The Meaning of Leviticus 14:5 Explained

Leviticus 14:5

KJV: And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:

YLT: 'And the priest hath commanded, and he hath slaughtered the one bird upon an earthen vessel, over running water;

Darby: And the priest shall command that one bird be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:

ASV: And the priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the priest  shall command  that one  of the birds  be killed  in an earthen  vessel  over running  water: 

What does Leviticus 14:5 Mean?

Study Notes

vessel
The earthen vessel typifies the humanity of Christ, as the running water typifies the Holy Spirit as the "Spirit of life" Romans 8:2 "put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." 1 Peter 3:18

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 14:5 mean?

and shall command the priest that be killed - the birds one of in an vessel earthen over water running
וְצִוָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְשָׁחַ֖ט אֶת־ הַצִּפּ֣וֹר הָאֶחָ֑ת אֶל־ כְּלִי־ חֶ֖רֶשׂ עַל־ מַ֥יִם חַיִּֽים

וְצִוָּה֙  and  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.
וְשָׁחַ֖ט  that  be  killed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַט 
Sense: to kill, slaughter, beat.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַצִּפּ֣וֹר  the  birds 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צִפֹּור  
Sense: bird, fowl.
הָאֶחָ֑ת  one 
Parse: Article, Number, feminine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
אֶל־  of  in 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כְּלִי־  an  vessel 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כְּלִי  
Sense: article, vessel, implement, utensil.
חֶ֖רֶשׂ  earthen 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶרֶשׂ  
Sense: earthenware, clay pottery, shard, potsherd, earthen vessel.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מַ֥יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
חַיִּֽים  running 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.