Leviticus 14:47

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Whoever lies down or eats in the house must wash his clothes.

Berean Standard Bible:

And anyone who sleeps in the house or eats in it must wash his clothes.

American Standard Version:

And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he that lieth^{H7901} in the house^{H1004} shall wash^{H3526} his clothes^{H899}; and he that eateth^{H398} in the house^{H1004} shall wash^{H3526} his clothes^{H899}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Leviticus 14:47

Leviticus 14:47 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with the regulations for cleansing a house infected with "leprosy" (tzaraath in Hebrew), which is a term used in the Bible to describe various skin diseases, mold, and mildew that could affect people and their dwellings. The exact nature of this condition is not well understood today and may not correspond precisely to what we now call leprosy (Hansen's disease).

**Themes:**
1. **Purity and Holiness:** The overarching theme of this passage is the importance of maintaining ritual purity and holiness within the Israelite community. The detailed instructions for dealing with impurities, including those affecting houses, were intended to prevent the spread of ritual defilement.

2. **Separation and Reconciliation:** The process of cleansing involved separating the affected individual or object from the community until they were deemed clean. Once the priest declared the house clean, rituals were performed to reconcile the previously affected person or object back into the community.

3. **Priestly Authority:** The involvement of priests in the inspection and cleansing process underscores their role as religious and ritual authorities in Israelite society. They were responsible for distinguishing between clean and unclean and for performing the necessary purification rites.

4. **Health and Hygiene:** While the primary concern of the text is ritual purity, there are implications for physical health. The instructions for quarantine and cleaning likely had the secondary effect of preventing the spread of actual diseases.

**Historical Context:**
The book of Leviticus is traditionally ascribed to Moses and is part of the Pentateuch (Torah), which forms the foundational legal and narrative corpus of ancient Israel. Leviticus is a manual of priestly instruction, given to the Israelites during their wilderness journey after the exodus from Egypt. The laws and rituals outlined in the book were designed to govern the religious and social life of the nation.

In the historical context of the ancient Near East, concerns about ritual purity and the fear of contamination were common among many cultures. The specific practices and rituals described in Leviticus reflect the unique theological perspective of the Israelites, emphasizing the holiness of God and the need for his people to reflect that holiness in their lives.

Leviticus 14:47 specifically addresses the need for those who have been in contact with a ritually impure house to wash their clothes, which was a symbolic act of purification. This reflects the broader ancient Israelite understanding that contact with something unclean could transfer that state of impurity to a person or object, necessitating cleansing rituals to restore purity and maintain the community's proper relationship with the holy.

*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: H7901
   There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁכַב
   Transliteration: shâkab
   Pronunciation: shaw-kab'
   Description: a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose); [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.
   
2. 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).
   
3. Strong's Number: H3526
   There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּבַס
   Transliteration: kâbaç
   Pronunciation: kaw-bas'
   Description: a primitive root; to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative; fuller, wash(-ing).
   
4. Strong's Number: H899
   There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֶּגֶד
   Transliteration: beged
   Pronunciation: behg'-ed
   Description: from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, [idiom] very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe.
   
5. Strong's Number: H398
   There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָכַל
   Transliteration: ʼâkal
   Pronunciation: aw-kal'
   Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.