Leviticus 14:53

Bishop's Bible

But he shall let the lyuyng birde flee out of the towne into the brode fieldes, & so make an attonement for the house, and it shalbe cleane.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
but he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field. So shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean."

King James Version
But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.

Lexham English Bible
And he shall send the living bird outside the city into the open field; and so he shall make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean.

New Century Version
He will then go to an open field outside the city and let the living bird go free. This is how the priest makes the house clean and ready for service to the Lord ."

New English Translation
and he is to send the live bird away outside the city into the open countryside. So he is to make atonement for the house and it will be clean.

Amplified Bible
"But he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it will be clean."

New American Standard Bible
"However, he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it will be clean."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Afterwarde he shal let go the liue sparowe out of the towne into the broad fieldes: so shal he make atonement for the house, and it shal be cleane.

Legacy Standard Bible
However, he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it will be clean."

Contemporary English Version
Finally, he will release the bird and let it fly away, ending the ceremony for purifying the house.

Complete Jewish Bible
But he is to set the live bird free outside the city in an open field; thus will he make atonement for the house; and it will be clean.

Darby Translation
and he shall let the living bird loose out of the city into the open field; and he shall make atonement for the house, and it is clean.

Easy-to-Read Version
He will go to an open field outside the city and let the living bird go free. In this way the priest will make the house pure. The house will be clean."

English Standard Version
And he shall let the live bird go out of the city into the open country. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean."

George Lamsa Translation
But he shall let the live bird fly out of the town into the open field and make an atonement for the house; and it shall be clean.

Good News Translation
Then he shall let the live bird fly away outside the city over the open fields. In this way he shall perform the ritual of purification for the house, and it will be ritually clean.

Christian Standard Bible®
Then he is to release the live bird into the open countryside outside the city. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.

Literal Translation
and he shall send away the living bird to the outside of the city, to the open field, and shall atone for the house; and it shall be clean.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the lyuynge byrde shall he let flye at libertye out of the towne in to the felde, & make an attonement for the house, and then is it cleane.

American Standard Version
but he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open field: so shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean.

Bible in Basic English
But he will let the living bird go out of the town into the open country; so he will take away sin from the house and it will be clean.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open field; so shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean.

King James Version (1611)
But hee shall let goe the liuing bird out of the citie into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be cleane.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the field, and shall make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean.

English Revised Version
but he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open field: so shall he make atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.

Berean Standard Bible
Finally, he is to release the live bird into the open fields outside the city. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne he hath left the sparewe to fle in to the feeld frely, he schal preye for the hows, and it schal be clensid riytfuli.

Young's Literal Translation
and he hath sent away the living bird unto the outside of the city unto the face of the field, and hath made atonement for the house, and it hath been clean.

Update Bible Version
but he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open field: so he shall make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean.

Webster's Bible Translation
But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.

World English Bible
but he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field. So shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean."

New King James Version
Then he shall let the living bird loose outside the city in the open field, and make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean.

New Living Translation
he will release the live bird in the open fields outside the town. Through this process, the priest will purify the house, and it will be ceremonially clean.

New Life Bible
He will let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he will take away sin from the house, and it will be clean."

New Revised Standard
and he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field; so he shall make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and shall let go the living bird unto the outside of the city, unto the face of the field, - so shall he put a propitiatory-covering over the house and it shall be clean.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he hath let go the sparrow to fly freely away into the field, he shall pray for the house: and it shall be rightly cleansed.

Revised Standard Version
and he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field; so he shall make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"However, he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it will be clean."

Contextual Overview

³³ And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron, saying: ³⁴ When ye be come vnto the lande of Chanaan, which I geue you in possession, and yf I put the plague of leprosie in a house of the land of your possession: ³⁵ He that oweth the house shall come, & tell the priest, saying: Me thinke that there is as it were a plague in ye house. ³⁶ Then the priest shall comaunde them to emptie the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made vncleane: and the must the priest go in, to see the house. ³⁷ And he shall see the plague: and yf the plague be in the walles of the house, & that there be hollowe strakes, greenish or reddishe, which seeme to be lower then the wall it selfe: ³⁸ Then the priest shall go out of ye house, to the doore of the house, and shut vp the house seuen dayes. ³⁹ And the priest shall come agayne the seuenth day, & yf he see that the plague be increased in the walles of the house, ⁴⁰ Then the priest shall comaunde them to take away ye stones in which ye plague is, and let them cast them into a foule place without the citie, ⁴¹ And he shall commaunde the house to be scraped within rounde about, and powre out the dust that they scrape of, without the citie into a foule place. ⁴² And they shall take other stones, and put the in the place of those stones, and other morter to plaster ye house withall.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Leviticus 14:20

Reciprocal: Leviticus 4:35 - and the priest shall make

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields,.... :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This section is separated from that on leprosy in clothing Leviticus 13:47-59 with which it would seem to be naturally connected, and is placed last of all the laws concerning leprosy, probably on account of its being wholly prospective. While the Israelites were in the wilderness, the materials of their dwellings were of nearly the same nature as those of their clothing, and would be liable to the same sort of decay. They were therefore included under the same law.

I put the plague - Yahweh here speaks as the Lord of all created things, determining their decay and destruction as well as their production. Compare Isaiah 45:6-7; Jonah 4:7; Matthew 21:20.

Leviticus 14:37

Hollow strakes ... - Rather, depressed spots of dark green or dark red, appearing beneath (the surface of) the wall.

Leviticus 14:49

Cleanse the house - Strictly, “purge the house from sin.” The same word is used in Leviticus 14:52; and in Leviticus 14:53 it is said, “and make an atonement for it.” Such language is used figuratively when it is applied to things, not to persons. The leprosy in houses, the leprosy in clothing, and the terrible disease in the human body, were representative forms of decay which taught the lesson that all created things, in their own nature, are passing away, and are only maintained for their destined uses during an appointed period, by the power of Yahweh.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Leviticus 14:53. He shall let go the living bird — This might as well be called the scape-bird; as the goat, in Leviticus 16:5-10, is called the scape-goat. The rites are similar in both cases, and probably had nearly the same meaning.

We have already taken occasion to observe (see the end of the preceding chapter) that the leprosy was strongly emblematical of sin; to which we may add here: -

1. That the leprosy was a disease generally acknowledged to be incurable by any human means; and therefore the Jews did not attempt to cure it. What is directed to be done here was not in order to cure the leper, but to declare him cured and fit for society. In like manner the contagion of sin, its guilt and its power, can only be removed by the hand of God; all means, without his especial influence, can be of no avail.

2. The body must be sprinkled and washed, and a sacrifice offered for the sin of the soul, before the leper could be declared to be clean. To cleanse the spiritual leper, the Lamb of God must be slain, and the sprinkling of his blood be applied. Without the shedding of this blood there is no remission.

3. When the leper was cleansed, he was obliged to show himself to the priest, whose province it was to pronounce him clean, and declare him fit for intercourse with civil and religious society. When a sinner is converted from the error of his ways, it is the business, as it is the prerogative, of the ministers of Christ, after having duly acquainted themselves with every circumstance, to declare the person converted from sin to holiness, to unite him with the people of God, and admit him to all the ordinances which belong to the faithful.

4. When the leper was cleansed, he was obliged by the law to offer a gift unto the Lord for his healing, as a proof of his gratitude, and an evidence of his obedience. When a sinner is restored to the Divine favour, he should offer continually the sacrifice of a grateful heart, and, in willing obedience, show forth the virtues of Him who has called him from darkness and wretchedness to marvellous light and happiness.

Reader, such was the leprosy, its destructive nature and consequences, and the means of removing it; such is the spiritual evil represented by it, such its consequences, and such the means by which alone it can be removed. The disease of sin, inflicted by the devil, can only be cured by the power of God.

1. Art thou a leper? Do the spots of this spiritual infection begin to appear on thee?

2. Art thou young, and only entering into the ways of the world and sin? Stop! bad habits are more easily conquered to-day than they will be tomorrow.

3. Art thou stricken in years, and rooted in transgression? How kind is thy Maker to have preserved thee alive so long! Turn from thy transgressions, humble thy soul before him, confess thine iniquity and implore forgiveness. Seek, and thou shalt find. Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world!

4. Hast thou been cleansed, and hast not returned to give glory to God? hast not continued in the truth, serving thy Maker and Saviour with a loving and obedient heart? How cutting is that word, Were there not TEN cleansed? but where are the NINE? Thou art probably one of them. Be confounded at thy ingratitude, and distressed for thy backsliding; and apply a second time for the healing efficacy of the great Atonement. Turn, thou backslider; for he is married unto thee, and will heal thy backslidings, and will love thee freely. Amen. So be it, Lord Jesus!