Leviticus 14:46 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 14:46 mean?

Leviticus 14:46 says that anyone who enters a house that has been shut up because of suspected disease will be considered unclean until evening. This rule is part of the instructions for dealing with houses that might be contaminated, and it sets a clear boundary for ritual purity.

In this passage, God is giving Moses and the Israelites detailed laws about how to handle houses that might have a kind of mold or mildew, which was seen as a serious problem. The verse makes it clear that even entering such a house, while it is officially closed off, brings ritual impurity for the rest of the day. This instruction is part of a larger set of laws about cleanliness and community health.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 14:46

• "goeth" (בּוֹא, bo) means "to enter" or "to go in." The word emphasizes the act of physically entering the house, not just being near it.
• "house" (בַּיִת, bayit) refers to a dwelling place, making it clear that the law applies to any home, not just public or religious buildings.
• "shut" (סָגַר, sagar) means "to shut up" or "to close off." This word highlights that the house is officially sealed, not just casually closed.
• "unclean" (טָמֵא, tame) means ritually impure, which affected a person’s ability to participate in community and worship until they became clean again.
• "even" (עֶרֶב, erev) means "evening," marking the end of the period of impurity and the time when purification could begin.

Why Leviticus 14:46 matters

• This verse clarifies that ritual impurity was not just about personal sickness but could also come from contact with contaminated places, showing the seriousness of community health.
• The rule about being unclean "until the even" sets a specific, limited time for impurity, which helped people know when they could rejoin normal life.
• Leviticus 14:46 fits into a larger section about purity laws, showing the careful boundaries set for the Israelites to keep both their bodies and their living spaces clean.