Leviticus 22:7 refers to a person who has become ritually unclean (often due to contact with something impure, like a dead body, or bodily emissions). Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"When the sun is down, he shall be clean": This specifies that the ritual impurity does not last indefinitely. The act of becoming clean is linked to the setting of the sun. It signifies the end of a period of purification. The previous verses of Leviticus 22 detail the types of uncleanness, indicating that the sun is part of the required purification after those occurrences.
"and afterward he shall eat of the holy things": "Holy things" refer to the portions of sacrifices or tithes that were designated for the priests and their households. These were considered sacred and could only be eaten by those who were ritually pure. After the person has become clean, he is allowed to partake in these holy meals.
"because it is his bread": This emphasizes that these holy things are the livelihood and sustenance of the priests and their families. It is their designated portion, earned through their service in the Tabernacle/Temple. They had to be clean to eat this bread to maintain the reverence of the offering.
In summary, the verse establishes a rule about ritual purity and its connection to consuming food designated as "holy." It means that someone who was ritually unclean had to wait until sunset to be considered clean again, and only then could they eat the "holy things," which were the food allotted to the priests and their families as their sustenance.
Key Concepts:
Ritual Purity: The Old Testament placed a strong emphasis on ritual purity. Contact with certain things rendered a person "unclean" and temporarily restricted their participation in religious activities.
Atonement & Cleansing: The laws regarding cleansing were not necessarily about hygiene in the modern sense. They were often symbolic acts related to atonement for sins or separation from things considered spiritually defiling.
The Priesthood: The priests had specific roles and responsibilities in the religious system. Their livelihood was partly provided through the designated portions of sacrifices and offerings.
Holiness: The concept of holiness is central to Leviticus. God is holy, and the people were called to be holy as well, which involved maintaining ritual purity and following God's commands.
Leviticus 22:7 refers to a person who has become ritually unclean (often due to contact with something impure, like a dead body, or bodily emissions). Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"When the sun is down, he shall be clean": This specifies that the ritual impurity does not last indefinitely. The act of becoming clean is linked to the setting of the sun. It signifies the end of a period of purification. The previous verses of Leviticus 22 detail the types of uncleanness, indicating that the sun is part of the required purification after those occurrences.
"and afterward he shall eat of the holy things": "Holy things" refer to the portions of sacrifices or tithes that were designated for the priests and their households. These were considered sacred and could only be eaten by those who were ritually pure. After the person has become clean, he is allowed to partake in these holy meals.
"because it is his bread": This emphasizes that these holy things are the livelihood and sustenance of the priests and their families. It is their designated portion, earned through their service in the Tabernacle/Temple. They had to be clean to eat this bread to maintain the reverence of the offering.
In summary, the verse establishes a rule about ritual purity and its connection to consuming food designated as "holy." It means that someone who was ritually unclean had to wait until sunset to be considered clean again, and only then could they eat the "holy things," which were the food allotted to the priests and their families as their sustenance.
Key Concepts:
Ritual Purity: The Old Testament placed a strong emphasis on ritual purity. Contact with certain things rendered a person "unclean" and temporarily restricted their participation in religious activities.
Atonement & Cleansing: The laws regarding cleansing were not necessarily about hygiene in the modern sense. They were often symbolic acts related to atonement for sins or separation from things considered spiritually defiling.
The Priesthood: The priests had specific roles and responsibilities in the religious system. Their livelihood was partly provided through the designated portions of sacrifices and offerings.
Holiness: The concept of holiness is central to Leviticus. God is holy, and the people were called to be holy as well, which involved maintaining ritual purity and following God's commands.