin and purification. The slain bird speaks of a life surrendered for defilement; the live bird, however, represents the absolute and irreversible removal of that defilement. This is not merely an external cleansing; it speaks to God's standard that impurities affecting His people, their belongings, and even their dwellings must be utterly removed and discarded from His sight and their community. This ritual provides a powerful precursor to the deeper spiritual reality of Christ's work: He gave His life (like the slain bird) to shed His blood for our sins, and through His resurrection and ascension, He ultimately bore away our sins (like the released bird), leading to our complete and definitive cleansing (Heb 9:26, 28). The "open field" symbolizes the boundless nature of God's forgiveness and His comprehensive removal of sin, consigning it to oblivion.