Leviticus 14:39
On the seventh day the priest is to return and inspect the house. If the mildew has spread on the walls,
On the seventh day
The number seven in the Bible often signifies completeness or perfection, as seen in the creation account where God rested on the seventh day. In the context of Leviticus, the seventh day marks a period of waiting and observation, symbolizing a complete cycle of time for reflection and potential healing. This period allows for divine intervention and the natural course of events to reveal the true state of the house, much like how spiritual discernment requires patience and time.

the priest shall return
The role of the priest in ancient Israel was not only to perform religious rituals but also to act as a mediator between God and the people. The priest's return signifies a continued commitment to the community's spiritual and physical well-being. This reflects the pastoral role of church leaders today, who are called to guide and care for their congregations with diligence and compassion.

to inspect the house
The act of inspection is thorough and deliberate, emphasizing the importance of discernment and careful evaluation in spiritual matters. In a broader sense, this can be seen as a call for believers to examine their own lives and communities for signs of spiritual decay or sin, ensuring that they remain pure and holy before God.

If the mildew has spread
Mildew, or mold, in this context represents impurity or corruption that can infiltrate and damage the community if left unchecked. The spreading of mildew is a metaphor for sin, which, if not addressed, can grow and affect the entire body of believers. This highlights the necessity of vigilance and proactive measures in maintaining spiritual health.

on the walls
Walls are symbolic of protection and separation, defining the boundaries of a home or community. The presence of mildew on the walls suggests a breach in these protective barriers, indicating vulnerability to external influences. Spiritually, this serves as a reminder to guard one's heart and mind against worldly temptations and to reinforce the foundations of faith with the truth of God's Word.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Priest
The priest acts as a mediator and inspector, representing God's authority and holiness. In this context, the priest is responsible for examining the house for signs of impurity.

2. House
The house represents the dwelling place of the Israelites, which can become unclean due to mildew or mold. It symbolizes the need for purity in one's living environment.

3. Mildew
A physical manifestation of impurity or uncleanness that can affect a house. It serves as a metaphor for sin or spiritual corruption that can spread if not addressed.

4. Seventh Day
A significant time frame in biblical terms, often associated with completion and rest. Here, it marks the time for re-evaluation and potential cleansing.

5. Inspection
The act of examining the house for mildew, symbolizing the need for self-examination and spiritual vigilance in one's life.
Teaching Points
The Role of Spiritual Leaders
Just as the priest inspects the house, spiritual leaders today are called to guide and help others maintain spiritual purity.

The Importance of Regular Self-Examination
The inspection on the seventh day highlights the need for regular self-examination to identify and address areas of spiritual impurity.

Dealing with Sin Before It Spreads
Mildew represents sin, which can spread if not dealt with promptly. We must be vigilant in identifying and eradicating sin in our lives.

The Significance of Rest and Reflection
The seventh day is a time for rest and reflection, reminding us to take time to evaluate our spiritual condition and seek God's cleansing.

Holiness in Our Homes
Just as the Israelites were to keep their homes free from mildew, we are called to maintain holiness in our personal and family lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the priest in Leviticus 14:39 inform our understanding of spiritual leadership today?

2. In what ways can we regularly inspect our own lives for "spiritual mildew" or sin?

3. How does the concept of mildew spreading relate to the New Testament teachings on sin and purity?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure our homes are places of spiritual purity and holiness?

5. How can the principle of the seventh day as a time for inspection and reflection be applied to our weekly routines?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 13
Discusses the laws concerning skin diseases and mildew, emphasizing the role of the priest in maintaining purity.

1 Corinthians 5:6-7
Paul uses the metaphor of leaven to describe how sin can spread, similar to how mildew spreads in a house.

Psalm 51:7
David's plea for cleansing from sin, paralleling the need for purification from physical impurities like mildew.

Hebrews 3:6
Speaks of Christ as the faithful Son over God's house, drawing a parallel to the need for purity in our spiritual "houses."
The Cleansing of Sin as Illustrated in the Cleansing of the LeperR.M. Edgar Leviticus 14:1-57
Cleansing the Corrupt HouseW. Clarkson Leviticus 14:33-53
Leprosy in a HouseJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 14:33-57
House LeprosyJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 14:34-57
Leprosy of House and GarmentsH. Macmillan, D. D.Leviticus 14:34-57
The Plague in the HouseJ. Reid Howatt.Leviticus 14:34-57
The Way to Remove the PlagueJ. Cumming, D. D.Leviticus 14:34-57
People
Aaron, Ephah, Moses
Places
Canaan, Teman
Topics
Behold, Disease, Increased, Indeed, Inspect, Inspection, Mark, Marks, Mildew, Plague, Priest, Return, Seventh, Size, Spread, Walls
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 14:1-57

     7340   clean and unclean

Leviticus 14:33-53

     5340   house

Leviticus 14:34-57

     4839   mildew

Leviticus 14:39-45

     4366   stones

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

Links
Leviticus 14:39 NIV
Leviticus 14:39 NLT
Leviticus 14:39 ESV
Leviticus 14:39 NASB
Leviticus 14:39 KJV

Leviticus 14:39 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Leviticus 14:38
Top of Page
Top of Page