Day 44 · Part 3: Out of Egypt
Clean and Unclean (2 of 2)
In the Story
In context
Leviticus 14 is the law for the day someone with leprosy was made clean. The priest went out of the camp to look at him. If the disease had healed, the priest used two birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop, and let one bird fly free “into the open field” (Leviticus 14:3–7). After seven days living outside his tent, and a second shaving and washing, the healed person brought offerings on the eighth day, with a smaller set for someone poor (Leviticus 14:8–10, 21–22). Centuries later Jesus told ten men with leprosy, “Go and show yourselves to the priests” (Luke 17:12–14).
The law also looks ahead to stone houses in the land of Canaan, where a spreading mildew in the walls was to be cut out, or the house torn down (Leviticus 14:34–45). For now Israel still lived in tents in the wilderness of Sinai.
Chapter 15 covers what flows from the body, a man’s or a woman’s, including a woman’s monthly period. Each made a person unclean for a time, and waiting, washing, and after a long-lasting discharge an offering of two birds, made him or her clean again (Leviticus 15:13–15, 28–30). The chapter ends with the reason: the Lord’s tabernacle was “among them,” and their uncleanness was not to defile it (Leviticus 15:31).
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 51:7–10 · Leviticus 14 makes a healed person clean using hyssop; in this psalm David asks God to purify him with hyssop and create a clean heart in him.
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
Leviticus 14
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Leviticus 15
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A hymn for today
Nothing but the Blood · words by Robert Lowry
- What can wash away my sin?Nothing but the blood of Jesus;What can make me whole again?Nothing but the blood of Jesus.RefrainO precious is the flowThat makes me white as snow;No other fount I know,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
- For my pardon this I see,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;For my cleansing this my plea,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.RefrainO precious is the flowThat makes me white as snow;No other fount I know,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
- Nothing can for sin atone,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;Naught of good that I have done,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.RefrainO precious is the flowThat makes me white as snow;No other fount I know,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
- This is all my hope and peace,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;This is all my righteousness,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.RefrainO precious is the flowThat makes me white as snow;No other fount I know,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
- Now by this I'll overcome,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;Now by this I'll reach my home,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.RefrainO precious is the flowThat makes me white as snow;No other fount I know,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
- Glory! glory! thus I sing,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;All my praise for this I bring,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.RefrainO precious is the flowThat makes me white as snow;No other fount I know,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.