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.”
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.”
- KJV 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.
- BSB 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.
- ESV 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.”
- NKJV 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.
- NLT 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.
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 priest releases the living bird into the open field, making atonement for the house so it is clean. It matters because the freed bird pictures cleansing and release accomplished through a substitute's death.
Overview
The living bird is let go into the open country, carrying away the picture of purification, and the priest declares atonement made and the house clean. As in the leper's cleansing, the two birds together depict death and freedom. This points to Christ, whose death and resurrection secure both atonement and the liberty of all he cleanses, even the place where his people dwell.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Lev 14:7He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird go into the open field.
- Lev 14:20and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meal offering on the altar. The priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 14:53 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.