King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, [if] the plague [be] in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight [are] lower than the wall;
Complete Jewish Bible:
He will examine the infection; and if he sees that the infection is in the walls of the house, with greenish or reddish depressions that seem to go in deeper than the surface of the wall,
Berean Standard Bible:
He is to examine the house, and if the mildew on the walls consists of green or red depressions that appear to be beneath the surface of the wall,
American Standard Version:
and he shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and the appearance thereof be lower than the wall;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he shall look{H7200} on the plague{H5061}, and, behold, if the plague{H5061} be in the walls{H7023} of the house{H1004} with hollow strakes{H8258}, greenish{H3422} or reddish{H125}, which in sight{H4758} are lower{H8217} than{H4480} the wall{H7023};
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 13:19
- And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest;
Leviticus 13:20
- And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it [be] in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.
Leviticus 13:42
- And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it [is] a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.
Leviticus 13:3
- And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and [when] the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight [be] deeper than the skin of his flesh, it [is] a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
Leviticus 13:49
- And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it [is] a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:
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Commentary for Leviticus 14:37
1. **Themes:**
- **Ritual Purity and Impurity:** Leviticus 14 focuses on the purification rituals for those healed from skin diseases (tzara'ath), which are often translated as "leprosy" but likely encompass various skin conditions. The passage emphasizes the importance of ritual purity and the process by which individuals and their belongings, including their houses, could be restored to a state of purity.
- **Divine Health and Well-being:** The concern for plagues or afflictions in the home reflects a broader theme of divine health and well-being as a blessing from God. The presence of such afflictions could render a house ritually impure, necessitating a process of purification.
- **God's Dwelling Place:** The sanctity of the living space is significant, as it parallels the sanctity of the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among the Israelites. Just as the Tabernacle had to be maintained in a state of holiness, so too did the Israelites' homes.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time of Writing:** Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses and is part of the Pentateuch, believed to have been written during the time of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings after the Exodus from Egypt, approximately the 13th century BCE.
- **Cultural Practices:** The detailed instructions for identifying and dealing with afflictions in the home reflect the Israelites' broader legal and ritual system, which was designed to maintain the health and holiness of the community. These practices would have been part of the religious and social life of ancient Israel.
- **Priestly Role:** The passage underscores the role of the priest as both a religious and public health official. The priest was responsible for inspecting the affliction, determining its nature, and overseeing the purification process, demonstrating the intersection of religious and practical concerns in Israelite society.
In summary, Leviticus 14:37 addresses the ritual impurity caused by a plague or affliction within the walls of a house, which priests were tasked with inspecting and managing. This reflects broader themes of purity, holiness, and the maintenance of a healthy community in accordance with God's laws as understood by the ancient Israelites.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H5061
There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֶגַע
Transliteration: negaʻ
Pronunciation: neh'-gah
Description: from נָגַע; a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous person or dress); plague, sore, stricken, stripe, stroke, wound. - Strong's Number: H7023
There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִיר
Transliteration: qîyr
Pronunciation: keer
Description: or קִר; (Isaiah 22:5), or (feminine) קִירָה; from קוּר; a wall (as built in a trench); [phrase] mason, side, town, [idiom] very, wall. - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H8258
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁקַעְרוּרָה
Transliteration: shᵉqaʻrûwrâh
Pronunciation: shek-ah-roo-raw'
Description: from שָׁקַע; a depression; hollow strake. - Strong's Number: H3422
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְרַקְרַק
Transliteration: yᵉraqraq
Pronunciation: yer-ak-rak'
Description: from the same as יֶרֶק; yellowishness; greenish, yellow. - Strong's Number: H125
There are 110 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲדַמְדָּם
Transliteration: ʼădamdâm
Pronunciation: ad-am-dawm'
Description: reduplicated from אָדַם; reddish; (somewhat) reddish. - Strong's Number: H4758
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַרְאֶה
Transliteration: marʼeh
Pronunciation: mar-eh'
Description: from רָאָה; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision; [idiom] apparently, appearance(-reth), [idiom] as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision. - Strong's Number: H8217
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁפָל
Transliteration: shâphâl
Pronunciation: shaw-fawl'
Description: from שָׁפֵל; depressed, literally or figuratively; base(-st), humble, low(-er, -ly). - Strong's Number: H4480
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִן
Transliteration: min
Pronunciation: min
Description: or מִנִּי; or מִנֵּי; (constructive plural) (Isaiah 30:11); for מֵן; properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses; above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with.