Leviticus 14 8

Leviticus 14:8 kjv

And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

Leviticus 14:8 nkjv

He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days.

Leviticus 14:8 niv

"The person to be cleansed must wash their clothes, shave off all their hair and bathe with water; then they will be ceremonially clean. After this they may come into the camp, but they must stay outside their tent for seven days.

Leviticus 14:8 esv

And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but live outside his tent seven days.

Leviticus 14:8 nlt

"The persons being purified must then wash their clothes, shave off all their hair, and bathe themselves in water. Then they will be ceremonially clean and may return to the camp. However, they must remain outside their tents for seven days.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 8 Meaning

Leviticus 14:8 outlines the initial, thorough purification rites for an Israelite who has been pronounced cured of leprosy (tzara'at). These steps, mandated by God through Moses, signify a transition from a state of defilement and separation back towards communal and spiritual normalcy. The verse details actions of complete outward and inward cleansing through washing clothes, total body hair removal, and ritual bathing, leading to a declared state of ritual purity. However, this is followed by a seven-day probationary period of separation outside of one's dwelling within the camp, signifying a gradual, careful reintegration rather than immediate full restoration.

Leviticus 14 8 Context

Leviticus 14:8 is part of the extensive Mosaic Law, specifically dealing with the highly contagious and ritually defiling disease of leprosy (tzara'at). Chapters 13 and 14 meticulously detail the diagnosis and prescribed rituals for cleansing and reintegrating a leper back into the community. Prior to this verse, the priest would have inspected the person and pronounced them healed (Lev 14:1-7), an act highlighting divine intervention as only God could heal leprosy. The historical context reflects a nomadic society living in close proximity, where maintaining ritual purity was essential for the sanctity of the camp, symbolizing God's dwelling among His people. Leprosy's social ostracization also served as a stark physical representation of the deeper spiritual defilement caused by sin, which separates individuals from God's holy presence and their community. This ritual for a cleansed leper emphasizes God's concern for health, holiness, and the ordered restoration of His people. The stringent steps underscore that purification and re-entry into fellowship are entirely dependent on God's prescribed methods, counteracting any humanistic notions of achieving purity through self-effort or arbitrary means.

Leviticus 14 8 Word analysis

• And he that is to be cleansed (וְהַמִּטַּהֵר vəhammiṭṭahēr): The Hebrew uses a reflexive verb form, meaning "he who purifies himself" or "causes himself to be clean," referring to the person who has been healed by God and is now undertaking the steps to restore his ritual purity according to divine instruction. This emphasizes active participation in the purification process, even though the healing itself was from God.
• shall wash his clothes (יְכַבֵּס בְּגָדָיו yəkhabbēs bəḡāḏāyw): "Washing" (כָּבַס kābhas) often refers to treading or trampling laundry. This suggests a vigorous, thorough cleaning of external garments, indicating removal of any potential residual defilement that might cling to external articles. It speaks to a visible, outward removal of impurity.
• and shave off all his hair (וְגִלַּח אֶת־כָּל־שְׂעָרוֹ vəḡillaḥ ʾeṯ-kāl-śəʿārô): "Shaving" (גִּלַּח gillaḥ) all body hair (head, beard, eyebrows, etc.) is a radical act of purification, symbolizing a complete severance from the former diseased state and any remnants of defilement. It marks a profound break from the old self, like a symbolic rebirth or renewal. This thoroughness leaves no place for lurking impurity. In other contexts, shaving might be associated with grief or mourning, but here it's specifically about a transition from a polluted state to purity.
• and wash himself in water (וְרָחַץ בַּמַּיִם אֶת־בְּשָׂרוֹ vəraḥaṣ bammayim ʾeṯ-bəśārô): "Washing himself" (רָחַץ rāḥaṣ) denotes full body immersion, often interpreted as a ritual bath (mikvah). This signifies internal purification, distinct from merely washing clothes or parts of the body. It represents the cleansing of the physical self, not just surfaces.
• that he may be clean (וְטָהֵר vəṭāhēr): The verb "clean" (טָהֵר ṭāhēr) means to become ritually pure, fit for worship and participation in the community. This indicates a status change. It’s a divine declaration of acceptance, based on adherence to the prescribed ritual, signifying that the previous state of tum'ah (impurity) has been overcome.
• and after that he shall come into the camp (וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן יָבוֹא אֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶה vəʾaḥărê-ḵēn yāḇô ʾel-hammaḥăneh): This signifies the permission for re-entry into the general community, which itself was considered a holy space, a tangible demonstration of his restored status.
• and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days (וְיָשַׁב מִחוּץ לְאָהֳלוֹ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים vəyāšaḇ miḥūṣ ləʾōholô šivʿaṯ yāmîm): Despite being "clean" from the actions of Lev 14:8, the person cannot immediately resume full dwelling within his personal tent for seven days. "Tarry abroad" or "sit outside" indicates a continued, temporary separation, implying a phase of observation, testing, or a final period of transition and consecration before complete societal reintegration. This "seven days" (a number symbolic of completion and holiness) marks a time for deeper contemplation or perhaps a safeguard to ensure the former defilement is truly past.

Leviticus 14 8 Bonus section

The ritual cleansing described here is not a public health measure for stopping contagiousness, as the person is already declared healed by the priest. Instead, it is a spiritual purification for someone who was ceremonially unclean and separated from God's people due to a condition often seen as a divine judgment for sin. The emphasis on water, blood, and oil throughout the cleansing rites (Lev 14) serves to highlight a process dependent on divine agency and commanded ritual, not human merit. This passage teaches us about God's order, His holiness, and the means He provides for fellowship even after defilement. The necessity of rigorous self-cleansing points towards the utter depravity of sin that requires radical removal and replacement, fulfilled definitively in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, who purifies us entirely from the defilement of sin.

Leviticus 14 8 Commentary

Leviticus 14:8 details the essential preliminary steps for the purification of one healed from leprosy. The meticulous nature of these acts—washing clothes, complete body hair removal, and ritual bathing—underscore the profound spiritual and physical separation that tzara'at imposed. The complete removal of hair symbolizes a total break from the past, a spiritual cleansing akin to a new birth. These rituals do not heal the leper (that is God's work), but they prepare him for re-entry into the holy community, signifying both outer and inner consecration. The immediate declaration of "clean" upon completion of these initial steps, followed by a mandated seven-day period outside his own tent, emphasizes a process of gradual spiritual and social reintegration. This period of liminality prevents immediate, full restoration, highlighting that full communion requires more than mere superficial actions, but a complete transformation over time. The ritual process points to the extensive steps required to approach a holy God after defilement, ultimately foreshadowing the thorough cleansing provided by Christ's atoning sacrifice which removes sin (the ultimate defilement) and offers full reconciliation and communion.