Leviticus 14:4 - then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
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What does "Leviticus 14:4" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 14:4 outlines the initial steps in the ritual for cleansing someone who was previously afflicted with tzara'at, a skin disease often translated as leprosy (though it's not necessarily the same as modern leprosy). Let's break down each element:
"Then the priest shall command them...": The priest is the central figure in this ritual. He directs the process and determines when the individual is considered clean.
"...to take for him who is to be cleansed...": The items listed are gathered specifically for the person undergoing the cleansing process.
"...two living clean birds...": The birds must be alive and considered ritually "clean" (kosher) according to Levitical laws. Their role is symbolic, representing life and purification. One bird will be sacrificed, and the other will be released.
"...cedar wood...": Cedar wood was considered a valuable and fragrant material, perhaps representing strength, permanence, or the opposite of decay. It may also be symbolic of someone who was "high up" in their status.
"...scarlet...": Scarlet dye, made from insects, was a costly and highly valued color. It is often associated with blood and life, or possibly sin, as a symbol to be purged.
"...and hyssop...": Hyssop is a small, bushy plant with cleansing properties. It was commonly used for purification rituals in the Bible and associated with the concept of being cleansed from sin (Psalm 51:7).
Overall Meaning and Significance:
The verse describes the beginning of a complex ritual designed to restore a person to the community after they had been afflicted with tzara'at. The combination of these elements (birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop) creates a symbolic framework for cleansing and renewal:
Life and Death: The two birds represent the concept of life and death, purification, and freedom. The sacrificing of one and the freeing of the other could symbolize the removal of the disease (death) and the restoration to health and life.
Purification: The hyssop and cedar wood suggest purification and cleansing from defilement.
Restoration: The overall ritual is intended to bring the afflicted individual back into the community, both physically and spiritually.
In essence, this verse introduces a ritualistic process that uses symbolic elements to represent cleansing, renewal, and reintegration into society after a period of isolation and defilement.
Leviticus 14:4 - then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
What does "Leviticus 14:4" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 14:4 outlines the initial steps in the ritual for cleansing someone who was previously afflicted with tzara'at, a skin disease often translated as leprosy (though it's not necessarily the same as modern leprosy). Let's break down each element:
"Then the priest shall command them...": The priest is the central figure in this ritual. He directs the process and determines when the individual is considered clean.
"...to take for him who is to be cleansed...": The items listed are gathered specifically for the person undergoing the cleansing process.
"...two living clean birds...": The birds must be alive and considered ritually "clean" (kosher) according to Levitical laws. Their role is symbolic, representing life and purification. One bird will be sacrificed, and the other will be released.
"...cedar wood...": Cedar wood was considered a valuable and fragrant material, perhaps representing strength, permanence, or the opposite of decay. It may also be symbolic of someone who was "high up" in their status.
"...scarlet...": Scarlet dye, made from insects, was a costly and highly valued color. It is often associated with blood and life, or possibly sin, as a symbol to be purged.
"...and hyssop...": Hyssop is a small, bushy plant with cleansing properties. It was commonly used for purification rituals in the Bible and associated with the concept of being cleansed from sin (Psalm 51:7).
Overall Meaning and Significance:
The verse describes the beginning of a complex ritual designed to restore a person to the community after they had been afflicted with tzara'at. The combination of these elements (birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop) creates a symbolic framework for cleansing and renewal:
Life and Death: The two birds represent the concept of life and death, purification, and freedom. The sacrificing of one and the freeing of the other could symbolize the removal of the disease (death) and the restoration to health and life.
Purification: The hyssop and cedar wood suggest purification and cleansing from defilement.
Restoration: The overall ritual is intended to bring the afflicted individual back into the community, both physically and spiritually.
In essence, this verse introduces a ritualistic process that uses symbolic elements to represent cleansing, renewal, and reintegration into society after a period of isolation and defilement.