Leviticus 14:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the priest shall take [some] of the log of oil, and pour [it] into the palm of his own left hand:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Next, the cohen is to take some of the two-thirds-pint of olive oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand,

Berean Standard Bible:

Then the priest shall take some of the log of olive oil, pour it into his left palm,

American Standard Version:

And the priest shall take of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the priest^{H3548} shall take^{H3947} some of the log^{H3849} of oil^{H8081}, and pour^{H3332} it into the palm^{H3709} of his own^{H3548} left hand^{H8042}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Leviticus 14:15

Leviticus 14:15 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with the rituals for cleansing a person with a skin disease, often referred to as leprosy in older translations. The historical context of this verse is the Israelite's wilderness journey after their exodus from Egypt, during which God gave Moses various laws and rituals to govern the religious and social life of the community.

The themes present in this verse include:

1. **Purity and Holiness**: The detailed instructions for the cleansing ritual underscore the importance of purity in the Israelite community. The ritual was necessary to restore the individual to a state of ceremonial purity, allowing them to participate fully in the community and worship.

2. **Priestly Role**: The verse highlights the role of the priest as a mediator between God and the people. The priest is responsible for administering the cleansing oil, symbolizing divine healing and the restoration of the individual to the community.

3. **Symbolic Use of Materials**: The use of oil in the ritual is symbolic. Olive oil was a common element in ancient Israel for anointing and symbolized divine favor, joy, and the Holy Spirit. Pouring oil into the left hand of the priest may signify the sufficiency of God's provision for cleansing and restoration.

4. **Ritual and Ceremony**: The specificity of the actions performed by the priest reflects the intricate ceremonial laws of the time. These rituals were meant to be followed precisely to maintain the order and holiness of the community.

5. **Health and Well-being**: The cleansing process also reflects a concern for the physical health and well-being of the community, as skin diseases could be contagious. The ritual purification served as a form of quarantine and public health measure.

In summary, Leviticus 14:15 is part of a detailed purification ritual, emphasizing the themes of priestly mediation, the importance of purity, and the symbolic use of materials to restore individuals to a state of ceremonial cleansing and full participation in the community.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3548
   There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כֹּהֵן
   Transliteration: kôhên
   Pronunciation: ko-hane'
   Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3849
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֹג
   Transliteration: lôg
   Pronunciation: lohg
   Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to deepen or hollow (like כַּד); a log or measure forliquids; log (of oil).
   
4. Strong's Number: H8081
   There are 176 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֶׁמֶן
   Transliteration: shemen
   Pronunciation: sheh'-men
   Description: from שָׁמַן; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness; anointing, [idiom] fat (things), [idiom] fruitful, oil(-ed), ointment, olive, [phrase] pine.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3332
   There are 51 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצַק
   Transliteration: yâtsaq
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsak'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard; cast, cleave fast, be (as) firm, grow, be hard, lay out, molten, overflow, pour (out), run out, set down, stedfast.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3709
   There are 180 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כַּף
   Transliteration: kaph
   Pronunciation: kaf
   Description: from כָּפַף; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power; branch, [phrase] foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.
   
7. Strong's Number: H8042
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׂמָאלִי
   Transliteration: sᵉmâʼlîy
   Pronunciation: sem-aw-lee'
   Description: from שְׂמֹאול; situated on the left side; left.