Leviticus 14:13

And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering [is] the priest's, [so is] the trespass offering: it [is] most holy:

And he shall slay {H7819} the lamb {H3532} in the place {H4725} where he shall kill {H7819} the sin offering {H2403} and the burnt offering {H5930}, in the holy {H6944} place {H4725}: for as the sin offering {H2403} is the priest's {H3548}, so is the trespass offering {H817}: it is most {H6944} holy {H6944}:

He is to slaughter the male lamb at the place in the sanctuary for slaughtering sin offerings and burnt offerings, because the guilt offering belongs to the cohen, just like the sin offering; it is especially holy.

Then he is to slaughter the lamb in the sanctuary area where the sin offering and burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy.

and he shall kill the he-lamb in the place where they kill the sin-offering and the burnt-offering, in the place of the sanctuary: for as the sin-offering is the priestโ€™s, so is the trespass-offering: it is most holy.

Commentary

Context of Leviticus 14:13

Leviticus 14:13 is part of the detailed instructions for the purification ritual of a person healed from tzara'at, a severe skin disease often translated as "leprosy." This elaborate ceremony, spanning two distinct phases, underscores the profound defilement associated with the condition and the meticulous process required for reintegration into the community and worship. The entire chapter focuses on restoring the individual to a state of ritual purity, making them clean in the eyes of God and the community. This verse specifically addresses the slaying of a lamb, which forms a critical component of the trespass offering (asham) and sin offering made on the eighth day of the cleansing process.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Sacredness of Sacrifice: The instruction to slay the lamb "in the holy place" emphasizes the absolute sanctity of the sacrificial act. This designated area, near the altar of burnt offering within the Tabernacle courtyard, was where serious offerings like the sin offering and burnt offering were performed, highlighting the gravity and divine prescription of the cleansing ritual.
  • Atonement and Purity: The trespass offering, like the sin offering, served to make atonement for specific transgressions or defilements. In the context of tzara'at, it addressed the spiritual and ritual impurity caused by the disease, paving the way for the individual's full restoration. The verse reinforces that these offerings were "most holy," signifying their profound efficacy in bridging the gap between a defiled person and a holy God.
  • Priestly Prerogative and Provision: The statement "for as the sin offering [is] the priest's, [so is] the trespass offering: it [is] most holy" clarifies the priest's entitlement to a portion of these specific sacrifices. This provision ensured the livelihood of the priests, who dedicated their lives to mediating between God and the people, and it underscored the highly sacred nature of these offerings, restricting their consumption to the priests within the holy precinct.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "most holy" translates the Hebrew qodesh qodashim (ืงึนื“ึถืฉื ืงึณื“ึธืฉึดืื™ื), literally "holiness of holinesses" or "holy of holies." This term is used throughout the Old Testament to denote items, places, or offerings of supreme sanctity, typically reserved for God's exclusive use or the most sacred rituals. Its application here to the trespass offering (and sin offering) signifies their profound importance and the strict reverence with which they must be handled and consumed.

Practical Application and Significance

While the specific rituals of Leviticus are no longer practiced, their underlying principles offer timeless insights. The meticulous nature of the cleansing ritual for tzara'at, culminating in offerings like those in Leviticus 14:13, foreshadows the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Just as these Old Testament offerings provided temporary atonement and ritual cleansing, Christ's death on the cross provides complete and eternal cleansing from sin. The "most holy" nature of these ancient sacrifices points to the absolute purity and perfection required for true reconciliation with God, a standard only met by Christ, our Great High Priest. This verse reminds us of God's holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the divine provision for atonement.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 1:11

    And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.

  • Exodus 29:11

    And thou shalt kill the bullock before the LORD, [by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Leviticus 4:24

    And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it [is] a sin offering.

  • Leviticus 2:3

    And the remnant of the meat offering [shall be] Aaron's and his sons': [it is] a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.

  • Leviticus 7:6

    Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it [is] most holy.

  • Leviticus 7:7

    As the sin offering [is], so [is] the trespass offering: [there is] one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have [it].

  • Leviticus 4:4

    And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
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