Leviticus 14:40

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague [is], and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city:

Complete Jewish Bible:

he is to order them to remove the infected stones and throw them into some unclean place outside the city.

Berean Standard Bible:

he must order that the contaminated stones be pulled out and thrown into an unclean place outside the city.

American Standard Version:

then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which the plague is, and cast them into an unclean place without the city:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then the priest^{H3548} shall command^{H6680} that they take^{H2502} away the stones^{H68} in which^{H2004} the plague^{H5061} is, and they shall cast^{{H7993}{H853}} them into an unclean^{H2931} place^{H4725} without^{H2351} the city^{H5892}:

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Commentary for Leviticus 14:40

Leviticus 14:40 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 some 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 regulations to establish the religious and social framework for the Israelite community.

Themes in Leviticus 14:40 include:

1. **Ritual Purity and Cleanliness**: The verse reflects the importance of maintaining ritual purity within the community. The detailed instructions for dealing with potential contamination show a concern for the holiness of the people and the land.

2. **Divine Holiness and Health**: The process of removing contaminated stones and placing them outside the city underscores the belief that God's presence among the people required a state of physical and ritual cleanliness, which was linked to health and well-being.

3. **Social Order and Community Health**: The command to remove diseased materials from living spaces anticipates modern public health practices. It reflects an early understanding of the need to isolate sources of contagion to protect the community.

4. **Priestly Role**: The verse highlights the role of the priest as a mediator between God and the people, responsible for diagnosing and managing issues of ritual impurity and communal health.

5. **Separation of Clean and Unclean**: The instruction to cast the stones into an "unclean place" outside the city illustrates the concept of separation between the clean and the unclean, which is a recurring theme in Levitical law.

In summary, Leviticus 14:40 is part of ancient Israel's holiness code, which aimed to order the community's life in a way that reflected God's holiness. It combines religious ritual with early public health practices, emphasizing the role of the priesthood and the need for physical and ritual purity.

*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: H6680
   There are 475 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָוָה
   Transliteration: tsâvâh
   Pronunciation: tsaw-vaw'
   Description: a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin; appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2502
   There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָלַץ
   Transliteration: châlats
   Pronunciation: khaw-lats'
   Description: a primitive root; to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen; arm (self), (go, ready) armed ([idiom] man, soldier), deliver, draw out, make fat, loose, (ready) prepared, put off, take away, withdraw self.
   
4. Strong's Number: H68
   There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶבֶן
   Transliteration: ʼeben
   Pronunciation: eh'-ben
   Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s).
   
5. Strong's Number: H2004
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הֵן
   Transliteration: hên
   Pronunciation: hane
   Description: feminine plural from הוּא; they (only used when emphatic); [idiom] in, such like, (with) them, thereby, therein, (more than) they, wherein, in which, whom, withal.
   
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: H7993
   There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַךְ
   Transliteration: shâlak
   Pronunciation: shaw-lak
   Description: a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively); adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw.
   
8. Strong's Number: H853
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵת
   Transliteration: ʼêth
   Pronunciation: ayth
   Description: apparent contracted from אוֹת in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely); (as such unrepresented in English).
   
9. Strong's Number: H2931
   There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טָמֵא
   Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
   Pronunciation: taw-may'
   Description: from טָמֵא; foul in a religious sense; defiled, [phrase] infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean.
   
10. Strong's Number: H4725
    There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָקוֹם
    Transliteration: mâqôwm
    Pronunciation: maw-kome'
    Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever).
    
11. Strong's Number: H2351
    There are 159 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חוּץ
    Transliteration: chûwts
    Pronunciation: khoots
    Description: or (shortened) חֻץ; (both forms feminine in the plural) from an unused root meaning to sever; properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors; abroad, field, forth, highway, more, out(-side, -ward), street, without.
    
12. Strong's Number: H5892
    There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עִיר
    Transliteration: ʻîyr
    Pronunciation: eer
    Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.