Leviticus 14:33-57 NKJV
33 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 34 “When you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give you as a possession, and I put the leprous plague in a house in the land of your possession, 35 and he who owns the house comes and tells the priest, saying, ‘It seems to me that there is some plague in the house,’ 36 then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest goes into it to examine the plague, that all that is in the house may not be made unclean; and afterward the priest shall go in to examine the house. 37 And he shall examine the plague; and indeed if the plague is on the walls of the house with ingrained streaks, greenish or reddish, which appear to be deep in the wall, 38 then the priest shall go out of the house, to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days. 39 And the priest shall come again on the seventh day and look; and indeed if the plague has spread on the walls of the house, 40 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. 41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped inside, all around, and the dust that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city. 42 Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other mortar and plaster the house.
43 “Now if the plague comes back and breaks out in the house, after he has taken away the stones, after he has scraped the house, and after it is plastered, 44 then the priest shall come and look; and indeed if the plague has spread in the house, it is an active leprosy in the house. It is unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, its stones, its timber, and all the plaster of the house, and he shall carry them outside the city to an unclean place. 46 Moreover he who goes into the house at all while it is shut up shall be unclean until evening. 47 And he who lies down in the house shall wash his clothes, and he who eats in the house shall wash his clothes.
48 “But if the priest comes in and examines it, and indeed the plague has not spread in the house after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49 And he shall take, to cleanse the house, two birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. 50 Then he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water; 51 and he shall take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and the running water and the living bird, with the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the scarlet. 53 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.
54 “This is the law for any leprous sore and scale, 55 for the leprosy of a garment and of a house, 56 for a swelling and a scab and a bright spot, 57 to teach when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law of leprosy.”
When we think about holiness, the cleansing of houses, as described in these verses, may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, this passage demonstrates that God’s concern for purity extends to every part of our lives, including the places we dwell. The instructions for addressing a house plagued with leprosy teach us that sin and defilement are not only personal but can affect our surroundings. When the priest came to examine a house, it wasn’t merely about structural issues; it symbolized a deeper reality. The defilement of the house served as a visible reminder of how sin corrupts and spreads.
If a house showed signs of the plague, stones were removed, walls scraped, and new materials brought in to replace the old. If the infection persisted, the entire house was destroyed (v. 43–45). This drastic action underscores the seriousness of dealing with defilement. There could be no compromise, no tolerance for what would ultimately destroy. Similarly, we are called to address sin in our lives and homes without hesitation, rooting it out completely so it does not corrupt further.
Yet, even in this stern process, we see God’s mercy. If the plague was removed, the house could be declared clean. The ritual involved two birds, cedarwood, scarlet, and hyssop—elements pointing to cleansing, life, and restoration. One bird was killed, and its blood was sprinkled on the house, while the other was released (v. 49–53). This act not only symbolized purification but also pointed forward to the ultimate cleansing we have through Christ’s sacrifice.
God’s care for the homes of His people reminds us that our faith is not confined to specific rituals or places. His holiness touches every part of our lives. As we seek to follow Him, we are called to dedicate not only ourselves but also our homes to His service, ensuring they are places of purity, peace, and worship. May we trust in God’s provision for cleansing, knowing that through Jesus, we are made clean and restored to fellowship with Him.
Let us pray: Holy God, thank You for cleansing us and calling us to lives of purity. Help us make our homes places where You are honored, and Your holiness is reflected. Amen.