Leviticus 14:14

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 14:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and the priest shall take of the blood of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and the priest shall take of the blood of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.
Leviticus 14:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14and the priest shall take of the blood of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the priest shall take [some] of the blood of the trespass offering, etc.] According to the Misnah f494, two priests received the blood of it, one in a vessel and the other in his hand; he that received it in a vessel went and sprinkled it upon the wall (or top, as Maimonides f495) of the altar; and he that received it in his hand went to the leper, and the leper having dipped himself in the chamber of the lepers, went and stood in the gate of Nicanor: and the priest shall put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot; as was done at the consecration of the high priest, (see Gill on…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In the same way, and with the same significance as in Leviticus 8:23. It is said that a portion of the blood was caught by the priest in the palm of his hand as it ran from the victim. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The priest shall put it - To signify, that he was now free to hear God's word in the appointed places, and to touch any person or thing without defiling it, and to go whither he pleased. Leviticus 14:15”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“14:14 The lobe, thumb, and big toe represent what the whole person hears and does, and where he or she goes (also 14:17, 28; see study note on 8:23).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Lev 8:23, Lev 8:24; Exo 29:20; Isa 1:5; Rom 6:13, Rom 6:19, Rom 12:1; Co1 6:20; Co2 7:1; Phi 1:20; Pe1 1:14, Pe1 1:15, Pe1 2:5, Pe1 2:9, Pe1 2:10; Rev 1:5, Rev 1:6 Leviticus 14:15”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification