Leviticus 14:17

And of the rest of the oil that [is] in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering:

And of the rest {H3499} of the oil {H8081} that is in his hand {H3709} shall the priest {H3548} put {H5414} upon the tip {H8571} of the right {H3233} ear {H241} of him that is to be cleansed {H2891}, and upon the thumb {H931} of his right {H3233} hand {H3027}, and upon the great toe {H931} of his right {H3233} foot {H7272}, upon the blood {H1818} of the trespass offering {H817}:

Then the cohen is to put some of the remaining oil in his hand on the tip of the right ear of the person being purified, on the thumb of his right hand, on the big toe of his right foot and on the blood of the guilt offering.

And the priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the right earlobe of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering.

And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass-offering:

Commentary

Context of Leviticus 14:17

Leviticus chapter 14 details the elaborate and precise purification rituals for an individual healed of a severe skin disease, often referred to as "leprosy" (though the Hebrew term tzara'at encompasses a broader range of afflictions than modern leprosy). This verse is part of the second stage of the cleansing process, which occurs on the eighth day after the initial declaration of healing and symbolic sacrifices. The first stage involved a bird sacrifice and ritual cleansing outside the camp (see Leviticus 14:4-7). The individual is now brought back into the camp for a more intensive purification, involving various offerings—a trespass offering, a sin offering, a burnt offering, and a meal offering—to fully restore them to the community and to worship God. Verse 17 describes a specific anointing ritual using oil, which immediately follows the application of blood from the trespass offering.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Holistic Restoration and Sanctification: This ritual emphasizes God's desire for the complete and total restoration of the individual, not just physically but spiritually and communally. The application of oil to specific body parts signifies the dedication of the entire person—their actions, their walk, and their ability to hear and obey God's commands.
  • Atonement as Foundation for Consecration: The crucial phrase "upon the blood of the trespass offering" highlights that this anointing and subsequent dedication are not separate from, but rather built upon, the efficacy of the atonement made by the sacrifice. It's the blood that purifies, and the oil then consecrates the cleansed individual.
  • Priestly Mediation: The priest's role as the mediator in this intricate cleansing process underscores the necessity of divine intervention and prescribed ritual for reconciliation with God and the community under the Old Covenant law.

Linguistic Insights and Symbolism

The Hebrew term for the "trespass offering" is asham, which typically addressed sins against God or man that required restitution or compensation, emphasizing restoration of what was damaged. The oil used here is a symbol of blessing, healing, and often, the anointing of the Holy Spirit (though the full revelation of the Spirit's indwelling comes in the New Testament). The specific body parts—the tip of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the great toe of the right foot—are highly symbolic:

  • Right Ear: Signifies the dedication of hearing, emphasizing obedience to God's word and responsiveness to His commands.
  • Right Thumb: Represents the dedication of activity, work, and service, indicating that all one's labors should be for God's glory.
  • Right Great Toe: Symbolizes the dedication of one's walk, path, and conduct, suggesting that one's entire life journey should be aligned with God's will.

This application of oil "upon the blood" mirrors the anointing of priests during their ordination (see Exodus 29:20), linking the cleansed person's restoration to a form of consecrated service.

Practical Application

While the specific rituals of Leviticus are no longer practiced today due to Christ's fulfillment of the law, the principles remain profoundly relevant. This verse teaches us several enduring truths:

  • Thorough Cleansing: God desires a complete and thorough cleansing from sin, addressing every aspect of our being—our thoughts (ear), actions (hand), and walk (foot).
  • Foundation of Atonement: True spiritual consecration and dedication to God's service can only occur after the atoning work has been applied. For believers today, this is through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).
  • Life of Consecration: Once cleansed by Christ, we are called to dedicate our entire lives to Him. Our ears should be open to hear and obey His voice (Romans 10:17), our hands ready to do His work, and our feet prepared to walk in His ways. This is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1).

Leviticus 14:17, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of God's meticulous care in restoring His people and His expectation that a cleansed life will be a consecrated life, fully devoted to Him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 14:14

    And the priest shall take [some] of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:

  • Ezekiel 36:27

    And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].

  • Leviticus 8:30

    And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which [was] upon the altar, and sprinkled [it] upon Aaron, [and] upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, [and] his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

  • Exodus 29:20

    Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

  • Exodus 29:21

    And thou shalt take of the blood that [is] upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle [it] upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.

  • 1 Peter 1:2

    Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

  • Titus 3:3

    For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.
← Back