Leviticus 14:49

And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

Leviticus 14:49 (KJV)

Context

Leviticus 14 gives instructions for cleansing a house contaminated by what the King James Version calls leprosy, a term that covered various forms of mold, mildew, or fungal growth. This verse introduces the materials the priest was to take for the cleansing rite: two birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. The ritual for a house closely parallels the cleansing ritual for a person with leprosy described earlier in Leviticus 14:4-7. The following verses, Leviticus 14:50-53, describe the specific actions the priest performed with these items.

Meaning

The first element is two live clean birds. One bird was slaughtered, and its blood was used in the purification process. The other bird, dipped in the mixture of blood and water, was set free. Cedar wood was valued for its durability and aromatic properties, and it appears in purification rituals throughout the Old Testament as a symbol of cleansing. Scarlet, a color derived from certain insects or plants, was associated with royalty and wealth in biblical times and served as a ceremonial element in the cleansing process. Hyssop, a small shrub common in the Middle East, was used for sprinkling blood during purification rites and symbolized cleansing. The precise function of the scarlet material is not detailed in this verse, but it was a required element of the ritual.

Biblical connections

These instructions were part of the ceremonial and legal system of ancient Israel. God gave them through Moses to maintain ritual purity and to teach the people about the seriousness of sin, the need for repentance, and the significance of purification. The priest acted on behalf of the house’s owner to restore the dwelling to a state of ritual purity, allowing it to be used again for normal and sacred purposes.

Application

As Christians, we no longer observe these specific rituals, but we can recognize the principles behind them. The use of birds, wood, scarlet, and hyssop pointed to the need for cleansing and purification. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ became the ultimate sacrifice and purification for our sins through his death and resurrection. Through faith in Him, we can experience true cleansing and forgiveness.

Reflection

Leviticus 14:49 reminds us of the importance of purity, both physical and spiritual. It calls us to approach God with reverence and to recognize our need for His cleansing and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.