Leviticus 14:55

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house,

Complete Jewish Bible:

for tzara'at in a garment, for a house,

Berean Standard Bible:

for mildew in clothing or in a house,

American Standard Version:

and for the leprosy of a garment, and for a house,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And for the leprosy{H6883} of a garment{H899}, and of a house{H1004},

Cross-References (KJV):

Leviticus 13:47

  • ¶ The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, [whether it be] a woollen garment, or a linen garment;

Leviticus 13:59

  • This [is] the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

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Commentary for Leviticus 14:55

Leviticus 14:55 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with the laws of purity and the rituals for cleansing various forms of defilement, including the skin disease commonly translated as "leprosy" (though it likely includes a range of skin conditions). The verse specifically addresses the protocol for dealing with fabric and houses that have been affected by this defiling condition.

In the historical context of ancient Israel, the priests played a crucial role in diagnosing and managing such impurities. The verse reflects the detailed regulations that governed the community's health and ritual cleanliness, which were essential for maintaining the people's relationship with God, who was believed to dwell among them. The presence of "leprosy" in a garment or a house was not just a physical concern but also a spiritual and ritual one, as it could render people and their possessions ritually unclean.

The themes of Leviticus 14:55 include purity, holiness, and the meticulous observance of the law. The verse underscores the importance of ritual cleansing in restoring both the individual and communal wholeness. It also highlights the role of the priesthood in managing communal and personal purity, as well as the belief that even inanimate objects could affect one's spiritual state. The cleansing process for a house or garment would involve inspection, quarantine, and often the use of specific rituals, which might include washing, the use of special offerings, and waiting for a period to confirm the eradication of the impurity.

In summary, Leviticus 14:55 is a reflection of the intricate system of ritual purity in ancient Israel, emphasizing the need for religious observance and the role of the priesthood in maintaining the spiritual and physical health of the community. It illustrates the interconnectedness of the divine and the mundane in the lives of the Israelites, where even the cleanliness of one's home and attire had religious significance.

*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: H6883
    There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צָרַעַת
    Transliteration: tsâraʻath
    Pronunciation: tsaw-rah'-ath
    Description: from צָרַע; leprosy; leprosy.
  2. 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.
  3. 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).