REGULATIONS ABOUT MOLDS & CLEANSING

Passage: Leviticus 13:47-14:32

Key verse: 14:31

NIV

Regulations About Defiling Molds

47 “As for any fabric that is spoiled with a defiling mold—any woolen or linen clothing, 48 any woven or knitted material of linen or wool, any leather or anything made of leather— 49 if the affected area in the fabric, the leather, the woven or knitted material, or any leather article, is greenish or reddish, it is a defiling mold and must be shown to the priest.(A) 50 The priest is to examine the affected area(B) and isolate the article for seven days. 51 On the seventh day he is to examine it,(C) and if the mold has spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather, whatever its use, it is a persistent defiling mold; the article is unclean.(D) 52 He must burn the fabric, the woven or knitted material of wool or linen, or any leather article that has been spoiled; because the defiling mold is persistent, the article must be burned.(E)

53 “But if, when the priest examines it, the mold has not spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather article, 54 he shall order that the spoiled article be washed. Then he is to isolate it for another seven days. 55 After the article has been washed, the priest is to examine it again, and if the mold has not changed its appearance, even though it has not spread, it is unclean. Burn it, no matter which side of the fabric has been spoiled. 56 If, when the priest examines it, the mold has faded after the article has been washed, he is to tear the spoiled part out of the fabric, the leather, or the woven or knitted material. 57 But if it reappears in the fabric, in the woven or knitted material, or in the leather article, it is a spreading mold; whatever has the mold must be burned. 58 Any fabric, woven or knitted material, or any leather article that has been washed and is rid of the mold, must be washed again. Then it will be clean.”

59 These are the regulations concerning defiling molds in woolen or linen clothing, woven or knitted material, or any leather article, for pronouncing them clean or unclean.

Cleansing From Defiling Skin Diseases

14 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest:(F) 3 The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them.(G) If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease,[a](H) 4 the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop(I) be brought for the person to be cleansed.(J) 5 Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot.(K) 6 He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.(L) 7 Seven times(M) he shall sprinkle(N) the one to be cleansed of the defiling disease, and then pronounce them clean. After that, he is to release the live bird in the open fields.(O)

8 “The person to be cleansed must wash their clothes,(P) shave off all their hair and bathe with water;(Q) then they will be ceremonially clean.(R) After this they may come into the camp,(S) but they must stay outside their tent for seven days. 9 On the seventh day(T) they must shave off all their hair;(U) they must shave their head, their beard, their eyebrows and the rest of their hair. They must wash their clothes and bathe themselves with water, and they will be clean.(V)

10 “On the eighth day(W) they must bring two male lambs and one ewe lamb(X) a year old, each without defect, along with three-tenths of an ephah[b](Y) of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering,(Z) and one log[c] of oil.(AA) 11 The priest who pronounces them clean shall present(AB) both the one to be cleansed and their offerings before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(AC)

12 “Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering,(AD) along with the log of oil; he shall wave them before the Lord as a wave offering.(AE) 13 He is to slaughter the lamb in the sanctuary area(AF) where the sin offering[d] and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest;(AG) it is most holy. 14 The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot.(AH) 15 The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand,(AI) 16 dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the Lord seven times.(AJ) 17 The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering.(AK) 18 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed(AL) and make atonement for them before the Lord.

19 “Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from their uncleanness.(AM) After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering 20 and offer it on the altar, together with the grain offering, and make atonement for them,(AN) and they will be clean.(AO)

21 “If, however, they are poor(AP) and cannot afford these,(AQ) they must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for them, together with a tenth of an ephah[e] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, 22 and two doves or two young pigeons,(AR) such as they can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.(AS)

23 “On the eighth day they must bring them for their cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting,(AT) before the Lord.(AU) 24 The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering,(AV) together with the log of oil,(AW) and wave them before the Lord as a wave offering.(AX) 25 He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot.(AY) 26 The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand,(AZ) 27 and with his right forefinger sprinkle some of the oil from his palm seven times before the Lord. 28 Some of the oil in his palm he is to put on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. 29 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for them before the Lord.(BA) 30 Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, such as the person can afford,(BB) 31 one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering,(BC) together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one to be cleansed.(BD)”

32 These are the regulations for anyone who has a defiling skin disease(BE) and who cannot afford the regular offerings(BF) for their cleansing.

Footnotes
  1. Leviticus 14:3 The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin; also in verses 7, 32, 54 and 57.
  2. Leviticus 14:10 That is, probably about 11 pounds or about 5 kilograms
  3. Leviticus 14:10 That is, about 1/3 quart or about 0.3 liter; also in verses 12, 15, 21 and 24
  4. Leviticus 14:13 Or purification offering; also in verses 19, 22 and 31
  5. Leviticus 14:21 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

47 “When there is a case of leprous disease in a (A)garment, whether a woolen or a linen garment, 48 in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin, 49 if the disease is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin or in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, it is a case of leprous disease, and it shall be shown to the priest. 50 And the priest shall examine the disease and shut up that which has the disease for seven days. 51 Then he shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, the disease is a (B)persistent leprous disease; it is unclean. 52 And he shall burn the garment, or the warp or the woof, the wool or the linen, or any article made of skin that is diseased, for it is a persistent leprous disease. It shall be burned in the fire.

53 “And if the priest examines, and if the disease has not spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the disease, and he shall shut it up for another seven days. 55 And the priest shall examine the diseased thing after it has been washed. And if the appearance of the diseased area has not changed, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean. You shall burn it in the fire, whether the rot is on the back or on the front.

56 “But if the priest examines, and if the diseased area has faded after it has been washed, he shall tear it out of the garment or the skin or the warp or the woof. 57 Then if it appears again in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire whatever has the disease. 58 But the garment, or the warp or the woof, or any article made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and be clean.”

59 This is the law for a case of leprous disease in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, to determine whether it is clean or unclean.

Laws for Cleansing Lepers

14 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. (C)He shall be brought to the priest, 3 and the priest shall go (D)out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, 4 the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live[a] clean birds and (E)cedarwood and (F)scarlet yarn and (G)hyssop. 5 And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh[b] water. 6 He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 And he shall (H)sprinkle it (I)seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall (J)let the living bird go (K)into the open field. 8 And he who is to be cleansed (L)shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but (M)live outside his tent seven days. 9 And (N)on the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair, and then he (O)shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean.

10 “And on the eighth day he (P)shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish, and a (Q)grain offering of three tenths of an ephah[c] of fine flour mixed with oil, and one log[d] of oil. 11 And the priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed and these things before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 12 And the priest shall take one of the male lambs and (R)offer it for a guilt offering, along with the log of oil, and (S)wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. 13 And he shall kill the lamb (T)in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary. For (U)the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest; (V)it is most holy. 14 The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it (W)on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 15 Then the priest shall take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand 16 and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand and sprinkle some oil with his finger seven times before the Lord. 17 And some of the oil that remains in his hand the priest shall put on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. 18 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed. (X)Then the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord. 19 The priest shall offer the sin offering, to make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness. And afterward he shall kill the burnt offering. 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the (Y)grain offering on the altar. (Z)Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

21 “But (AA)if he is poor and cannot afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering (AB)to be waved, to make atonement for him, and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil; 22 (AC)also two turtledoves or two pigeons, whichever he can afford. The one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. 23 (AD)And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, before the Lord. 24 (AE)And the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the guilt offering. (AF)And the priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 26 And the priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the Lord. 28 And the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, in the place where the blood of the guilt offering was put. 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the Lord. 30 And he shall offer, of the (AG)turtledoves or pigeons, whichever he can afford, 31 one[e] for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a grain offering. (AH)And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for him who is being cleansed. 32 This is the law for him in whom is a case of leprous disease, who cannot afford (AI)the offerings for his cleansing.”

Footnotes
  1. Leviticus 14:4 Or wild
  2. Leviticus 14:5 Or running; Hebrew living; also verses 6, 50, 51, 52
  3. Leviticus 14:10 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
  4. Leviticus 14:10 A log was about 1/3 quart or 0.3 liter
  5. Leviticus 14:31 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew afford, 31such as he can afford, one
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The next set of regulations (13:47-59) deal with mold on clothes. The priest should evaluate the mold to determine if the cloth should be washed or destroyed. Mold represents death. God’s people could not stand before his holy presence in moldy clothes because death cannot come into his presence. Likewise, people’s sins cling to them like filthy rags. We need to be washed in Jesus’ blood and be clothed in his righteousness.

Chapter 14:1-32 deals with the healing and cleansing of the person with leprosy and restoring them to the community. Firstly, the priest goes outside of the camp, risking his life to go to the leper and verify his healing. The priest brings with him cedar (signifying soundness), a scarlet thread (meaning the restoration of the body from leprosy which made their skin white) and hyssop (representing purification). He sacrifices one bird (symbolizing Jesus’ death) and frees one bird covered in the blood (symbolizing Jesus’ resurrection). How truly we are saved by grace!

Then, the cleansed leper must remain outside for 7 days, be cleansed again, and be restored first to the Lord by a guilt offering, sin offering, and a burnt offering. Then, the priest pronounced the person clean and restored him to God.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus, who heals me from the corruption of sin and restores me to you.

One Word: Jesus cleanses, heals and restores