King James Version

What Does Leviticus 14:52 Mean?

Leviticus 14:52 in the King James Version says “And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and wit...” — study this verse from Leviticus chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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 :”

Leviticus 14:52 · KJV

Context

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.

54

This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall,

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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:

This verse falls within the section on Cleansing from Skin Diseases. Elaborate cleansing ritual for healed lepers, involving birds, blood, and multiple offerings, symbolizing restoration.

Ritual purity laws taught Israel to distinguish between clean and unclean, holy and common, training them in discernment and reverence for God's presence. Leviticus 17:11 declares 'the life of the flesh is in the blood,' establishing blood's sacred role in atonement, pointing to Christ's blood shed for redemption.
What Leviticus portrayed through types and shadows, Christ fulfilled in reality through His incarnation, perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Elaborate cleansing ritual for healed lepers, involving birds, blood, and multiple offerings, symbolizing restoration. Chapters 11-15 address ritual purity, teaching Israel to distinguish clean from unclean. These laws served multiple purposes: promoting health, teaching spiritual lessons about sin's defilement, and separating Israel from pagan practices. Archaeological evidence shows Canaanite worship involved practices Israel's laws explicitly prohibited. Israel received these laws while encamped at Sinai, before entering Canaan. The laws prepared them for life in the promised land, distinguishing them from Canaanite practices and establishing their identity as God's holy nation. The portable tabernacle, central to Levitical worship, accompanied them through wilderness wanderings and eventually found permanent form in Solomon's temple. The Israelite dietary laws in Leviticus 11 have no exact parallel in surrounding cultures, though some ancient cultures had food taboos, suggesting unique revelation rather than borrowed customs.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can you develop greater spiritual discernment in distinguishing what honors God from what defiles?
  2. How does this verse help you understand both God's justice and His mercy in salvation?
  3. How can you use this verse to worship God more fully, obey Him more faithfully, or love others more sacrificially?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וְחִטֵּ֣א1 of 14

“And he shall cleanse”

H2398

properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

אֶת2 of 14
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַבַּ֔יִת3 of 14

“the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

בְּדַם֙4 of 14

“with the blood”

H1818

blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe

וּבַצִּפֹּ֣ר5 of 14

“bird”

H6833

a little bird (as hopping)

וּבַמַּ֖יִם6 of 14

“water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

הַֽחַיָּ֗ה7 of 14

“and with the living”

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

וּבַצִּפֹּ֣ר8 of 14

“bird”

H6833

a little bird (as hopping)

הַֽחַיָּ֗ה9 of 14

“and with the living”

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

וּבְעֵ֥ץ10 of 14

“wood”

H6086

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

הָאֶ֛רֶז11 of 14

“and with the cedar”

H730

a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots)

וּבָֽאֵזֹ֖ב12 of 14

“and with the hyssop”

H231

hyssop

וּבִשְׁנִ֥י13 of 14

“and with the scarlet”

H8144

crimson, properly, the insect or its color, also stuff dyed with it

הַתּוֹלָֽעַת׃14 of 14
H8438

a maggot (as voracious); specifically (often with ellipsis of h8144) the crimson-grub, but used only (in this connection) of the color from it, and cl

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Leviticus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Leviticus 14:52 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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