What number verse is Leviticus 14:44 in the Bible?

Leviticus 14:44 is the 3,156th verse of the Bible. Counting straight through the King James canon — all 31,102 verses from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 — Leviticus 14:44 sits at position 3,156.

14:4314:43

Leviticus 14:44

Q: What was "leprosy" in a house, and why was it so serious?

In the context of Leviticus, "leprosy" (tsâraʻath) in a house (and on garments) refers not to human Hansen's disease, but to a severe, spreading mold, mildew, or fungal growth. It was considered serious for several reasons. Theologically, it was seen as a divinely inflicted "plague" (negaʻ), a sign of defilement that could compromise the holiness of the dwelling and, by extension, the community. Practically, such pervasive mold could render a house uninhabitable and unhealthy. Spiritually, it symbolized deep-seated impurity that, unlike superficial defilement, could not be easily cleansed but required radical removal, reflecting God's absolute demand for purity in the environment of His covenant people, as seen throughout Leviticus 14.

14:4514:45

Translation

King James Version

Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean.

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KJV (with Strong's)

Then the priest ^H3548 shall come ^H935 and look ^H7200, and, behold, if the plague ^H5061 be spread ^H6581 in the house ^H1004, it is a fretting ^H3992 leprosy ^H6883 in the house ^H1004: it is unclean ^H2931.

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Complete Jewish Bible

then the cohen is to enter and examine it. If he sees that the infection has spread in the house, it is a contagious tzara'at in the house; it is unclean.

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Berean Standard Bible

the priest must come and inspect it. If the mildew has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew; the house is unclean.

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American Standard Version

then the priest shall come in and look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean.

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World English Bible Messianic

then the priest shall come in and look; and behold, if the plague has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew in the house. It is unclean.

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Geneva Bible (1599)

Then the Priest shall come and see: and if the plague growe in the house, it is a freating leprosie in the house: it is therefore vncleane.

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Young's Literal Translation

then hath the priest come in and seen, and lo, the plague hath spread in the house; it is a fretting leprosy in the house; it is unclean.

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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Leviticus 14:44 delivers a definitive and somber verdict within the intricate purity laws of ancient Israel, specifically addressing a persistent and spreading fungal growth or mold in a dwelling. Following a meticulous process of initial inspection, quarantine, and attempts at remediation, this verse describes the climactic moment when the officiating priest observes that the affliction has irrevocably permeated and spread throughout the house. The pronouncement of "fretting leprosy" and the definitive declaration of "unclean" signify a profound and incurable state of ritual impurity, underscoring the absolute necessity of removing all such pervasive defilement to maintain the sanctity of God's people and their living environment.

CONTEXT

Literary Context: Leviticus 14:44 is situated within the detailed instructions concerning tsara'at, a broad Hebrew term encompassing various skin conditions, and notably, mold or mildew affecting garments and houses. Chapters Leviticus 13 and Leviticus 14 form a contiguous legal unit, meticulously outlining the priestly procedures for diagnosing, quarantining, and either purifying or condemning individuals, objects, and structures. Specifically, the latter half of Leviticus 14, from Leviticus 14:33-53, focuses exclusively on the "plague of leprosy in a house." Verse 44 marks a critical juncture, following the initial priestly inspection (Leviticus 14:34-38) and the subsequent re-inspection after a seven-day quarantine (Leviticus 14:39-42). If, as described in Leviticus 14:43, the plague had reappeared and spread even after the removal of affected stones and replastering, verse 44 delivers the final, dire assessment, leading directly to the house's complete demolition in Leviticus 14:45. This progression underscores the escalating severity of the defilement.
Historical & Cultural Context: In ancient Israel, the concept of ritual purity was foundational to their covenant relationship with Yahweh. God's holy presence, symbolized by the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), necessitated a holy people and a holy environment. Anything that threatened this holiness—whether certain bodily discharges, contact with dead bodies, or pervasive "plagues" like severe mold—rendered a person or object ritually "unclean" (ṭâmêʼ) and temporarily unfit for worship or full participation in the community. "Leprosy" in houses, likely severe fungal or mold growth, was not merely a structural issue but viewed as a divinely sent affliction, a visible sign of deep-seated defilement that could compromise the entire community's purity and health. The priest, acting as God's designated mediator and guardian of the covenant, possessed the unique authority to discern and declare the status of purity or impurity. This meticulous attention to purity in the physical environment reflected a broader theological truth: God's absolute holiness permeated all aspects of life, from personal conduct to communal dwellings, demanding a corresponding separation from anything that defiled His presence.
Key Themes: Leviticus 14:44 significantly contributes to several major theological and narrative themes found throughout the book. Foremost is the theme of God's Holiness and Purity, emphasizing His absolute separation from all defilement and His demand for holiness from His people (Leviticus 11:44-45). The house plague illustrates the Insidious Nature of Sin and Impurity, showing how defilement, if not decisively dealt with, can spread and corrupt an entire structure, much like sin can permeate a life or community. The priest's role highlights the theme of Mediated Authority and Discernment, as he acts as God's representative to discern and declare the spiritual status of things, ensuring the community's adherence to divine standards. Finally, the radical solution of demolition points to the theme of Radical Separation and Cleansing, demonstrating that some forms of pervasive defilement require complete removal, not just superficial repair, to restore purity, a principle echoed in later biblical calls for spiritual cleansing and separation from evil (2 Corinthians 6:17).

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

Priest (Hebrew, kôhên', H3548): The term refers to one officiating, a priest, or by courtesy, an acting priest. In this context, the kôhên is the divinely appointed figure responsible for administering the purity laws. His role is not merely observational; he is the authoritative arbiter who discerns the nature of the "plague" and delivers the binding verdict, acting as God's representative to maintain the holiness of the community and its dwellings. His presence signifies the solemnity and divine sanction of the inspection process.
Plague (Hebrew, negaʻ', H5061): While often translated as "plague," negaʻ in this context refers to a "blow" or "infliction," specifically a divinely sent mark or affliction, such as a spreading mold or mildew. It signifies a supernatural origin or judgment, not merely a natural phenomenon. This term is consistently used throughout Leviticus 13 and Leviticus 14 to denote the various manifestations of tsâraʻath (leprosy), whether on skin, garments, or structures, emphasizing its serious, often contagious, and ritually defiling nature.
Fretting (Hebrew, mâʼar', H3992): The KJV's "fretting" translates the Hebrew root mâʼar. This term, meaning "to be bitter or (causatively) to embitter, i.e. be painful; fretting, picking," vividly conveys the insidious and destructive nature of the house plague. It suggests a persistent, irritating, and deeply ingrained affliction that "gnaws" or "picks away" at the very fabric of the house. This implies the contamination is not superficial but has become a painful, pervasive issue, rendering the dwelling beyond simple repair or cleansing. It underscores the incurable and consuming state of the defilement, which has become an enduring source of distress and decay.
Unclean (Hebrew, ṭâmêʼ', H2931): The declaration of ṭâmêʼ signifies a state of ritual impurity. In the Mosaic Law, "unclean" did not necessarily imply moral sin, but rather a condition that rendered a person, object, or place unfit for sacred use or for full participation in the holy community. This state required either purification rituals or, in severe cases like this, complete removal or destruction. The repeated declaration of "unclean" emphasizes the absolute separation required from anything that could defile God's holy presence among His people.

Verse Breakdown

"Then the priest shall come and look": This opening phrase underscores the ongoing, authoritative, and meticulous role of the priest in discerning and declaring the status of ritual purity. After the initial inspection and the prescribed seven-day quarantine period, the priest returns to re-evaluate the house. His "looking" is not a casual glance but a divinely mandated, thorough examination, acting as God's representative to uphold the covenant laws and protect the sanctity of the community.
"and, behold, [if] the plague be spread in the house": This is the pivotal observation that seals the house's fate. The interjection "behold" (Hebrew: hinneh) emphasizes the undeniable visual evidence. The phrase "be spread" (Hebrew: pâsâh) indicates that the initial measures—removing affected stones and replastering (Leviticus 14:40-42)—have demonstrably failed. The contamination is no longer localized but has permeated the entire structure, demonstrating its persistent, pervasive, and uncontainable nature.
"it [is] a fretting leprosy in the house": This is the solemn and grave diagnosis. The term "fretting leprosy" (Hebrew: tsâraʻath_ _mâʼar) signifies a malignant, consuming, and deeply ingrained defilement. It is a declaration that the plague is not a minor, superficial issue but a destructive force that has fundamentally compromised the integrity of the dwelling. It implies that the house is irredeemably corrupted by the defilement, akin to something that "gnaws away" at its very essence.
"it [is] unclean": This final, unequivocal declaration is the ultimate verdict. The house is ritually impure, unfit for habitation within the holy community. This pronouncement carries the full weight of divine judgment, necessitating the complete demolition of the house as described in the subsequent verse, Leviticus 14:45, to prevent any further spread of defilement and to maintain the absolute sanctity of Israel as God's dwelling place.

Literary Devices

Leviticus 14:44 employs several potent literary devices to underscore its gravity and finality. The repeated, almost formulaic, pronouncements by the priest – "it is a fretting leprosy," "it is unclean" – utilize Repetition to emphasize the absolute and irreversible nature of the verdict. This legalistic prose functions as a form of Litany, reinforcing the unyielding standard of purity required. The "plague" itself, while a physical phenomenon, also functions as Symbolism for pervasive impurity and sin. Just as the physical mold "eats away" or "gnaws" at the house, so too can spiritual decay subtly corrupt and consume. The priest's meticulous inspection and declarative authority establish a clear Ritualistic Pattern, highlighting the structured and divinely ordained process for maintaining holiness. The entire passage, including this verse, serves as an Extended Metaphor for the necessity of radical purity and the decisive removal of deep-seated corruption, whether physical or spiritual, from God's people.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Leviticus 14:44 profoundly illustrates the uncompromising nature of God's holiness and His unwavering demand for purity within His covenant community. The "fretting leprosy" in the house serves as a stark physical manifestation of defilement that, if left unchecked, would contaminate the entire dwelling and potentially its inhabitants, compromising the sacred space of God's people. This passage underscores that holiness is not merely an abstract concept but must permeate every aspect of life, including one's living environment. The radical solution of demolition, rather than superficial cleansing, reveals God's absolute intolerance for pervasive impurity and His commitment to preserving a pure space for His presence. It teaches that some forms of defilement are so deeply ingrained that only complete removal can restore purity, reflecting a divine principle that extends beyond physical structures to the spiritual condition of individuals and communities, highlighting that true holiness often requires decisive action against deeply rooted corruption.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

While the specific laws concerning house plagues may seem distant from contemporary life, Leviticus 14:44 offers enduring spiritual lessons about the insidious nature of sin and the necessity of radical purity. Just as a physical "fretting leprosy" could subtly spread and consume a dwelling, so too can spiritual decay, unaddressed sin, or destructive influences permeate our lives, families, or communities. This verse calls us to cultivate a keen spiritual discernment, akin to the priest's meticulous inspection, to identify areas of compromise or defilement before they become deeply ingrained and pervasive. It challenges us to confront the reality that some forms of spiritual corruption cannot be merely patched over but require decisive, even painful, removal to safeguard our spiritual integrity and maintain a holy environment. Ultimately, it reminds us that God's desire for holiness extends to every corner of our existence, urging us to pursue purity not just outwardly, but in the hidden places of our hearts and homes, ensuring that our lives are fitting dwelling places for His Spirit.

Questions for Reflection

What "fretting leprosy" might be subtly spreading within my own heart, home, or community that needs honest inspection and decisive action?
Am I willing to take radical steps to remove pervasive sin or destructive influences, even if it means discomfort or loss, to maintain spiritual purity?
How does the priest's diligent role in discerning uncleanness inform my own responsibility to exercise spiritual discernment in my life and in the church, identifying and addressing spiritual impurities?

FAQ

What was "leprosy" in a house, and why was it so serious?

Answer: In the context of Leviticus, "leprosy" (tsâraʻath) in a house (and on garments) refers not to human Hansen's disease, but to a severe, spreading mold, mildew, or fungal growth. It was considered serious for several reasons. Theologically, it was seen as a divinely inflicted "plague" (negaʻ), a sign of defilement that could compromise the holiness of the dwelling and, by extension, the community. Practically, such pervasive mold could render a house uninhabitable and unhealthy. Spiritually, it symbolized deep-seated impurity that, unlike superficial defilement, could not be easily cleansed but required radical removal, reflecting God's absolute demand for purity in the environment of His covenant people, as seen throughout Leviticus 14.

Why did the priest have to "look" multiple times?

Answer: The multiple inspections by the priest (initial, after quarantine, and after removal of stones) underscore the meticulousness and gravity of the process. It wasn't a hasty judgment but a careful, observed progression. The initial quarantine (Leviticus 14:38) and the removal of affected stones (Leviticus 14:40) were attempts at remediation, offering opportunities for the "plague" to recede. Only if the "plague" continued to spread after these measures, as described in Leviticus 14:44, was the final, devastating verdict of "fretting leprosy" and "unclean" pronounced. This thorough process ensured that the extreme measure of demolition was only taken when the defilement was truly pervasive and incurable, highlighting the divine patience and thoroughness in dealing with impurity before final judgment.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Leviticus 14:44, with its stark declaration of an incurably defiled house requiring complete demolition, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "fretting leprosy" of the house serves as a powerful Old Testament shadow of the pervasive and consuming nature of sin, which utterly corrupts humanity and renders us "unclean" before a holy God. Just as the priest in Leviticus could only declare uncleanness and prescribe demolition, the Old Covenant system, with its sacrifices and rituals, could only cover sin temporarily, never fully eradicating its deep-seated defilement (Hebrews 10:4). Jesus, however, is the ultimate Lamb of God whose perfect sacrifice on the cross not only covers but completely takes away the sin of the world, cleansing us from all "leprosy" of sin (1 John 1:7). He is the true High Priest, not merely declaring impurity, but possessing the divine power to make the unclean clean (Hebrews 4:14-16 and Mark 1:40-42). Through His atoning work, the "old house" of sin-corrupted humanity is not merely patched up but radically transformed, becoming a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), a spiritual dwelling where God's Holy Spirit can truly reside, perfectly holy and eternally pure (Ephesians 2:21-22).

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Commentary on Leviticus 14 verses 33–53

33 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession;

35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house:

36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house:

37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall;

38 Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days:

39 And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house;

40 Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city:

41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place:

42 And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other morter, and shall plaister the house.

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;

44 Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean.

45 And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.

46 Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even.

47 And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.

48 And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plaistered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.

49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

50 And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water:

51 And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times:

52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet:

53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.

This is the law concerning the leprosy in a house. Now that they were in the wilderness they dwelt in tents, and had no houses, and therefore the law is made only an appendix to the former laws concerning the leprosy, because it related, not to their present state, but to their future settlement. The leprosy in a house is as unaccountable as the leprosy in a garment; but, if we see not what natural causes of it can be assigned, we may resolve it into the power of the God of nature, who here says, I put the leprosy in a house (Lev 14:34), as his curse is said to enter into a house, and consume it with the timber and stones thereof, Zac 5:4. Now, 1. It is supposed that even in Canaan itself, the land of promise, their houses might be infected with a leprosy. Though it was a holy land, this would not secure them from this plague, while the inhabitants were many of them so unholy. Thus a place and a name in the visible church will not secure wicked people from God's judgments. 2. It is likewise taken for granted that the owner of the house will make the priest acquainted with it, as soon as he sees the least cause to suspect the leprosy in his house: It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house, Lev 14:35. Sin, where that reigns in a house, is a plague there, as it is in a heart. And masters of families should be aware and afraid of the first appearance of gross sin in their families, and put away the iniquity, whatever it is, far from their tabernacles, Job 22:23. They should be jealous with a godly jealousy concerning those under their charge, lest they be drawn into sin, and take early advice, if it but seem that there is a plague in the house, lest the contagion spread, and many be by it defiled and destroyed. 3. If the priest, upon search, found that the leprosy had got into the house, he must try to cure it, by taking gout that part of the building that was infected, Lev 14:40, Lev 14:41. This was like cutting off a gangrened limb, for the preservation of the rest of the body. Corruption should be purged out in time, before it spread; for a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off. 4. If yet it remained in the house, the whole house must be pulled down, and all the materials carried to the dunghill, Lev 14:44, Lev 14:45. The owner had better be without a dwelling than live in one that was infected. Note, The leprosy of sin, if it be obstinate under the methods of cure, will at last be the ruin of families and churches. If Babylon will not be healed, she shall be forsaken and abandoned, and (according to the law respecting the leprous house), they shall not take of her a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations, Jer 51:9, Jer 51:26. The remainders of sin and corruption in our mortal bodies are like this leprosy in the house; after all our pains in scraping and plastering, we shall never be quite clear of it, till the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved and taken down; when we are dead we shall be free from sin, and not till then, Rom 6:7. 5. If the taking out the infected stones cured the house, and the leprosy did not spread any further, then the house must be cleansed; not only aired, that it might be healthful, but purified from the ceremonial pollution, that it might be fit to be the habitation of an Israelite. The ceremony of its cleansing was much the same with that of cleansing a leprous person, Lev 14:49, etc. This intimated that the house was smitten for the man's sake (as bishop Patrick expresses it), and he was to look upon himself as preserved by divine mercy. The houses of Israelites are said to be dedicated (Deu 20:5), for they were a holy nation, and therefore they ought to keep their houses pure from all ceremonial pollutions, that they might be fit for the service of that God to whom they were devoted. And the same care should we take to reform whatever is amiss in our families, that we and our houses may serve the Lord; see Gen 35:2. Some have thought the leprosy in the house was typical of the idolatry of the Jewish church, which did strangely cleave to it; for, though some of the reforming kings took away the infected stones, yet still it broke out again, till by the captivity of Babylon God took down the house, and carried it to an unclean land; and this proved an effectual cure of their inclination to idols and idolatrous worships.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 33–53. Public domain.

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TertullianAD 220

ON PURITY 20.11.12

But if [in a case of leprosy] after its rehabilitation and transformation, the priest again observes in that same house any of the old pocks or stains, may he pronounce it unclean and order its timbers and its stones and its whole structure to be torn down and cast forth into an unclean place. This is a type of the man, body and soul, who is transformed after baptism, that is to say, after the entrance of the priest, and then takes up once more the scabrous contaminations of the flesh. He is cast forth outside the city into an unclean place. That is to say, he is “given over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.”

Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.

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Cross-References

Leviticus 13:51
And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.
Leviticus 13:52
He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
Zechariah 5:4
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.