Leviticus 14 57

Leviticus 14:57 kjv

To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy.

Leviticus 14:57 nkjv

to teach when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law of leprosy."

Leviticus 14:57 niv

to determine when something is clean or unclean. These are the regulations for defiling skin diseases and defiling molds.

Leviticus 14:57 esv

to show when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law for leprous disease.

Leviticus 14:57 nlt

This procedure will determine whether a person or object is ceremonially clean or unclean. "These are the instructions regarding skin diseases and mildew."

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 57 Meaning

Leviticus 14:57 serves as a concluding statement for the elaborate regulations detailed in chapters 13 and 14 regarding tsara'at (often translated as "leprosy," but encompassing a range of severe skin conditions in humans and mold/mildew in garments and houses). This verse clarifies the primary purpose of these intricate laws: to equip the Levitical priests with the authoritative knowledge and discernment needed to distinguish between a state of ritual uncleanness and one of ritual cleanness. By doing so, the priests could accurately instruct the people on the necessary procedures for purification, ensuring that the Israelites maintained the purity required for God to dwell among them within the holy camp.

Leviticus 14 57 Context

Leviticus chapters 11-15 form a crucial segment of the Mosaic Law, focusing on the concept of ritual purity (ṭohŏrâ) and impurity (ṭumʾâ). These chapters, often considered part of the "Holiness Code" (Lev 17-27) or its prelude, meticulously detail the conditions that render an individual, object, or even a house ritually unclean, and the prescribed rites for their purification. This meticulousness was paramount because God, being holy, chose to dwell among His people in the Tabernacle. Therefore, the people's proximity to His divine presence demanded a rigorous standard of ceremonial purity to prevent the defilement of the sanctuary and the nation.

Leviticus 14, in particular, outlines the elaborate, multi-stage ritual for the cleansing of a person recovered from tsara'at (verses 1-32) and the similar process for a house infected with mold or mildew (verses 33-53). These were serious conditions, resulting in temporary or prolonged exclusion from the Israelite camp due to the contagiousness of tsara'at (both physically and ritually). The ceremonies, involving specific sacrifices, blood rites, and sprinklings, underscored the severity of impurity and the necessity of God's appointed means for restoration. Leviticus 14:57 concludes this detailed section, summarizing that the entire purpose of these extensive instructions was to enable the priests to perform their divinely ordained duty of discerning and teaching the distinction between clean and unclean. This teaching function of the priests was vital for maintaining the spiritual health and order of the entire community in God's presence.

Leviticus 14 57 Word analysis

• to teach (לְהוֹרֹת – lehôrôṯ): This is from the Hebrew root yārah, meaning "to throw," "to cast," but also "to instruct," "to teach," "to point out," or "to guide." It is the same root from which the word "Torah" (meaning "instruction" or "law") is derived.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the pedagogical role of the Levitical priest. Their function was not merely to execute rituals but, fundamentally, to educate the people on God's statutes. This word highlights their responsibility as interpreters and disseminators of divine standards, ensuring the community's understanding and adherence to covenant requirements.
• when there is uncleanness (בְּטֻמְאָה – bəṭumʾâ): Lit. "in uncleanness" or "in impurity."
  • Uncleanness (טֻמְאָה – ṭumʾâ): This term denotes a state of ritual impurity that rendered an individual or object unsuitable for full participation in the sacred life of the community, especially regarding Tabernacle worship. It was often temporary and could result from various circumstances, including natural bodily functions, contact with a corpse, or contracting tsara'at. It did not always imply moral sin, but necessitated purification to restore ritual eligibility.
  • Significance: This points to the need for strict adherence to divine protocol to maintain the sanctity of God's dwelling place among His people. The priest's ability to accurately identify uncleanness prevented defilement of the holy.
• and when there is cleanness (וּבְטָהֳרָה – ūḇəṭohŏrâ): Lit. "and in cleanness" or "and in purity."
  • Cleanness (טָהֳרָה – ṭohŏrâ): This signifies a state of ritual purity, making a person or object acceptable for participating in the sacred communal life and for approaching the Tabernacle. It meant being free from defilement and fit for communion with the holy.
  • Significance: The priest's discernment covered both sides of the coin: identifying what was defiling and declaring when a state of purity had been achieved after the prescribed rituals. This dual responsibility maintained spiritual order and facilitated reintegration into the community.
• and this is the law (וְזֹאת תּוֹרַת – wəzōʾṯ tôraṯ): Lit. "and this is the instruction/law of."
  • This (זֹאת – zōʾṯ): Refers collectively to the comprehensive body of regulations concerning tsara'at detailed throughout Leviticus chapters 13 and 14.
  • Law (תּוֹרָה – tôraṯ): Here means "instruction," "guidance," or "precept." It reiterates the divine authority of these commandments.
  • Significance: This phrase acts as a definitive rubric, declaring that all the preceding, highly detailed instructions regarding tsara'at are not human inventions but God's authoritative and binding "Torah." It underscores the comprehensive nature of divine guidance in all aspects of life for the covenant people.
• of leprosy (הַצָּרָ֑עַת – hammaṣṣāraʿaṯ): Refers to tsara'at.
  • Tsara'at (צָרַעַת): A technical biblical term for various severe, often progressive, skin conditions in humans, but also for funguses/mildews appearing on garments or within the stones/plaster of houses. It is widely recognized by scholars to be broader than, and distinct from, modern Hansen's disease, though it may have included some forms of it.
  • Significance: Tsara'at was seen as a profoundly contaminating affliction, necessitating strict quarantine and meticulous cleansing rituals. It served as a powerful physical symbol of defilement and, often, a divine judgment or consequence for sin (e.g., Miriam, Gehazi). The exhaustive laws surrounding tsara'at highlighted the gravity of anything that broke purity, ultimately pointing to the insidiousness of sin and God's demand for radical holiness among His people.

Leviticus 14 57 Bonus section

The exhaustive detail dedicated to tsara'at within Leviticus highlights God's holistic concern for His people's well-being—spiritual, communal, and even physical. It teaches that even seemingly mundane aspects of life, like skin conditions or household mold, held significant spiritual implications within a covenant relationship with a holy God. The public nature of the priestly pronouncements on "clean" or "unclean" ensured transparency and enforced communal discipline, providing public validation for those who had been purified and allowing their safe re-entry into society. Moreover, the emphasis on teaching underscores that mere outward ritual without understanding its deeper spiritual principles (the "why" behind the "what") was insufficient. The Levitical system constantly pointed to the inherent tension between human defilement and divine holiness, building a theological framework that necessitated a complete and permanent cleansing, ultimately provided by Christ.

Leviticus 14 57 Commentary

Leviticus 14:57 functions as a concluding theological and practical summary of the detailed regulations governing tsara'at in chapters 13 and 14. Its essence lies in defining the priestly office as the authoritative interpreter and teacher of God's holiness standards. The primary purpose of these intricate purity laws was to enable the priests to correctly discern and declare ritual states—distinguishing between what rendered someone or something "unclean" and what made them "clean." This meticulous differentiation was not merely about hygiene or public health, though those were secondary benefits; it was fundamentally about maintaining the sanctity of the Israelite community, enabling God's holy presence to abide safely among them without being defiled.

The highly contagious and defiling nature of tsara'at made it a potent physical illustration of sin's defiling power. The rituals for tsara'at, demanding inspection, separation, cleansing, and sacrifice, underscored the severity of impurity and God's sovereign provision for atonement and restoration. The priest's to teach role here signifies their prophetic responsibility to guide the people into practical holiness. These Old Covenant ceremonial laws, while no longer literally binding on New Covenant believers, served as a divine tutor (Gal 3:24) to impress upon God's people the absolute necessity of purity, both external and internal. They powerfully prefigured the ultimate cleansing from the defilement of sin through the perfect sacrifice and purification offered by the Lord Jesus Christ, who enables true spiritual cleanness for all who believe (Heb 9:13-14).