And 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:

LEVITICUS 14:25KJV
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Leviticus 14:25 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 14:25 mean?

Leviticus 14:25 describes a specific ritual for someone being cleansed from a skin disease: the priest kills a lamb for a trespass offering, takes some of its blood, and puts it on the tip of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot of the person being cleansed. This act is part of a detailed process for restoring someone to the community after being declared clean.

In this passage, God is giving Moses instructions for the priests about how to perform the cleansing ceremony for a person healed from a skin disease (often called "leprosy" in older translations). The ritual uses the blood of a lamb as a "trespass offering," which is a type of sacrifice for making things right. The specific places where the blood is applied—the ear, thumb, and toe—symbolize the person's whole life and actions being restored.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 14:25

  • "trespass offering" (אָשָׁם, ’asham): This word refers to a specific type of offering meant to address guilt or restore a broken relationship, not just a general sacrifice. Its use here highlights that the ritual is about more than physical healing; it is also about restoring the person spiritually and socially.
  • "tip" (תְּנוּךְ, t'nukh): This word means the very tip or lobe of the ear, showing the ritual's attention to detail and the idea of cleansing even the smallest part of a person.
  • "right" (יָמִין, yamin): The right side was often seen as the favored or stronger side in ancient Israelite culture, so applying the blood to the right ear, thumb, and toe emphasizes the person's full strength and ability being restored.

Why Leviticus 14:25 matters

  • Leviticus 14:25 shows that being declared clean was not just about physical health but involved a careful, symbolic process to welcome someone back into the community and relationship with God.
  • The verse highlights the priest's role as a mediator, carefully following God's instructions to ensure the ritual was done exactly as commanded.
  • This ritual connects to the larger themes in Leviticus about holiness, restoration, and the importance of detailed obedience in worship and community life.

Where else these words appear

“tip” Hebrew H8571 · used in 7 verses

  • Exodus 29:20 Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
  • Leviticus 8:24 And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
  • Leviticus 14:17 And of the rest of the oil that is 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:

“thumb” Hebrew H931 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 29:20 Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
  • Leviticus 8:24 And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.
  • Leviticus 14:28 And 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:

“right” Hebrew H3233 · used in 19 verses

  • Exodus 29:20 Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
  • Leviticus 14:27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD:
  • 2 Chronicles 3:17 And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.

“offering” Hebrew H817 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 26:10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
  • Leviticus 7:37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
  • Numbers 18:9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.