Leviticus 15:15

Context

Leviticus 15:15 is part of a larger section (Leviticus 11-15) detailing various laws concerning ritual purity and impurity in ancient Israel. Specifically, chapter 15 addresses the regulations regarding bodily discharges that render a person ritually unclean. This particular verse concludes the purification process for a man who has had a "running issue" or chronic discharge (Leviticus 15:1-15). After a seven-day waiting period following the cessation of the discharge, the man was required to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle. These offerings were essential for his restoration to the community and his ability to participate in worship, emphasizing the meticulous nature of the Levitical purity laws.

Key Themes

• Atonement for Impurity: The primary theme is the provision for `atonement` (Hebrew: kaphar, meaning "to cover" or "to purge") for ritual impurity. Even though the discharge itself was not a moral sin, it rendered a person unable to approach a holy God or participate in communal worship until cleansed. The offerings served to "cover" this state of uncleanness.
• Sacrifice and Cleansing: The prescribed animals—one for a `sin offering` and the other for a `burnt offering`—were crucial. The sin offering dealt specifically with the impurity, while the burnt offering symbolized complete dedication and worship, signifying the individual's restored relationship with God.
• Priestly Mediation: The priest's role was indispensable. He alone could offer the sacrifices and "make an atonement for him before the LORD," highlighting the necessity of a mediator between God and man in the Old Covenant system.
• Holiness of God: The elaborate purity laws underscore God's absolute holiness and His demand for His people to maintain a state of ritual purity to dwell in His presence, as His presence resided among them in the Tabernacle.

Linguistic Insights

The term "atonement" comes from the Hebrew word kaphar (כָּפַר), which fundamentally means "to cover," "to purge," or "to make reconciliation." In this context, it refers to the process by which ritual impurity is dealt with, allowing the individual to be restored to a state of ceremonial cleanness before God. The "issue" (Hebrew: zav) refers to a bodily discharge that rendered a person ritually unclean according to the Mosaic Law, emphasizing the physical aspects of purity in the Old Testament.

Related Scriptures

The concept of `atonement` is central throughout the Old Testament, finding its ultimate fulfillment in the New. For further understanding of the broader sacrificial system, consider Leviticus 1 on the burnt offering and Leviticus 4 on the sin offering. The most significant day for national atonement was the Day of Atonement described in Leviticus 16. Ultimately, these Old Testament rituals foreshadowed the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who became our ultimate High Priest and the perfect atonement for our sins, as explained in the book of Hebrews.

Practical Application

While believers today are no longer bound by these ceremonial purity laws, Leviticus 15:15 offers profound spiritual lessons. It reminds us of God's absolute holiness and His desire for humanity to be pure to draw near to Him. The Old Testament sacrifices, including those for ritual impurity, point to the reality of sin and the need for a covering or cleansing. For Christians, this cleansing comes not through animal sacrifices but through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who is our ultimate `sin offering` and `burnt offering` (Hebrews 10:10-14). We are called to pursue spiritual purity and holiness in our lives, recognizing that our access to God is now direct through Christ, our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).