he must order that the contaminated stones be pulled out and thrown into an unclean place outside the city.
Parallel translations
- WEB then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which is the plague, and cast them into an unclean place outside of the city:
- KJV Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city:
- NKJV then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which is the plague, and they shall cast them into an unclean place outside the city.
- NASB the priest shall order them to pull out the stones with the spot on them and throw them away at an unclean place outside the city.
- NLT the priest must order that the stones from those areas be removed. The contaminated material will then be taken outside the town to an area designated as ceremonially unclean.
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
If the plague has spread, the priest orders the affected stones removed and cast into an unclean place outside the city. It matters because contaminated portions had to be cut out and discarded to stop the corruption.
Overview
The infected stones are torn out and thrown into an unclean place beyond the city, removing the source of contamination from the dwelling and the community. This decisive excision pictures the principle of cutting away what is corrupt. It echoes the gospel call to put away sin radically, removing whatever spreads defilement among God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Rev 2:6But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
- Ps 101:7–8No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence.
- John 15:2He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
- Prov 25:4–5Remove the dross from the silver, and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.
- Rev 2:2I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
- Titus 3:10Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,
- Rev 22:15But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- 2 Jn 1:10–11If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
- 1 Cor 5:5–6hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.
- Isa 1:25–26I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.
- Prov 22:10Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
- Matt 18:17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
- Rev 2:14–16But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
- 1 Cor 5:13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
- Rev 2:20But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
- Ps 101:5Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 14:40 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.