Leviticus 14:23

KJV

And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he shall bring {H935} them on the eighth {H8066} day {H3117} for his cleansing {H2893} unto the priest {H3548}, unto the door {H6607} of the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150}, before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

On the eighth day, he will bring them to the cohen for his purification, to the entrance of the tent of meeting before ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

On the eighth day he is to bring them for his cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD.

American Standard Version

And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tent of meeting, before Jehovah:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 14:23 delineates a pivotal moment in the purification ritual for an individual healed of *tzara'at*, marking their full restoration to the community and to worship. On the "eighth day," a symbolic representation of new beginnings and completion, the cleansed individual is required to bring specific offerings to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle, signifying their presentation "before the LORD" for a divinely sanctioned cleansing and complete reintegration into ritual purity and sacred fellowship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 14:23 is situated within the comprehensive and highly detailed purification laws for *tzara'at* found in [Leviticus 14](/leviticus/14 "Leviticus 14 - Laws for Cleansing from Tzara'at"). The chapter begins by outlining the initial examination and declaration of healing by the priest ([Leviticus 14:1-9](/leviticus/14-1 "Leviticus 14:1-9 - Initial Cleansing Ritual")). This initial phase involves a bird sacrifice, ritual washing, shaving, and a seven-day waiting period outside the camp. Verse 23 specifically describes the culmination of this multi-stage process on the "eighth day," following the initial rites and the period of separation. This day marks the bringing of the required sacrifices—a trespass offering, a sin offering, a burnt offering, and a grain offering—as meticulously detailed in [Leviticus 14:10-20](/leviticus/14-10 "Leviticus 14:10-20 - Specific Offerings for Cleansing"). These offerings are essential for the individual's full atonement, consecration, and reintegration into the holy community and its worship, emphasizing the gravity of ritual impurity and the divine provision for its removal.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The condition of *tzara'at* (often translated as "leprosy" but encompassing various severe skin diseases) rendered an individual ceremonially unclean and necessitated their isolation from the Israelite camp ([Leviticus 13:45-46](/leviticus/13-45 "Leviticus 13:45-46 - Isolation of the Unclean")). This isolation was not merely for public health but primarily for ritual purity, as defilement could compromise the sanctity of the entire community and the Tabernacle, where God's presence dwelt. The "eighth day" held profound symbolic weight in ancient Israelite culture, representing a new beginning, completion, and perfection. It was the designated day for circumcision ([Genesis 17:12](/genesis/17-12 "Genesis 17:12 - Circumcision on the Eighth Day")), the dedication of priests ([Leviticus 9:1](/leviticus/9-1 "Leviticus 9:1 - Consecration of Priests")), and the presentation of firstborn animals to the Lord ([Exodus 22:30](/exodus/22-30 "Exodus 22:30 - Firstborn Animals")). For the healed individual, this day symbolized a complete break from their past uncleanness and a full, divinely sanctioned re-entry into the covenant community and its sacred activities. The act of bringing offerings "unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD" underscored that this restoration was not merely a social act but a sacred one, performed in the very presence of God, validating their renewed standing.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Eighth day (Hebrew, _yom hashmini'_):** This phrase carries profound symbolic weight beyond mere chronology. In biblical thought, the "eighth day" often signifies a new beginning, a fresh start, or a super-completion that transcends the cycle of seven. It points to a new order or a state of perfection, as seen in the circumcision covenant or the consecration of priests. For the individual healed of *tzara'at*, it marks a complete break from their previous defiled state and their full restoration to a new, ritually pure life within the community.
* **Cleansing (Hebrew, _tahorah'_):** More than just physical cleanliness, *tahorah* refers to ceremonial purification. It denotes the process of being made ritually pure, enabling one to approach God and participate in the sacred life of the community. This term encompasses the entire ritual process, including the sacrifices, washings, and anointings, all designed to remove the spiritual defilement associated with *tzara'at*.
* **Before the LORD (Hebrew, _lifnei Yahweh'_):** This significant phrase emphasizes the divine oversight and sanction of the entire purification process. It means the offerings and the individual's presentation were not merely human acts but were performed in the immediate, holy presence of God, at the very threshold of His dwelling place (the Tabernacle). This underscores the solemnity, legitimacy, and divine acceptance of the individual's restoration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he shall bring them":** This refers to the individual who has been healed of *tzara'at* and has undergone the initial stages of purification. "Them" refers specifically to the prescribed offerings (two male lambs, one ewe lamb, and a specified amount of fine flour mixed with oil, as detailed in [Leviticus 14:10](/leviticus/14-10 "Leviticus 14:10 - Offerings for the Cleansed")). The responsibility for bringing these sacrifices rests squarely on the individual, signifying their active participation in their own restoration.
* **"on the eighth day for his cleansing":** As discussed, the "eighth day" marks the culmination of the purification process and symbolizes a complete new beginning. "For his cleansing" specifies the purpose of these offerings and the entire ritual: to make the individual ceremonially pure, allowing them to re-enter the community and partake in sacred activities, having been declared free from *tzara'at* and its associated defilement.
* **"unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation":** The priest serves as the mediator, the one authorized by God to perform these sacred rites. The specific location, "the door of the tabernacle of the congregation" (also known as the Tent of Meeting), is crucial. It is the sacred threshold, the very entrance to God's dwelling place among His people, signifying that the act of cleansing and restoration is performed at the boundary between the holy and the common, facilitating the individual's re-entry into the holy space.
* **"before the LORD":** This final phrase reinforces the divine presence and approval of the entire ceremony. It signifies that the purification is not merely a human administrative act but a divinely ordained and observed event. The individual is presented directly to God, whose holiness necessitates such meticulous cleansing, and whose grace provides the means for restoration.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several significant literary devices. **Symbolism** is paramount, with the "eighth day" symbolizing new beginnings, completion, and a profound restoration, transcending the ordinary cycle of seven. The "door of the tabernacle of the congregation" functions as a powerful symbolic threshold, representing the boundary between impurity and holiness, and the crucial point of re-entry into God's presence and the community. The entire ritual itself is a form of **Typology**, serving as a prophetic pattern that foreshadows a greater spiritual reality. The physical cleansing from *tzara'at* serves as a type of the spiritual cleansing from sin, pointing towards the ultimate and perfect purification offered through Christ. The meticulous detail and **Repetition** of instructions throughout [Leviticus 14](/leviticus/14 "Leviticus 14 - Laws for Cleansing from Tzara'at") emphasize the **importance** and **solemnity** of the process, highlighting God's demand for holiness and His gracious provision for its restoration.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 14:23 powerfully illustrates God's meticulous care for the purity and restoration of His people, even those afflicted by severe conditions that rendered them outcast. It underscores the principle that defilement, whether physical or spiritual, separates individuals from God's holy presence and the community. However, God, in His mercy, provides a divinely ordained pathway for cleansing and reintegration, emphasizing that true restoration is not merely a human act but one consecrated by His authority and presence. This ritual foreshadows the ultimate spiritual cleansing necessary for humanity's reconciliation with a holy God.

* [Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13 "The Superiority of Christ's Blood")
* [Psalm 51:7](/psalms/51-7 "Cleansing from Sin")
* [Romans 5:1-2](/romans/5-1 "Peace and Access to God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The detailed purification rites in Leviticus 14, culminating in the presentation "before the LORD" on the eighth day, serve as a profound reminder of God's unwavering commitment to holiness and His gracious provision for restoration. While we are no longer bound by these specific ceremonial laws, the underlying principles of defilement, separation, divine provision, and the necessity of a mediator for cleansing remain eternally relevant. This passage calls us to reflect on the areas of our lives that may be defiled by sin, separating us from the fullness of God's presence and fellowship with His people. It challenges us to embrace the spiritual cleansing offered through Christ, recognizing that true purity and reconciliation are gifts from God, enabling us to live fully in His presence and serve Him without hindrance. The "eighth day" symbolism encourages us to seek a new beginning in Christ, leaving behind the old defilements and stepping into the new life of purity and communion He offers.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What aspects of my life might be causing spiritual defilement or separation from God, and how can I actively seek His cleansing?**
* **How does the meticulousness of the Levitical law highlight God's holiness and His desire for our purity?**
* **In what ways does the concept of the "eighth day" resonate with the new life and fresh start offered through faith in Christ?**

### FAQ

**Why was the "eighth day" so significant in this cleansing ritual?**

Answer: The "eighth day" held profound symbolic meaning in ancient Israel. It represented a new beginning, completion, and a transcendence beyond the cycle of seven. For the individual healed of *tzara'at*, it marked a complete break from their previous state of ritual impurity and a full, divinely sanctioned re-entry into the covenant community and its sacred activities. This symbolism is also seen in circumcision on the eighth day ([Genesis 17:12](/genesis/17-12 "Genesis 17:12 - Circumcision on the Eighth Day")), signifying a new covenant relationship, and the consecration of priests, initiating them into their holy service ([Leviticus 9:1](/leviticus/9-1 "Leviticus 9:1 - Consecration of Priests")). It underscored that the cleansing was not merely a physical recovery but a spiritual restoration to a new, pure standing before God.

**What does it mean to bring offerings "before the LORD" at the Tabernacle door?**

Answer: Bringing offerings "before the LORD" at "the door of the tabernacle of the congregation" (also known as the Tent of Meeting) signified that the entire purification process was performed in God's immediate, holy presence and under His direct approval. The Tabernacle was the central place where God met with Israel, symbolizing His dwelling among them. Performing the ritual at its entrance emphasized the solemnity and divine sanction of the cleansing. It meant the individual's restoration to ritual purity was validated by God Himself, allowing them to once again approach Him and participate in the sacred life of the community, as detailed in the subsequent verses of [Leviticus 14](/leviticus/14 "Leviticus 14 - Laws for Cleansing from Tzara'at") concerning the specific sacrifices.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 14:23, with its emphasis on meticulous cleansing and restoration on the "eighth day" at the Tabernacle door "before the LORD," finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The individual healed of *tzara'at*, once an outcast due to defilement, foreshadows humanity alienated from God by sin. Just as the Levitical priest facilitated a temporary, physical cleansing, Christ, our great High Priest, offers a perfect and eternal spiritual purification. His sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate trespass offering, sin offering, and burnt offering, providing complete atonement for our defilement ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Priesthood and Sacrifice")). The "eighth day" symbolism points to Christ's resurrection on the first day of the week (which is also the "eighth day" in a new cycle), inaugurating a new creation and a new beginning for all who believe ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). Through Him, we are not merely brought to the door of a physical tabernacle, but we gain direct access to the very throne room of God's grace ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")). Christ's finished work ensures that our cleansing is complete, our restoration is eternal, and our fellowship with God is unhindered, allowing us to stand truly pure "before the LORD" forever ([Colossians 1:21-22](/colossians/1-21 "Colossians 1:21-22 - Reconciliation Through Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 14:10

¶ And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour [for] a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.

Leviticus 14:11

And the priest that maketh [him] clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: