Leviticus 14:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.

Complete Jewish Bible:

On the seventh day he is to shave all the hair off his head, also his beard and eyebrows - he must shave off all his hair; and he is to wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; and he will be clean.

Berean Standard Bible:

On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.

American Standard Version:

And it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But it shall be on the seventh{H7637} day{H3117}, that he shall shave{H1548} all his hair{H8181} off his head{H7218} and his beard{H2206} and his eyebrows{H1354}{H5869}, even all his hair{H8181} he shall shave{H1548} off: and he shall wash{H3526} his clothes{H899}, also he shall wash{H7364} his flesh{H1320} in water{H4325}, and he shall be clean{H2891}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Numbers 6:9

  • And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.

Numbers 8:7

  • And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and [so] make themselves clean.

Leviticus 14:8

  • And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

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Commentary for Leviticus 14:9

Leviticus 14:9 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with the rituals for cleansing a person who has been afflicted with skin disease, often translated as leprosy. This verse specifically outlines part of the final stage of the purification process for an individual who has been declared clean by the priest.

In the historical context of ancient Israel, skin diseases like leprosy carried significant social and religious implications. A person with such an affliction was considered ritually unclean and was required to live isolated from the community until they were healed and could undergo a purification ritual. This isolation was not only a public health measure but also a way to maintain the ritual purity of the Israelite camp or community.

The themes present in Leviticus 14:9 include purification, restoration, and the importance of ritual in maintaining the religious order. The act of shaving all hair from the head, beard, and eyebrows symbolizes a complete renewal, as hair was often associated with life and vitality. Washing clothes and bathing in water were common rituals for purification, signifying the removal of impurity and the transition back to a state of cleanliness. Once these actions were completed, the individual could reenter the community and the sanctuary, having fulfilled the requirements for purification as laid out in the Mosaic Law.

This verse reflects the detailed prescriptions for maintaining purity before God, which was a central concern in Israelite religion. It also highlights the role of the priesthood in overseeing these rituals and the communal aspect of purity, where the health and holiness of the individual directly affected the well-being of the larger community.

*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: 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).
  2. 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.
  3. Strong's Number: H1548
    There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גָּלַח
    Transliteration: gâlach
    Pronunciation: gaw-lakh'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to be bald, i.e. (causatively) to shave; figuratively to lay waste; poll, shave (off).
  4. Strong's Number: H8181
    There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׂעָר
    Transliteration: sêʻâr
    Pronunciation: say-awr'
    Description: or שַׂעַר; (Isaiah 7:20), from שָׂעַר in the sense of dishevelling; hair (as if tossed or bristling); hair(-y), [idiom] rough.
  5. Strong's Number: H7218
    There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רֹאשׁ
    Transliteration: rôʼsh
    Pronunciation: roshe
    Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.
  6. Strong's Number: H2206
    There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זָקָן
    Transliteration: zâqân
    Pronunciation: zaw-kawn'
    Description: from זָקֵן; the beard (as indicating age); beard.
  7. Strong's Number: H1354
    There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גַב
    Transliteration: gab
    Pronunciation: gab
    Description: from an unused root meaning to hollow or curve; (compare גֵּו and גּוּף); the back (as rounded); by analogy, the top or rim, a boss, a vault, arch of eye, bulwarks, etc.; back, body, boss, eminent (higher) place, (eye) brows, nave, ring.
  8. Strong's Number: H5869
    There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עַיִן
    Transliteration: ʻayin
    Pronunciation: ah'-yin
    Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).
  9. 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).
  10. 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.
  11. Strong's Number: H7364
    There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָחַץ
    Transliteration: râchats
    Pronunciation: raw-khats'
    Description: a primitive root; to lave (the whole or a part of a thing); bathe (self), wash (self).
  12. Strong's Number: H1320
    There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּשָׂר
    Transliteration: bâsâr
    Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
    Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin.
  13. Strong's Number: H4325
    There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַיִם
    Transliteration: mayim
    Pronunciation: mah'-yim
    Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
  14. Strong's Number: H2891
    There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: טָהֵר
    Transliteration: ṭâhêr
    Pronunciation: taw-hare'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to be bright; i.e. (by implication); to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; Levitically, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy); be (make, make self, pronounce) clean, cleanse (self), purge, purify(-ier, self).