Leviticus 14:13 - He shall kill the male lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary; for as the sin offering is the priest’s, so is the trespass offering. It is most holy.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 14:13

What does "Leviticus 14:13" mean?


Leviticus 14:13 deals with the rituals required for the cleansing of a healed person who had previously suffered from a skin disease, likely a form of leprosy (though the term covers a broader range of conditions than modern-day leprosy). Let's break down the verse:

"He shall kill the male lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary;": This specifies the location of the sacrifice. The "he" refers to the priest. The lamb is to be slaughtered in the same area of the tabernacle (or later, the Temple) where sin offerings and burnt offerings were performed. This area was considered holy. This emphasizes the sacredness and seriousness of the ritual.

"for as the sin offering is the priest’s, so is the trespass offering.": This part clarifies who gets to benefit from the sacrifice. The priest was allowed to eat a portion of the sin offering. Similarly, the priest also gets a portion of the trespass (or guilt) offering. This was part of their compensation for their service in the sanctuary.

"It is most holy.": This reinforces the sacred nature of the trespass offering. It's considered "most holy" because it's part of a process that allows a person who was ritually impure to be reintegrated into the community and resume their worship practices.

In Summary:

This verse details a specific part of the ritual for cleansing someone healed from a skin disease. It specifies the location of the sacrifice (near other important offerings), clarifies that the priest receives a portion of the trespass offering (similar to the sin offering), and underscores the sacredness of the offering. The offering and the ritual are essential steps for restoring the healed person to full participation in religious and social life.

Significance within the context of Leviticus 14:

Restoration: The entire chapter focuses on the restoration of someone deemed "unclean" due to skin disease. This verse contributes to the overall theme of purification and reintegration.
Atonement: The trespass offering, as well as the sin offering mentioned in the verse, symbolizes atonement for the unintentional wrongs or trespasses that may have contributed to or resulted from the person's condition and isolation.
Priestly Role: The verse highlights the crucial role of the priest in facilitating the cleansing process. Their actions, including the sacrifice and consumption of part of the offering, are essential for restoring the person to a state of ritual purity.

Interpretations Beyond the Literal:

Some theologians interpret these rituals as foreshadowing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the ultimate sacrifice for sin and the means by which believers are cleansed and restored to a relationship with God.

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