Leviticus 14:39

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, [if] the plague be spread in the walls of the house;

Complete Jewish Bible:

The cohen will come again on the seventh day and examine the house; if he sees that the infection has spread over its walls,

Berean Standard Bible:

On the seventh day the priest is to return and inspect the house. If the mildew has spread on the walls,

American Standard Version:

And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the priest^{H3548} shall come again^{H7725} the seventh^{H7637} day^{H3117}, and shall look^{H7200}: and, behold, if the plague^{H5061} be spread^{H6581} in the walls^{H7023} of the house^{H1004};

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Commentary for Leviticus 14:39

Leviticus 14:39 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with the regulations for cleansing a person with a skin disease (often translated as "leprosy" in some versions, though it likely refers to a broader range of skin conditions). The passage outlines a ritual for the purification of a house that has been affected by a type of spreading contamination, possibly a fungal infection or a similar condition that affects the walls of a house (often referred to as "leprosy of the house" in traditional interpretations).

**Themes:**
1. **Ritual Purity and Cleanliness:** The overarching theme of this section is the importance of ritual purity in the Israelite community. The detailed instructions for inspecting and dealing with contamination in houses reflect the concern for maintaining a state of ceremonial cleanliness as prescribed by God through Moses.
2. **Divine Order:** The regulations serve to reinforce the idea that God is a God of order and that following divine instructions meticulously is crucial for the well-being of the community.
3. **Separation of the Sacred and the Profane:** The procedures for dealing with contamination underscore the distinction between the sacred and the profane, ensuring that the holy space of the Israelites remains undefiled.
4. **Protection of the Community:** By isolating and treating contaminated houses, the community is protected from the spread of impurity and potential disease.

**Historical Context:**
The book of Leviticus is traditionally ascribed to Moses and is set during the time of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. The laws and rituals contained within it were part of the covenant established between God and Israel at Mount Sinai. Leviticus 14:39 specifically would have been relevant to the ancient Israelite society as they established their nation and sought to live in accordance with God's laws, including those related to health, hygiene, and religious practice.

In the broader historical context, these laws would have served practical purposes in preventing the spread of disease and maintaining public health, while also reinforcing the religious and social structures of the Israelite community. The detailed attention to the inspection of the house and the process for dealing with contamination reflects the integration of religious ritual with everyday life in ancient Israel.

*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: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7637
   There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁבִיעִי
   Transliteration: shᵉbîyʻîy
   Pronunciation: sheb-ee-ee'
   Description: or שְׁבִעִי; ordinal from שִׁבְעִים; seventh; seventh (time).
   
4. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
5. 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.
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6581
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּשָׂה
   Transliteration: pâsâh
   Pronunciation: paw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to spread; spread.
   
8. 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.
   
9. 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).