Leviticus 14:43

And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered;

And if the plague {H5061} come again {H7725}, and break {H6524} out in the house {H1004}, after {H310} that he hath taken {H2502} away the stones {H68}, and after {H310} he hath scraped {H7096} the house {H1004}, and after {H310} it is plaistered {H2902};

If the infection returns and breaks out in the house after the stones have been removed and the house scraped and plastered;

If the mildew reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house has been scraped and replastered,

And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken out the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plastered;

Commentary

Leviticus 14:43 describes a crucial stage in the ancient Israelite law concerning the "plague of leprosy" (likely a severe mold or mildew infestation) in a house. This verse highlights the persistence of the contamination even after initial, less drastic measures have been taken, signaling the need for more severe action.

Context of Leviticus 14:43

This verse is part of an extended passage in Leviticus 14:33-53, which provides detailed instructions for priests on how to diagnose and deal with a "plague" in a house. The preceding verses (Leviticus 14:40-42) outline the first set of prescribed actions: removing visibly infected stones, scraping the inside of the house, and replastering it. This verse, Leviticus 14:43, addresses the grim scenario where, despite these efforts, the "plague" reappears and breaks out again. This recurrence indicates a deeper, more pervasive problem that superficial remedies cannot fix.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Holiness and Purity: A central theme throughout the book of Leviticus is God's demand for holiness among His people, which extended not only to individuals but also to their living spaces. The elaborate rituals for cleansing a house underscored the importance of maintaining ritual purity in all aspects of life in ancient Israel.
  • Persistence of Impurity: The reappearance of the "plague" signifies a stubborn, deeply embedded contamination. This illustrates that some problems cannot be solved with partial or superficial solutions; they require more drastic and thorough intervention.
  • Divine Judgment and Order: The "plague" was seen as a divine affliction, and the specific, escalating steps outlined in the law provided a structured way for the community to respond to and overcome such challenges, maintaining order and ritual cleanliness under God's covenant.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "plague" here is nega' (Χ ΦΆΧ’Φ·Χ’), which can mean a stroke, affliction, or spot. While often translated as "leprosy," in the context of a house, it refers to a severe, spreading discoloration or infestation, likely mold or mildew, which was ritually defiling. The repetition of "after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered" emphasizes the exhaustive nature of the initial, failed attempts at remediation, setting the stage for the severe measure that follows in subsequent verses, such as the house's complete demolition described in Leviticus 14:45.

Practical Application

Spiritually, Leviticus 14:43 serves as a powerful metaphor for dealing with persistent issues in our lives, particularly sin or unhealthy patterns. Just as the house plague required increasingly severe measures, deep-seated spiritual problems often demand more than just superficial fixes. We are called to be thorough in examining our hearts and lives, as encouraged by passages like Hebrews 12:1, which speaks of laying aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us. If a spiritual "plague" persists despite initial efforts, it may require a more radical approach, perhaps even a "tearing down" of old habits or strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4), to achieve true cleansing and spiritual health.

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 6:28 (2 votes)

    They [are] all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: [they are] brass and iron; they [are] all corrupters.

  • Jeremiah 6:30 (2 votes)

    Reprobate silver shall [men] call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

  • Hebrews 6:4 (2 votes)

    For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

  • Hebrews 6:8 (2 votes)

    But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.

  • Jude 1:12 (2 votes)

    These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

  • 2 Peter 2:22 (2 votes)

    But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

  • 2 Peter 2:20 (2 votes)

    For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.