Leviticus 14
02 Aug 2026 - Theology
Bringing Back the Leper
This chapter continues from last chapter, Leviticus 13, regarding a person with a skin disease (translated as leprosy). A person with almost any skin disease was called a “leper”, or metzora, but as I mentioned last chapter, most skin problems were not actually leprosy.
If a person was found with a skin disease they were considered to be “unclean” and were forced to live outside the community. Once a person was declared a metzora, the priests were required to come and examine the skin. If the skin had healed, the priests could perform rituals to make the metzora “clean” and bring the person back into the community.
This chapter details the laws and rituals that guide the priests. In lesser cases of “uncleanness” an Israelite had only to bathe in fresh water and wait until evening to be “clean”. But once a person was declared a metzora, becoming “clean” became more complex. The priest had to perform two rituals: one on the first day and one on the eighth day.
The Ritual of the First Day
Before the metzora could enter the camp (or city) again, here is what was done:
Leviticus 14:4-7 - “Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet [yarn], and hyssop: And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet [yarn], and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.”
When the living bird is dipped in the blood, it is considered to be “unclean”. But then when it is let loose and flies away, it is considered to take all uncleanness with it. The metzora can return to the camp (or city) and wait seven days to bring sacrifices to the priest.
Nachmanides tells us that since no altar was used in this ritual, and the blood is not returned to the earth in a normal way, this ritual is not a sacrifice.
Leviticus 14:8-9 - “And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.”
The Ritual of the Eighth Day
On the eighth day, the metzora brought sacrifices to the entrance of the Tabernacle: two lambs, a meal offering, and a jar of oil. (10)
If a metzora cannot afford to bring two lambs for the sacrifice on the eighth day, then he or she can bring one lamb instead.
After the priest offers the sacrifices, it is interesting to note that the metzora was anointed, almost like a priest.
Some blood was placed on the metzora’s right ear, right thumb, and right big toe (14). The blood in each place was then covered with oil (17).
Leviticus 14:18 - “And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord.”
The chapter repeats all the laws that speak about the ritual of the eighth day twice - once for the rich metzora who can afford two lambs, and once for the poor who can only afford one lamb (see verses 21-32).
A Plague on the House
The chapter continues by talking about a plague in the house, a tzara’at that makes the house unclean.
The Lord seems to tell Moses and Aaron here that this ritual will only be needed when the people are in the land of Canaan and live in physical houses, not when they are in the desert living in tents:
Leviticus 14:33-34 - “And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 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;”
The plague, probably fungus or mildew, attacked stones or bricks and the coating or plaster of a house. This is obviously not a problem for the Israelites when they are living in tents in the desert.
If a priest found this tzara’at, any infected stones or bricks would be removed and replaced. If it was in the plaster of the house, the coating would be removed and the wall replastered.
If this worked, the priest used the ritual of the first day for the metzora (two birds, the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn, and the hyssop) to make the house clean again. (49-53)
If replacement did not work, then the whole house was destroyed, all its parts were dumped outside the city, and a new house was built.
References
- The Hebrew - Greek Key Study Bible (KJV Version)
- The Torah Portion-by-Portion by Rabbi Seymour Rossel (2007)