The Meaning of Leviticus 14:4 Explained

Leviticus 14:4

KJV: Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

YLT: and the priest hath commanded, and he hath taken for him who is to be cleansed, two clean living birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.

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

ASV: 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:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then shall the priest  command  to take  for him that is to be cleansed  two  birds  alive  [and] clean,  and cedar  wood,  and scarlet,  and hyssop: 

What does Leviticus 14:4 Mean?

Study Notes

birds
The bird slain, and the live bird, dipped in blood and released, present the two aspects of salvation in Romans 4:25 "delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification."

Context Summary

Leviticus 14:1-20 - The Law Of The Cleansed Leper
The penalty, when leprosy had unmistakably declared itself, included compulsory severance from the camp, the rent garments, the bare head, the covered lip, the cry "unclean," Leviticus 14:45. Sin severs us from fellowship with God and His saints, and makes us a source of contamination to all in contact with us, though they may not realize that we are defiling them.
Being cured, the leper was first restored to the camp, Leviticus 14:1-9. The birds are striking types of death and resurrection. Notice that the blood of one was mingled with fresh, i.e., running, water, because of the perennial freshness of the blood of Christ; and that the ascension of the other, when liberated, is significant of the freedom from the law of sin and death which the soul of the believer experiences through the power of the Holy Spirit. See Romans 8:1-4.
Secondly, the leper was restored to the sanctuary, Leviticus 14:10-20. On the eighth day of resurrection, the blood and oil were placed on thumb and toe and ear, because all our senses have been purchased and consecrated to the service of God. Let us, in gratitude for our own cleansing from sin, consecrate ourselves anew to God! [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 14

1  The rites and sacrifices in cleansing the leper
33  The signs of leprosy in a house
48  The cleansing of that house

What do the individual words in Leviticus 14:4 mean?

then shall command the priest and to take for him who is to be cleansed two birds living [and] clean and wood cedar and scarlet and hyssop
וְצִוָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלָקַ֧ח לַמִּטַּהֵ֛ר שְׁתֵּֽי־ צִפֳּרִ֥ים חַיּ֖וֹת טְהֹר֑וֹת וְעֵ֣ץ אֶ֔רֶז וּשְׁנִ֥י תוֹלַ֖עַת וְאֵזֹֽב

וְצִוָּה֙  then  shall  command 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
וְלָקַ֧ח  and  to  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
לַמִּטַּהֵ֛ר  for  him  who  is  to  be  cleansed 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine singular
Root: טָהֵר  
Sense: to be clean, be pure.
שְׁתֵּֽי־  two 
Parse: Number, fdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
צִפֳּרִ֥ים  birds 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צִפֹּור  
Sense: bird, fowl.
חַיּ֖וֹת  living 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
טְהֹר֑וֹת  [and]  clean 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: טָהֹור  
Sense: pure, clean.
וְעֵ֣ץ  and  wood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
אֶ֔רֶז  cedar 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶרֶז  
Sense: cedar.
תוֹלַ֖עַת  scarlet 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּולָע 
Sense: worm, scarlet stuff, crimson.
וְאֵזֹֽב  and  hyssop 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵזׄוב  
Sense: hyssop, a plant used for medicinal and religious purposes.