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:

LEVITICUS 14:51KJV
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Leviticus 14:51 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 14:51 mean?

Leviticus 14:51 describes part of a ritual for purifying a house that had been affected by mold or mildew, where the priest takes cedar wood, hyssop, scarlet material, and a living bird, dips them in the blood of a bird that was killed and in fresh water, and then sprinkles the house seven times. This action is a symbolic cleansing, performed as part of the instructions God gave to Moses for the Israelites.

In this verse, Moses is relaying God’s detailed instructions to the priests about how to make a house ritually clean after it was contaminated. The ritual involves specific materials and actions, each with symbolic meaning, and is part of a larger passage about purity laws in ancient Israel. The number seven, the use of living and slain birds, and the sprinkling all point to a careful, ritual process meant to restore both the house and its inhabitants to a state of purity.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 14:51

  • "Cedar" (אֶרֶז, ’erez, H730) and "wood" (עֵץ, ‘ets, H6086): Cedar wood was valued for its durability and pleasant scent, often used in purification rituals, possibly symbolizing preservation and incorruptibility.
  • "Hyssop" (אֵזוֹב, ’ezov, H231): Hyssop was a small plant used for sprinkling in purification rites, often associated with cleansing and ritual purity.
  • "Scarlet" (שָׁנִי, shani, H8144; תוֹלַעַת, tola‘at, H8438): The scarlet material, likely wool dyed red, was a vivid symbol, possibly representing life or sacrifice.
  • "Living" (חַי, chai, H2416) and "bird" (צִפּוֹר, tsippor, H6833): The living bird, contrasted with the slain one, represents life continuing after cleansing.
  • "Dip" (טָבַל, taval, H2881): The act of dipping the items in both blood and water shows a mingling of cleansing elements—blood for atonement, water for washing.
  • "Sprinkle" (נָזָה, nazah, H5137): Sprinkling is a ritual act of applying the cleansing mixture, marking the house as purified.
  • "Seven" (שֶׁבַע, sheva‘, H7651): The number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection in Hebrew tradition.

Why Leviticus 14:51 matters

  • Leviticus 14:51 clarifies that ritual purity in ancient Israel involved both symbolic acts and specific materials, not just prayer or intention.
  • The verse shows the priest’s role as an active agent in restoring purity, emphasizing the importance of community leaders in maintaining spiritual and physical health.
  • This ritual connects to the broader theme in Leviticus of holiness and separation from impurity, illustrating how even physical spaces were included in the Israelites’ relationship with God.

Where else these words appear

“hyssop” Hebrew H231 · used in 10 verses

  • Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
  • Leviticus 14:49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
  • Numbers 19:18 And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:

“dip” Hebrew H2881 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 37:31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
  • Leviticus 14:6 As 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:
  • Ruth 2:14 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.

“sprinkle” Hebrew H5137 · used in 22 verses

  • Exodus 29:21 And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
  • Leviticus 14:7 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.
  • Numbers 19:4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times:

“bird” Hebrew H6833 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 7:14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
  • Deuteronomy 14:11 Of all clean birds ye shall eat.
  • Proverbs 7:23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.