Leviticus 14:5
in Leviticus 14Then the priest shall command that one of the birds be slaughtered over fresh water in a clay pot.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and the priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water.
KJV
And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
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This verse in Leviticus 14
Commentary
7 notes on this verseOver running water - Literally, living, that is, spring water. The meaning appears to be this: Some water (about a quarter of a log, an eggshell and a half full, according to the rabbins) was taken from a spring, and put into a clean earthen vessel, and they killed the bird over this water, that the blood might drop into it; and in this blood and water mixed, they dipped the instrument before described, and sprinkled it seven times upon the person who was to be cleansed.
This site's exposition
two birds alive and clean
on Leviticus 14:4-5
The priest calls for two birds alive and clean, cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop, and those last three appear together again at Numbers 19:6, cast into the fire of the red heifer. One bird is killed in an earthen vessel over running water, water the Hebrew calls living, so blood and spring water are mixed before anything is sprinkled. Hyssop is what Israel used to put the passover blood on the door posts at Exodus 12:22, and it is the plant David asks for at Psalm 51:7.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
In an earthen-vessel - That is, over running water put in an earthen-vessel - Thus the blood of the bird and the water were mixed together, partly for the conveniency of sprinkling, and partly to signify Christ, who came by water and blood, 1 John v, 6.
), when he was anointed the oil must have blood under it, to signify that all the graces and comforts of the Spirit, all his purifying dignifying influences, are owing to the death of Christ: it is by his blood alone that we are sanctified.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The chief of these analogies is that as it was only when a leper exhibited a certain change of state that orders were given by the priest for a sacrifice, so a sinner must be in the exercise of faith and penitence ere the benefits of the gospel remedy can be enjoyed by him.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Running water - literally, living water, i. e. water fresh from the spring Gen 26:19; Num 19:17.
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְצִוָּה֙ | vetzivah | and he will command | H6680 → | 494 times |
| הַכֹּהֵ֔ן | hakohen | the priest | H3548 → | 750 times |
| וְשָׁחַ֖ט | veshachat | and someone will cut [the] throat of | H7819 → | 81 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַצִּפּ֣וֹר | hatzipor | the bird | H6833 → | 40 times |
| הָאֶחָ֑ת | haechat | <the> one | H259 → | 971 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | into | H413 → | 5510 times |
| כְּלִי־ | keli- | a vessel of | H3627 → | 325 times |
| חֶ֖רֶשׂ | cheres | earthenware | H2789 → | 17 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| מַ֥יִם | mayim | water | H4325 → | 581 times |
| חַיִּֽים׃ | chaiyim | living | H2416 → | 498 times |
וְצִוָּה֙and he will command
vetzivahH6680 →494 times
הַכֹּהֵ֔ןthe priest
hakohenH3548 →750 times
וְשָׁחַ֖טand someone will cut [the] throat of
veshachatH7819 →81 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הַצִּפּ֣וֹרthe bird
hatziporH6833 →40 times
הָאֶחָ֑ת<the> one
haechatH259 →971 times
אֶל־into
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
כְּלִי־a vessel of
keli-H3627 →325 times
חֶ֖רֶשׂearthenware
cheresH2789 →17 times
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
מַ֥יִםwater
mayimH4325 →581 times
חַיִּֽים׃living
chaiyimH2416 →498 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 2:14Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 1:10
And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
- Romans 8:3
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin.…
- 2 Timothy 1:10
Through
2 Corinthians 4:7Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 5:1
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5–6
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
- Ephesians 2:8–9
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
- 1 Corinthians 1:28
He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
- Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1
Through
2 Corinthians 5:1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
it leads to
- Job 19:25–26
But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.
- Job 19:25–26
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Leviticus

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
