“This is the law for the one afflicted with a skin disease on the day of his cleansing, when he is brought to the priest.
Parallel translations
- WEB “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest,
- KJV This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:
- ESV “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest,
- NKJV “This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest.
- NASB “This shall be the law of the person with leprosy on the day of his cleansing. Now he shall be brought to the priest;
- NLT “The following instructions are for those seeking ceremonial purification from a skin disease. Those who have been healed must be brought to the priest,
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The law of the leper's cleansing requires that he be brought to the priest. It matters because restoration begins by coming to God's appointed mediator.
Overview
On the day of his cleansing, the healed person must be presented to the priest, who alone can certify and conduct the ritual. The healing itself comes first, but the formal restoration to community and worship requires the priest's mediation. This points to Christ, our great High Priest, through whom alone the cleansed sinner is restored to God's presence (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Luke 17:14When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.
- Luke 5:12–14While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
- Mark 1:40–44Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
- Num 6:9If someone suddenly dies in his presence and defiles his consecrated head of hair, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing—the seventh day.
- Lev 14:54–57This is the law for any infectious skin disease, for a scaly outbreak,
- Lev 13:59This is the law concerning a mildew contamination in wool or linen fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article, for pronouncing it clean or unclean.”
- Matt 8:2–4Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 14:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.