Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 14

Verse 1

spake. This was delivered to Moses alone, who was to communicate these regulations to Aaron and his sons; while the rules by which the plague was to be discerned were given to both Moses and Aaron. Thus the position of Moses as the great lawgiver was upheld and secured. See note on Leviticus 5:14 .

Verse 2

the law of the leper: provides for his cleansing.

in the day = when. Compare Genesis 2:17 , and see App-18 .

shall be brought unto the priest. Compare Matthew 8:2 .Mark 1:40 . Luke 5:12 ; Luke 17:13 .

brought. The leper could do nothing. He must be "brought". The priest must go forth to him (Leviticus 14:3 ).

Verse 4

is to be cleansed = him that is cleansing himself.

birds , or sparrows.

cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. Hence the ancient tradition that the highest tree and the lowest herb give the leper purity, because pride was the cause of the plague, and humility is the necessary condition of its cure. These three were used also with the red heifer (Numbers 19:6 ). Compare Hebrews 9:19 . Psalms 51:7 .

Verse 5

running. Hebrew living, i.e. not stagnant.

Verse 6

As. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and as".

Verse 7

seven times. Compare Leviticus 4:6 . 2 Kings 5:10 , 2 Kings 5:14 . App-10 .

pronounce him clean = Hebrew make him clean. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct) = declare him to be clean.

Verse 8

wash = bathe.

Verse 9

seventh day. He was clean on the first day, now he enters into the enjoyment of it himself.

wash his flesh in water = bathe his body. Flesh put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for his body, as in Ecclesiastes 2:3 .Isaiah 10:8 . Ezekiel 10:12 . Occurs eight times in Leviticus (Leviticus 14:9 ; Leviticus 15:13 , Leviticus 15:16 ; Leviticus 16:4 , Leviticus 16:24 , Leviticus 16:26 , Leviticus 16:28 ; Leviticus 22:6 ), and is rendered in three different ways in Authorized Version. But a peculiar ritual phrase should obviously be rendered by the same English phrase. This is to be distinguished from "himself" in Leviticus 14:8 ; Leviticus 15:5 , Leviticus 15:6 , Leviticus 15:7 , Leviticus 15:8 , Leviticus 15:10 , Leviticus 15:11 , Leviticus 15:16 , Leviticus 15:18 , Leviticus 15:21 , Leviticus 15:22 , Leviticus 15:27 ; Leviticus 17:16 .

Verse 10

eighth day. Now, all the offerings are introduced, but the trespass offering comes first (Leviticus 14:12 ).

deals. See App-51 .

meat offering. Hebrew. minhah. App-43 .

Verse 11

present the man = cause the man to stand. All is done for the leper, he can do nothing.

door = entrance.

tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel .

Verse 12

offer = bring him near. Hebrew. karab. App-43 .

trespass offering. Hebrew. 'aSamaritan Pentateuch App-43 .

wave offering. See note on Exodus 29:27 .

Verse 13

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 18

the head. Note how all the members of the body are in turn cleansed. All is forgiven. Psalms 103:3 .Colossians 1:14 ; Colossians 2:13 .Ephesians 1:7 .

make an atonement. See note on Exodus 29:33 .

Verse 19

offer. Hebrew. 'asah. App-43 .

Verse 21

poor. The Divine consideration is again shown here. Compare Leviticus 5:7 , Leviticus 5:11 ; Leviticus 12:8 .

cannot get. Hebrew "his hand reach not". Translated in Leviticus 14:22 .

Verse 23

door = entrance.

Verse 24

the priest shall take, &c. The ritual as imposing for the poor as for the rich.

Verse 33

spake. See note on Leviticus 5:14 . The law of cleansing persons addressed to Moses alone; that about houses, &c, addressed to Aaron as well.

Verse 34

When ye be come, &c. Here we have the first of four prospective laws, having no immediate hearing. See Leviticus 19:23 ; Leviticus 23:10 ; Leviticus 25:2 . Hence it is separated from the law for leprous men and garments, in the form of an appendix.

plague. House leprosy is here represented as being supernatural. This was peculiar to Palestine and to houses of Israelites. The Targum of Jonathan renders this: "And if there be a man who buildeth his house with stolen goods, then I will put", &c.

Verse 36

before, &c. This law was most benign in its intention.

Verse 37

hollow strakes = sunken places.

than the wall = Figure of speech Ellipsis, App-6 . = "deeper than [the surface of] the wall".

Verse 39

the seventh day = on the seventh day. Note the frequency of this number throughout, and see App-10 .

spread. This is a bad sign in noting the presence and workings of our inward corruption.

Verse 40

they. Of the verbs in these three verses, note that two are in the singular, viz. Leviticus 14:42 , "he shall take", and "he shall plaister". Hence the authorities of the second temple interpreted the plural of the owners of the "party-wall", and the singular of the owner of the affected house.

Verse 42

he. See note on Leviticus 14:40 .

Verse 44

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

spread. The same criterion as in the case of men and garments. See note on Leviticus 14:37 with Leviticus 13:6 .

fretting = rankling. See note on Leviticus 13:51 .

Verse 48

shall come. Hebrew "coming in shall come in. "Figure of speech Polyptoton. ( App-6 .) = shall actually come in.

Verse 49

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in verses: Leviticus 14:48-53 .

cleanse = cleanse from sin.

Verses 51-52

Note the emphasis put upon this ceremony by the Structure (an Introversion). Note also the Figure of speech. Polysyndeton . ( App-6 .)

| s | 51-. Cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet,

| t |-51-. And the living bird,

| n | -51-. Blood of the bird and running water,

| v | - 51. The house.

| v | 52-. The house.

| u | -52-. Blood of the bird and running water.

| t | -52- And the living bird.

| s | 52. Cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet.

Verse 52

Note the emphasis put upon this ceremony by the Structure (an Introversion). Note also the Figure of speech. Polysyndeton . ( App-6 .)

| s | 51-. Cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet,

| t |-51-. And the living bird,

| n | -51-. Blood of the bird and running water,

| v | - 51. The house.

| v | 52-. The house.

| u | -52-. Blood of the bird and running water.

| t | -52- And the living bird.

| s | 52. Cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet.

Verse 54

(Leviticus 14:54-57 ) ("r", p. 136). The recapitulation of the law, corresponding with "r", Leviticus 13:59 (p. 136), summing up chapters 13 and 14.

[ Conversion Note: I've included the text above exactly as it appears in the Companion Bible . There is no Structure "r", or any other diagram, on page 136. Furthermore, Leviticus 13:59 is not on page 136. Page 136 references Leviticus 3:15-17 ; Leviticus 4:1-14 .Leviticus 13:59; Leviticus 13:59 is shown on page 151 but no Structure "r". Leviticus 13:59 does not have any comments.]

Verse 55

(Leviticus 14:54-57 ) ("r", p. 136). The recapitulation of the law, corresponding with "r", Leviticus 13:59 (p. 136), summing up chapters 13 and 14.

[ Conversion Note: I've included the text above exactly as it appears in the Companion Bible . There is no Structure "r", or any other diagram, on page 136. Furthermore, Leviticus 13:59 is not on page 136. Page 136 references Leviticus 3:15-17 ; Leviticus 4:1-14 .Leviticus 13:59; Leviticus 13:59 is shown on page 151 but no Structure "r". Leviticus 13:59 does not have any comments.]

Verse 56

(Leviticus 14:54-57 ) ("r", p. 136). The recapitulation of the law, corresponding with "r", Leviticus 13:59 (p. 136), summing up chapters 13 and 14.

[ Conversion Note: I've included the text above exactly as it appears in the Companion Bible . There is no Structure "r", or any other diagram, on page 136. Furthermore, Leviticus 13:59 is not on page 136. Page 136 references Leviticus 3:15-17 ; Leviticus 4:1-14 .Leviticus 13:59; Leviticus 13:59 is shown on page 151 but with no Structure "r". Leviticus 13:59 does not have any comments.]

Verse 57

To teach. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "and to", thus preserving the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in this member r (verses: Leviticus 14:54-57 ) without a break. Eight "ands" in all.

when. Hebrew "in the day". Compare Genesis 2:17 , and see App-18 .