Leviticus 14:16 Study Bible: The priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD.

Bible > Leviticus > Chapter 14 > Verse 16

◄ Leviticus 14:16 ►

dip his right forefinger into the oil in his left palm, and sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD.

Study Bible

Then the priest
The role of the priest in ancient Israel was central to the spiritual and communal life of the people. The Hebrew word for priest, "kohen," signifies one who is set apart to perform sacred duties. In the context of Leviticus, the priest acts as a mediator between God and the people, emphasizing the holiness required to approach God. This highlights the importance of spiritual leadership and the responsibility of guiding others in worship and purity.

is to dip his right finger
The act of dipping the right finger is symbolic of precision and intentionality in the rituals prescribed by God. The right hand, often associated with strength and authority in biblical texts, signifies the power and deliberate action required in the priestly duties. This action underscores the meticulous nature of the Levitical laws and the care with which the priests were to perform their duties, reflecting the holiness and order of God.

into the oil
Oil in the Bible often symbolizes the Holy Spirit, anointing, and consecration. The use of oil in this ritual signifies the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the process of purification and healing. It serves as a reminder of the divine empowerment and sanctification that comes from God, setting apart individuals and objects for His purposes.

in his left palm
The left palm holding the oil represents receptivity and readiness to serve. In biblical symbolism, the left hand is often seen as the hand of support and service. This imagery conveys the idea of the priest being prepared and equipped to carry out God's commands, holding the sacred oil as a vessel of God's grace and healing.

and sprinkle some of the oil
Sprinkling the oil is an act of purification and sanctification. The Hebrew word for sprinkle, "nazah," implies a scattering or spreading, symbolizing the dissemination of God's holiness and blessing. This act represents the cleansing power of God, purifying the individual and restoring them to a state of ritual cleanliness and fellowship with the community.

with his finger
The use of the finger in this ritual highlights the personal and direct involvement of the priest in the purification process. It signifies the touch of God through His appointed servant, bringing about healing and restoration. This personal touch reflects the intimate nature of God's care and attention to the needs of His people.

seven times
The number seven in the Bible often represents completeness and perfection. Sprinkling the oil seven times signifies the thoroughness and completeness of the purification process. It reflects the perfect work of God in restoring and renewing His people, pointing to the ultimate perfection found in Christ.

before the LORD
Performing the ritual before the LORD emphasizes the presence and authority of God in the purification process. It serves as a reminder that all acts of worship and obedience are ultimately directed towards God, who is the source of holiness and life. This phrase underscores the importance of living a life that is continually oriented towards God, seeking His approval and presence in all things.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Priest
The priest plays a crucial role in the purification process, acting as a mediator between the individual and God. His actions symbolize the cleansing and restoration of the person who was once unclean.

2. The Oil
Oil in the Bible often symbolizes the Holy Spirit, anointing, and consecration. In this context, it is used in the ritual of purification, signifying the restoration of the individual to a state of holiness.

3. The LORD
The ultimate recipient of the ritual actions, representing God's presence and authority. The ritual is performed "before the LORD," emphasizing the divine approval and involvement in the purification process.

4. The Right Finger
The use of the right finger signifies strength and authority, as the right hand is often associated with power and blessing in biblical texts.

5. The Number Seven
The number seven in the Bible often represents completeness or perfection. The sevenfold sprinkling signifies a complete and perfect act of purification.

Teaching Points

Symbolism of Oil
Oil represents the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, bringing healing, anointing, and consecration. Just as the oil was used for purification, we are called to seek the Holy Spirit's cleansing and empowerment.

Role of the Priest
The priest's role as a mediator foreshadows Christ's ultimate mediation for us. We are reminded of our need for a mediator and the access we have to God through Jesus.

Completeness in Christ
The sevenfold sprinkling signifies completeness. In Christ, we find complete purification and restoration, reminding us of the sufficiency of His sacrifice.

Holiness Before the LORD
The ritual is performed before the LORD, emphasizing the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God. We are called to pursue holiness and live in a way that honors Him.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the role of the priest in Leviticus 14:16 point to the work of Jesus as our High Priest?

2. In what ways can the symbolism of oil in this passage be applied to our understanding of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives today?

3. What does the number seven signify in the context of this passage, and how can we apply the concept of completeness in our spiritual journey?

4. How can we ensure that our actions and lives are "before the LORD" in a way that reflects His holiness and righteousness?

5. How do the purification rituals in Leviticus connect to the New Testament teachings on spiritual cleansing and restoration?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Leviticus 8:10-12
This passage describes the anointing of Aaron and his sons, where oil is used for consecration, similar to its use in Leviticus 14:16 for purification.

Hebrews 9:13-14
These verses discuss the superiority of Christ's sacrifice, which purifies our conscience, drawing a parallel to the purification rituals in Leviticus.

James 5:14-15
This passage speaks of anointing the sick with oil in the name of the Lord, connecting the use of oil in Leviticus to New Testament practices of healing and restoration.

Sermons

Restoration Suggestions	W. Clarkson	Leviticus 14:1-20
Thorough Purification	S.R. Aldridge	Leviticus 14:1-20
The Cleansing of Sin as Illustrated in the Cleansing of the Leper	R.M. Edgar	Leviticus 14:1-57
A Sermon to Children on Hyssop		Leviticus 14:2-32
According to Ability	J. Parker, D. D.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Appropriate Return for the Saviour's Blood-Shedding	S. S. Chronicle	Leviticus 14:2-32
Blood-Washed Christians	J. Spencer.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Ceremonies on Recovery of the Leper	J. Cumming, D. D.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Christ Can Remove the Root of the Disease of Sin		Leviticus 14:2-32
Christ is an Almighty Doctor	T. De Witt Talmage.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Christ the Only Healer	The Church Scholars' Magazine	Leviticus 14:2-32
Christian Consecration	John Vaughan.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Cleansing the Leper	W. Sleigh.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Do not Forget the Remedy	Memoir of Wm. Marston.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Freedom and Exultation of the Restored Life	C. Wadsworth, D. D.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Lessons	A. Willet, D. D.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Provision for the Poor	J. A. Seiss, D. D.	Leviticus 14:2-32
The Cured and Uncured	T. De Witt Talmage.	Leviticus 14:2-32
The Leper	A. Willet, D. D.	Leviticus 14:2-32
The Leper Cleansed	J. A. Seiss, D. D.	Leviticus 14:2-32
The Two Birds	S. H. Kellogg, D. D.	Leviticus 14:2-32
The Two Birds	T. De Witt Talmage.	Leviticus 14:2-32
The Two Birds Considered Typically	D. Jamison, B. A.	Leviticus 14:2-32
Final Rites of Readmission	W. Clarkson	Leviticus 14:10-20
The Cleansing of the Leper - Ceremony in the Tabernacle	J.A. Macdonald	Leviticus 14:10-32

People

Aaron, Ephah, Moses

Places

Canaan, Teman

Topics

Dip, Dipped, Finger, Forefinger, Oil, Palm, Priest, Right-hand, Seven, Shaking, Sprinkle, Sprinkled

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Leviticus 14:16

5152 fingers

Leviticus 14:1-32

7416 purification

Leviticus 14:1-57

7340 clean and unclean

Leviticus 14:12-18

5617 measures, liquid

Leviticus 14:13-31

7444 sin offering

Leviticus 14:14-18

7328 ceremonies

Leviticus 14:15-16

7454 sprinkling

Leviticus 14:15-18

4488 oil

Library

November 27. "And the Remnant of the Oil . . . Shall Pour Upon the Head" (Lev. xiv. 18).
"And the remnant of the oil ... shall pour upon the head" (Lev. xiv. 18). In the account of the healing of the Hebrew leper there is a beautiful picture of the touching of his ears, hands and feet, with the redeeming blood and the consecrating oil, as a sign that his powers of understanding, service, and conduct were set apart to God, and divinely endued for the Master's work and will. But after all this, we are significantly told that "the rest of the oil" was to be poured upon his head. The former …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The First Stage in the Leper's Cleansing
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 3. And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4. 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: 5. And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's visit to Samaria.
1. The Location of Sychar. Although modern writers are now mostly agreed on this subject, it may be well briefly to put before our readers the facts of the case. Till comparitively lately, the Sychar of St. John iv. was generally as representing the ancient Shechem. The first difficulty here was the name, since Shechem, or even Sichem, could scarcely be identified with Sychar, which is undoubtedly the correct reading. Accordingly, the latter term was represented as one of oppobrium, and derived from …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement.
^A Matt.VIII. 2-4; ^B Mark I. 40-45; ^C Luke V. 12-16. ^c 12 And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities [it was a city of Galilee, but as it was not named, it is idle to conjecture which city it was], behold, ^b there cometh { ^a came} ^b to him a leper [There is much discussion as to what is here meant by leprosy. Two diseases now go by that name; viz., psoriasis and elephantiasis. There are also three varieties of psoriasis, namely, white, black and red. There are also three varieties …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

John's First Testimony to Jesus.
(Bethany Beyond Jordan, February, a.d. 27.) ^D John I. 19-34. ^d 19 And this is the witness of John [John had been sent to testify, "and" this is the matter of his testimony], when the Jews [The term "Jews" is used seventy times by John to describe the ruling classes of Judæa] sent unto him [In thus sending an embassy they honored John more than they ever honored Christ. They looked upon John as a priest and Judæan, but upon Jesus as a carpenter and Galilæan. It is probable that …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

John the Baptist's Person and Preaching.
(in the Wilderness of Judæa, and on the Banks of the Jordan, Occupying Several Months, Probably a.d. 25 or 26.) ^A Matt. III. 1-12; ^B Mark I. 1-8; ^C Luke III. 1-18. ^b 1 The beginning of the gospel [John begins his Gospel from eternity, where the Word is found coexistent with God. Matthew begins with Jesus, the humanly generated son of Abraham and David, born in the days of Herod the king. Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist, the Messiah's herald; and Mark begins with the ministry …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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