Vayyiqra 14 (Leviticus 14)

Vayyiqra 14 are the offerings associated with the plague of Tzaraas. Vayyiqra 14 follows the somewhat complicated discussion of Vayyiqra 13 that is used to determine if one is clean or unclean with the spiritual condition of Tzaraas. It also includes a discussion related to houses that may have Tzaraas present.

Vayyiqra 14:1-3

¹And Yehovah spoke to Moshe, saying, ²This shall be the Torah of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest: ³And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;

Leper comes from the Hebrew word צָרַע tsara (H6879) is in the Bible 20 times. It is translated leper 14 times and leprous 6 times. It is used for a person who has צָרַעַת Tzaraas (H6883) leprosy.

Leprosy comes from the Hebrew word צָרַעַת Tzaraas (H6883). It is in the Bible 35 times and is always translated leprosy. However, it is probably not what is known as leprosy today.

There is a detailed discussion of both צָרַע tsara (H6879) and צָרַעַת Tzaraas (H6883) in Vayyiqra 13, that will not be repeated in the discussion of Vayyiqra 14. The conclusions of the discussion in Vayyiqra 13 will be used in Vayyiqra 14. From the use of the words צָרַע tsara (H6879) and צָרַעַת Tzaraas (H6883), there is no similarity between the leprosy (Tzaraas) in the Bible and the medical condition of modern leprosy. As such, for the remainder of this discussion, the transliteration will be used for both צָרַע tsara (H6879) and צָרַעַת Tzaraas (H6883).

Unfortunately, people have tried to apply what is written in Vayyiqra to modern conditions, this has led to prejudicial treatment of individuals with leprosy. Once again, humans’ inhumanity to other humans exceeds all other known ignorance and wickedness. Additionally, one should not try to apply these rules to any modern situation unless they are a qualified priest. Which there are none today nor has there been for over 1900 years.

Both צָרַע tsara (H6879) and צָרַעַת Tzaraas (H6883) refer to a spiritual condition that is inflicted by God on individuals and other inanimate objects of an individual. Although there are examples of Leprosy (Tzaraas) in the Bible, one should not assume a meaning. These may have only been an example and as such would only explain a fragment of the whole condition. Although little is known of the true nature of this condition, one should not assume that is of no value. Based on other passages of the Bible, there is both a shadow and a potential reality that will become more apparent to the individual who studies. These will probably be of application in the millennium in the Restitution of All Things.

Again Vayyiqra 14:1-3

¹And Yehovah spoke to Moshe, saying, ²This shall be the Torah of the tsara in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest: ³And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of Tzaraas be healed in the tsara;

Only a anointed priest should determine if a person is cleansed, healed and the extent of the Tzaraas. The priest is to go outside the camp to determine if the individual is healed. This is because if one is partially infected, the whole body is not covered, they must live outside the camp. Only uninfected and those completely covered can live inside the camp. This is explained in the discussion of Vayyiqra 13.

Cleansing comes from the Hebrew word טָהֳרָה tohorah (H2893). It is in the Bible 13 times. טָהֳרָה tohorah (H2893) is translated cleansing 7 times, purifying 3 times, purification 2 times and cleansed 1 time. It is used 2 times in Vayyiqra 13 and 3 times in Vayyiqra 14. The significance of this word is that it is only used to describe ceremonial cleansing or purification. It is also used 2 times in Vayyiqra 12 and one time in Vayyiqra 15.

טָהֳרָה tohorah (H2893) is the feminine form of טֹהַר tohar (H2892). It is in the Bible 4 times. טֹהַר tohar (H2892) is translated purifying 2 times, clearness 1 time and glory 1 time. It is used once in Shemos 24:10 describe the dwelling of Yehovah. It is used twice in Vayyiqra 12. טֹהַר tohar (H2892) is used once in Tehilla 89:44 to describe what eventually would happen to Messiah and Christianity in the years subsequent to the cross. In Tehilla 89:44, the טֹהַר tohar (H2892) is taken away. We are to find a way back.

טֹהַר tohar (H2892) and two other Hebrew words טָהוֹר tahowr (H2889) and טְהוֹר tehowr (H2890) are all forms of טָהֵר taher (H2891). These words are used over 200 times in the Bible. They are associated with a cleansing or purification relate to being free of impurities, defilement, or imperfection. It is applied concretely to substances that are genuine or unadulterated as well as describing an unstained condition of a spiritual or ceremonial nature. This does not fully explain these words, but a simple explanation is the cleansing or purification these words describe is far more than just taking a shower or bath. This will not be discussed further Vayyiqra 14; however, it is worthy of a more detailed examination. The conclusion that should be taken from all this that it is a cleansing not only from Tzaraas, but something we all should pursue in our walk with Messiah.

Healed comes from the Hebrew word רָפָא rapha (H7495). It is in the Bible 67 times. רָפָא rapha (H7495) is translated heal 57 times, physician 5 times, cure 1 time, repaired 1 time and 3 miscellaneous words. It is used in Shemos 15:26

²⁶And said, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of Yehovah your Redeemer, and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Mitzrim: for I Yehovah that heals (rapha) you.

רָפָא rapha (H7495) refers to being restored to normally an act which God typically performs. This words is also worthy of a more detailed examination. Tzaraas is a condition that Yehovah inflicts and heals. Further Yehovah is not indiscriminate in the infliction nor in the healing. Never assume that this condition has been eradicated in today’s society.

The following offerings are applicable for the individual that is determined to be healed of Tzaraas. One that is cleansed of the infliction as determined by the priest.

Vayyiqra 14:4

⁴Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed (taher) two birds alive and clean (tahor), and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

For the individual that is cleansed, the following materials are required:

2 clean birds.
Cedar wood.
Scarlet.
Hyssop.

For the cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop there is no specified amount or shape. For the scarlet, it does not specify the type of material that should be scarlet. Potentially, it could be that scarlet dye is to be brought to the offering.

Vayyiqra 14:5

⁵And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:

One of the birds is to be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. Again, little is specified on how to kill the bird. However, one can refer to what is done in Vayyiqra 5:8.

⁸And he shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:

The bird used for the sin offering, its head is wrung off at the neck, but not completely separated. Wring off comes from the Hebrew word מָלַק malaq (H4454). It is in the Bible 2 times. מָלַק malaq (H4454) is translated wring off 2 times. It should have been translated nip. It does not mean completely removing the head. It means to crack a joint. It is to nip the neck of a fowl without separating it. As such, the blood will come out of the bird fairly fast into the earthen vessel where there is running water. Obviously the water is not to wash away the blood.

The other use of מָלַק malaq (H4454) is in Vayyiqra 1:15.

¹⁵And the priest shall bring it to the altar, and wring (nip) off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:

This is the procedure when offering a bird.

Vayyiqra 14:6-7

⁶As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: ⁷And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the Tzaraas seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

Then the remaining bird, cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop are all dipped in the blood of the bird. Then the blood is sprinkled on the individual 7 times. After this, the individual is pronounced clean. The living bird is released in an open field.

Vayyiqra 14:8

⁸And he that is to be cleansed (taher) shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean (taher): and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

The individual to be cleansed shall:

Wash their clothes.
Shave off all their hair
Wash themselves in water.

After this the individual may come into the camp and go outside their tent 7 days.

Vayyiqra 14:9

⁹But 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 (taher).

On the 7^th day, the individual shall:

Shave off all the hair on their head, beard and eyebrows.
Wash his clothes.
Wash themselves in water.

Then they are considered clean.

Vayyiqra 14:10

¹⁰And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour a grain offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.

On the 8^th day, the individual shall bring:

2 male lambs without blemish.
1 female lamb first year without blemish.
Three tenth deals of fine flour for grain offering mingled with oil.
One log of oil.

Log is from the Hebrew word לֹג log (H3849). It is in the Bible 5 times and is always translated log. Log is a liquid measurement of unknown quantity. It is only used in Vayyiqra 14. It is assumed to be one half of a liter.

Vayyiqra 14:11-14

¹¹And the priest that makes him clean (taher) shall present the man that is to be made clean (taher), and those things, before Yehovah, at the door of the Ohel of the Congregation: ¹²And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before Yehovah: ¹³And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest’s, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy: ¹⁴And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed (taher), and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:

On the eight day, the Priest presents the individual before the door of the Ohel of the Congregation.

One male lamb is for a trespass offering
The lamb and log of oil are waved before Yehovah.
This lamb is killed in the place where the sin and burnt offering is killed.

Vayyiqra 1:10-11

¹⁰And if his offering be of the flocks of the sheep or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. ¹¹And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before Yehovah: and the priests, Aharon’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.

Therefore, the lamb is killed on the northside of the altar. This represents the individual is being judged.

The priest will take some of the blood and place it on the individual’s right:

Ear tip.
Hand thumb.
Foot great toe.

Vayyiqra 14:15-16

¹⁵And the priest shall take of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand: ¹⁶And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before Yehovah:

The priest then takes a portion of the log of oil:

Pours it in his left hand.
Dips his right finger in the oil.
The priest then sprinkles the oil before Yehovah 7 times.

Vayyiqra 14:17-18

¹⁷And of the rest of the oil that in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering: ¹⁸And 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 Yehovah.

What is left of the oil in the priest’s left hand, the priest will place on the individual to be cleansed on his right:

Ear tip.
Hand thumb.
Foot great toe.

The remaining oil in the priest’s hand is then:

Poured on the head of the individual to be cleansed.

Vayyiqra 14:19-20

¹⁹And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed (taher) from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering: ²⁰And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

Priest then performs on the Altar the:

Sin offering.
Burnt offering.
Grain offering.

Priest then makes atonement for the individual. The individual is considered clean.

Vayyiqra 14:21-23

²¹And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil; ²²And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. ²³And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing (tahorah) to the priest, to the door of the Ohel of the Congregation, before Yehovah.

If the individual cannot afford three lambs, they may bring:

One lamb for a trespass offering to be waved. More than likely, this would be a male lamb.
One tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a grain offering.
Log of oil.
Either 2 turtledoves or young pigeons.
One bird for sin offering and one for burnt offering.

These are all to be brought on the 8^th day. This represents a substantial reduction in cost of animals and grains.

Vayyiqra 14:24-25

²⁴And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before Yehovah: ²⁵And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:

The priest will then:

Wave the lamb of the trespass offering and log of oil before Yehovah.
The priest will then kill the lamb.

The priest will take some of the blood and place it on the individual’s right:

Ear tip.
Hand thumb.
Foot great toe.

Vayyiqra 14:26-29

²⁶And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand: ²⁷And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Yehovah: ²⁸And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering: ²⁹And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before Yehovah.

The priest pours the oil into their left palm.

Priest dips his right finger in the oil.
The priest then sprinkles the oil before Yehovah 7 times.

Next, the priest will place oil on the individual’s right:

Ear tip.
Hand thumb.
Foot great toe.

The oil should cover the blood. The remaining oil ins the priest’s hand is then:

Poured on the head of the individual to be cleansed.
This is to make atonement for the individual being cleansed

Vayyiqra 14:30-32

³⁰And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get; ³¹Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the grain offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed (taher) before Yehovah. ³²This is the law of him in whom is the plague of Tzaraas, whose hand is not able to get that which pertains to his cleansing (tahorah).

One bird is offered for sin offering.
One bird for burnt offering with grain offering.
Priest makes atonement for the individual being cleansed.

Vayyiqra 14:33-36

³³And Yehovah spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying, ³⁴When you be come into the land of Kenaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of Tzaraas in a house of the land of your possession; ³⁵And he that owns the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seems to me there is as it were a plague in the house: ³⁶Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go 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:

Yehovah told Moshe and Aharon that once they came into the land, there is the possibility of Tzaraas being in a house. If an individual finds this in their house, they are to find the priest and tell them that there is potentially a plague in their house. They could not positively claim this, only the priest could make this determination.

Even before the priest can make a determination, the house has to be emptied of all its contents. This is to prevent the contents from becoming unclean. Once the house is empty, the Priest was allowed to go inside and make a determination.

Vayyiqra 14:37-38

³⁷And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, the plague in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, which in sight lower than the wall; ³⁸Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days:

After the house is emptied, the priest can now enter and evaluate the condition. Priest will look for:

Hollow streaks, greenish or reddish.
Determine if these are lower than the walls

If these are identified in the house, then the house should be closed for 7 days.

Vayyiqra 14:39-42

³⁹And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, the plague be spread in the walls of the house; ⁴⁰Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones (eben) in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city: ⁴¹And 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: ⁴²And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones (eben); and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house.

The priest returns to the house on the 7^th day to determine if the plague has spread. If the plague has spread, the priest should command that:

Remove all stones that are affected by the plague.
Stones should be cast in an unclean area outside the city.
Next the walls are to be scraped.
The dust from the scraping should be collected.
This dust should be disposed of in an unclean area outside the city.
Next clean stones are brought in to replace the ones removed.
Then use mortar to plaster the house.

Vayyiqra 14:43-44

⁴³And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he has taken away the stones, and after he has scraped the house, and after it is plastered; ⁴⁴Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting Tzaraas in the house: it is unclean.

If the plague comes again in the house. The priest will look at it. If the priest determines that it is present then it is a fretting Tzaraas. The entire house is unclean.

Vayyiqra 14:45

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

If a house is determined to be unclean, it should be broken down completely. All the materials of the house should be taken to an unclean place outside the city.

Vayyiqra 14:46-47

⁴⁶Moreover he that goes into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even. ⁴⁷And he that lie in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eats in the house shall wash his clothes.

If while a house is closed up, a person enters they:

Are unclean until evening.

If the person either lies down or eats in the house, they:

Must wash their clothes.

Vayyiqra 14:48

⁴⁸And if the priest shall come in, and look and, behold, the plague has not spread in the house, after the house was plastered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean (taher), because the plague is healed (rapha).

On the seventh day, the priest should inspect the house. If the plague has not spread after it has been plastered, the priest should declare the house clean.

Vayyiqra 14:49-51

⁴⁹And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: ⁵⁰And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: ⁵¹And 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:

The following offerings are required to cleanse the house:

2 birds
Cedar wood
Scarlet
Hyssop

One bird is killed in an earthen vessel over running water. Next the following items are dipped in the blood of the slain bird.

The other bird.
Cedar wood
Scarlet
Hyssop

These four items are used to sprinkle the house 7 times.

Vayyiqra 14:52-53

⁵²And 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: ⁵³But 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 (taher).

This will cleanse the house. The living bird is released outside the city. This atones for the house and it is considered clean.

Vayyiqra 14:54-57

⁵⁴This is the Torah for all manner of plague of Tzaraas, and neseq, ⁵⁵And for the Tzaraas of a garment, and of a house, ⁵⁶And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot (boheres): ⁵⁷To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean (tahor): this is the law of Tzaraas.

These are all the Torah.

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