Leviticus 14 56

Leviticus 14:56 kjv

And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot:

Leviticus 14:56 nkjv

for a swelling and a scab and a bright spot,

Leviticus 14:56 niv

and for a swelling, a rash or a shiny spot,

Leviticus 14:56 esv

and for a swelling or an eruption or a spot,

Leviticus 14:56 nlt

and a swelling on the skin, a rash, or discolored skin.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 56 Meaning

Leviticus 14:56 functions as a concluding summary verse within the broader laws concerning skin diseases and related impurities. It specifies two additional types of skin afflictions—a "spreading itch" or eruption, and a "scab"—that fall under the priest's jurisdiction for diagnosis and appropriate action according to the Mosaic law. This demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the ritual purity code, ensuring that various manifest skin conditions, beyond the prominent "leprosy" (tzara'at), were identified and handled to maintain the ritual and communal integrity of Israel.

Leviticus 14 56 Context

Leviticus 14:56 concludes a significant section of Leviticus that began in chapter 13, detailing the extensive laws concerning various skin diseases (collectively referred to as tzara'at, often translated "leprosy," but covering a wider range of conditions including psoriasis, ringworm, and other severe dermatological issues) and analogous defilement in garments and houses (mold or mildew). The preceding verses in Leviticus 13 establish the meticulous diagnostic procedures for priests to identify these conditions, while the earlier parts of Leviticus 14 describe the elaborate purification rituals for an individual once healed. Verse 56 specifically serves as the summary statement, asserting that the entirety of these diverse physical manifestations, including the "spreading itch" and "scab," are encompassed within these detailed priestly laws for judgment and purity. The broader context of Leviticus emphasizes God's holiness and His expectation for His people, Israel, to maintain ritual and moral purity in every aspect of their lives to dwell in His presence.

Leviticus 14 56 Word analysis

• and (וְ - ve): A simple connective, yet significant. It acts as a final inclusion, emphasizing that the immediately following conditions, though not explicitly detailed previously in the same depth as tzara'at, are unequivocally part of the comprehensive law.

• for (לְ - le): A preposition indicating reference or pertaining to. Here it means "in the case of" or "concerning," signaling the category of afflictions being addressed.

• a spreading itch (נֶתֶק - neteq):

  • Original Language: Hebrew נֶתֶק (neteq).
  • Root Meaning: From the verb נָתַק (natak), meaning "to pull off," "tear away," "break apart."
  • Specific Meaning: Describes a specific type of skin eruption, often characterized by its tendency to spread and sometimes causing hair loss (as described in Lev 13:30-37 when it appears on the head or beard). It implies an active, often expanding lesion. Unlike tzara'at, neteq is not explicitly stated to render one unclean merely by its presence; rather, its diagnostic features determine whether it makes one unclean.
  • Significance: This term ensures that even skin conditions presenting differently from the most severe tzara'at fall under the purview of priestly evaluation, highlighting the law's thoroughness in covering all visible potential defilements.

• and (וְ - ve): Another simple connective, linking the neteq condition to the sappaḥat condition, reinforcing the inclusive nature of the summary.

• for (לְ - le): Again, a preposition indicating reference or pertaining to the next condition.

• a scab (סַפַּחַת - sappaḥat):

  • Original Language: Hebrew סַפַּחַת (sappaḥat).
  • Root Meaning: From the verb סָפַח (sapah), meaning "to attach," "to cleave," "to join."
  • Specific Meaning: Refers to an adhering lesion or localized eruption, often translated as a scab or scale. It might represent a more localized, persistent patch rather than the spreading nature of neteq. In Lev 13:6-8, it's mentioned alongside "swelling" (se'eth) or "bright spot" (baheret). It denotes a distinct, usually flatter or more localized, blemish.
  • Significance: The inclusion of sappaḥat underscores the comprehensive attention to detail within God's law. Even localized or less dramatic skin afflictions were not to be ignored but required careful priestly discernment for the maintenance of ritual purity.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "for a spreading itch, and for a scab": This concluding phrase summarizes the preceding extensive and complex regulations by adding these two specific dermatological conditions to the overall list of skin afflictions that are subject to the purity laws of Leviticus 13-14. It signals that the priest’s duty to discern purity and impurity applies not only to the general tzara'at but also to these distinct and varied manifestations. The comprehensive nature emphasizes God's demand for thoroughness in maintaining ritual cleanliness within the community, acting as a visible parable of the demand for spiritual holiness and separation from all defilement.

Leviticus 14 56 Bonus section

• Priestly Authority: This verse reinforces the immense authority and responsibility of the priest. They were not merely spiritual guides but crucial diagnosticians whose decisions affected the social, spiritual, and communal lives of the Israelites, determining who could participate fully in communal life and worship.
• Emphasis on Appearance: The very nature of these laws, focusing on visible skin conditions and marks, highlights that God is concerned not just with internal states but with the external presentation of His people. While external purity alone cannot save, it was an integral part of Old Covenant obedience and a sign of spiritual alignment.
• God's Holiness Manifest: The detailed nature of these regulations underscores the absolute holiness of God, who desires that His people be distinct from the surrounding pagan nations. Their very physical environment and well-being were to reflect His character and order, pointing towards a complete and unblemished separation for Him.

Leviticus 14 56 Commentary

Leviticus 14:56 functions as a final concluding remark for the comprehensive laws regarding infectious skin diseases and related physical defilements found in Leviticus 13-14. By explicitly naming "a spreading itch" (neteq) and "a scab" (sappaḥat), it reiterates the divine intent for all forms of suspect dermatological conditions to be brought under priestly examination. This meticulous approach served not only as a foundational public health measure, crucial for preventing the spread of contagious diseases within the densely populated Israelite camp, but primarily as a powerful spiritual lesson.

These physical impurities vividly illustrated the defiling nature of sin. Just as a skin affliction could lead to isolation from the community and the sanctuary, sin inherently separates an individual from God and from the holy community. The detailed diagnostic procedures, the prescribed isolation periods, and the complex rituals of cleansing all pointed to God's utter holiness and His requirement for His people to be separate and pure. While these Levitical laws offered a temporal, ceremonial cleansing, they ultimately foreshadowed the spiritual cleansing available through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is the true and perfect Priest who, by His shed blood, purifies not merely the flesh from ceremonial defilement but the conscience from the indelible "scab" of sin, enabling communion with a holy God.