King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, [if] the plague be spread in the house, it [is] a fretting leprosy in the house: it [is] unclean.
Complete Jewish Bible:
then the cohen is to enter and examine it. If he sees that the infection has spread in the house, it is a contagious tzara'at in the house; it is unclean.
Berean Standard Bible:
the priest must come and inspect it. If the mildew has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew; the house is unclean.
American Standard Version:
then the priest shall come in and look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Then the priest{H3548} shall come{H935} and look{H7200}, and, behold, if the plague{H5061} be spread{H6581} in the house{H1004}, it is a fretting{H3992} leprosy{H6883} in the house{H1004}: it is unclean{H2931}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 13:51
- And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, [or] in any work that is made of skin; the plague [is] a fretting leprosy; it [is] unclean.
Leviticus 13:52
- He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it [is] a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
Zechariah 5:4
- I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
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Commentary for Leviticus 14:44
Leviticus 14:44 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with laws concerning purity and impurity, particularly in relation to skin diseases and mold in dwellings, which are metaphorically referred to as "leprosy." In the historical context of ancient Israel, the term "leprosy" was used to describe a variety of skin conditions, not limited to what we know today as Hansen's disease. These conditions were considered ritually unclean, and the laws were designed to maintain the holiness and purity of the community.
The verse specifically addresses the situation where a house shows signs of a spreading plague, identified as "fretting leprosy." The role of the priest was crucial in this context; he was not only a religious leader but also a public health official of sorts. Upon inspecting the house, if the priest found that the plague had spread, he would declare the house unclean. This designation had significant implications for the inhabitants, who would then be required to follow a strict protocol to address the uncleanness, which could include the removal and destruction of infected stones and plaster, and possibly the demolition of the entire house if the condition did not improve after treatment.
The themes of this verse include ritual purity, the role of religious authority in maintaining community health, and the importance of responding to potential sources of contamination to protect the wider community. The concern for physical structures being a source of uncleanness reflects the holistic approach of Levitical law, where the sanctity of the community and the land was paramount, and impurity was to be dealt with seriously to prevent its spread.
*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: 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. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - 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: 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. - 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: H3992
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָאַר
Transliteration: mâʼar
Pronunciation: maw-ar'
Description: a primitive root; to be bitter or (causatively) to embitter, i.e. be painful; fretting, picking. - Strong's Number: H6883
There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָרַעַת
Transliteration: tsâraʻath
Pronunciation: tsaw-rah'-ath
Description: from צָרַע; leprosy; leprosy. - 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.