To teach when it is vncleane, and when it is cleane: this is the lawe of leprosie. Leviticus 14:57 (KJV)
Leviticus 14:57 serves as the closing statement of the extensive purification instructions presented earlier in the chapter. The verse declares, “To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy,” thereby reminding the community of the overarching purpose of the regulations – to distinguish purity from impurity in matters of leprous contamination. Although the verse itself does not repeat the detailed diagnostic and cleansing procedures, it signals the ceremonial termination of the process. The accompanying clause, “And the priest shall put of the oil before the LORD, to make a sweet savor,” records the priest’s final act of offering holy oil as a fragrant sacrifice. This offering marks the completion of the cleansing ceremony for a house or a person previously declared unclean because of leprosy.
The placement of oil before the LORD underscores the importance of the sacrificial element in restoring ritual purity. By concluding the series of rites, the verse highlights that the prescribed offerings and actions together achieve the restoration of holiness within the community. The broader context of Leviticus shows that these purity laws were integral to Israel’s religious and social life, providing a structured means to address impurity and to re‑establish communal holiness. The chapter’s regulations taught the Israelites how to identify leprous impurity, the steps required for purification, and the role of the priestly service in mediating between the people and God.
Thus, Leviticus 14:57 functions both as a summary reminder of the chapter’s instructional goal and as a liturgical closure. It affirms that the law of leprosy is intended to teach the distinction between clean and unclean, and that the priest’s fragrant offering completes the process of making the afflicted house or individual clean again, thereby preserving the holiness demanded of the Israelite community.
