Leviticus 14 (WK) - Bible Truth Library

or, sparrows.The word {tzippor,} from the Arabic {zaphara,} to fly, is used in the Scriptures to denote birds of every species, particularly small birds.

But it is often used in a more restricted sense, as the Hebrew writers assert, to signify the sparrow.

Aquinas says the same; and Jerome renders it here the sparrow.

So the Greek [strouthia,] in Matthew and Luke, which signifies a sparrow, is rendered by the Syriac translator {tzipparin}, the same as the Hebrew {tzipporim}. Nor is it peculiar to the Hebrews to give the same name to the sparrow and to fowls of the largest size; for Nicander calls the hen [strouthos katoikados,] the domestic sparrow, and both Plautus and Ausonius call the ostrich, {passer marinus,} "the marine sparrow."

It is evident, however, that the word in this passage signifies birds in general; for if the sparrow was a clean bird, there was no necessity for commanding a clean one to be taken, since every one of the species was ceremonially clean; but if it was unclean, then it could not be called clean.

Lev. 1:14• ¹⁴And if his offering to Jehovah be a burnt-offering of fowls, then he shall present his offering of turtle-doves or of young pigeons. (Lev. 1:14)

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Lev. 5:7• ⁷And if his hand be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring to Jehovah for his trespass which he hath sinned two turtle doves or two young pigeons; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. (Lev. 5:7)

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Lev. 12:8• ⁸And if her hand cannot find enough for a sheep, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her; and she shall be clean. (Lev. 12:8)

cedar.

Lev. 14:6,49‑52• ⁶As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird killed over the living water;
⁴⁹And he shall take to purge the house the two birds and cedar-wood and scarlet and hyssop;
⁵⁰and he shall kill one bird in an earthen vessel over living water;
⁵¹and he shall take the cedar-wood and the hyssop and the scarlet and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the bird that was killed, and in the living water, and shall sprinkle the house seven times;
⁵²and he shall purge the house from the defilement with the blood of the bird, and with the living water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar-wood and with the hyssop and with the scarlet; (Lev. 14:6,49‑52)

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Num. 19:6• ⁶And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. (Num. 19:6)

scarlet.

hyssop.

Ex. 12:22• ²²And take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and smear the lintel and the two door-posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. (Ex. 12:22)

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Num. 19:18• ¹⁸and a clean man shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, and upon all the utensils, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that hath touched the bone, or the one slain, or the dead person, or the grave; (Num. 19:18)

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Psa. 51:7• ⁷Purge me with hyssop,{HR}And I shall be clean; wash me,{HR}And I shall be whiter than snow. (Psa. 51:7)

• On the face of it, the work first of all was done for the leper, not in the least degree by himself. The priest commanded to take for him that is to be cleansed two clean living birds, and cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. (“Priesthood 27. Leper Pronounced Clean: Leviticus 14:1-7” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two clean living birdse, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.

JND Translation Notes

Little birds. As "sparrow," Ps. 84.3; 102.7.

W. Kelly Translation

then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood and scarlet and hyssop.