Leviticus 14:17 Study Bible: The priest shall put some of the rest of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering.

Bible > Leviticus > Chapter 14 > Verse 17

◄ Leviticus 14:17 ►

And the priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the right earlobe of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering.

Study Bible

And the priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm
The use of oil in this context signifies anointing and consecration, a practice deeply rooted in ancient Israelite culture. Oil, often olive oil, was a symbol of the Holy Spirit and divine blessing. The priest's role in applying the oil underscores the mediatory function of the priesthood, acting as a bridge between God and the people. This act of anointing with oil follows the application of blood, symbolizing purification and the subsequent empowerment or sanctification by the Spirit.

on the right earlobe of the one to be cleansed
The right side in biblical symbolism often represents strength and favor. The application of oil on the right earlobe signifies the cleansing and dedication of the person's hearing to God, suggesting that the individual should now listen to and obey God's commandments. This act parallels the consecration of priests in Exodus 29:20, indicating that the cleansed person is being set apart for a holy purpose.

on the thumb of his right hand
The thumb represents action and service. Anointing the right thumb signifies the cleansing and dedication of the person's actions and work to God. This act implies that the individual's deeds should now be in accordance with God's will, reflecting a life transformed by divine grace.

and on the big toe of his right foot
The big toe symbolizes the walk and direction of one's life. Anointing the right big toe signifies the cleansing and dedication of the person's path and journey to God. This act suggests that the individual should now walk in the ways of righteousness, following the path laid out by God's commandments.

on top of the blood of the guilt offering
The blood of the guilt offering represents atonement and forgiveness of sins. The application of oil on top of the blood signifies that sanctification follows atonement. This layering of oil over blood highlights the completeness of the cleansing process: first, the removal of sin through the blood, and then the empowerment for holy living through the oil. This foreshadows the work of Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice provides both atonement and the gift of the Holy Spirit for believers, as seen in the New Testament teachings.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Priest
A mediator between God and the people, responsible for performing the cleansing rituals.

2. The One Being Cleansed
An individual who has been healed from a skin disease, undergoing a purification process to be reintegrated into the community.

3. The Tabernacle
The central place of worship where the cleansing rituals are performed.

4. The Guilt Offering
A sacrifice made to atone for unintentional sins or ritual impurities, symbolizing the restoration of the individual to a state of holiness.

5. The Oil and Blood
Elements used in the ritual, symbolizing purification and consecration.

Teaching Points

Holistic Cleansing
The application of oil and blood to the ear, thumb, and toe signifies the need for complete purification—our hearing, actions, and walk with God must all be consecrated.

Symbolism of Oil
Oil often represents the Holy Spirit in Scripture. The anointing with oil signifies the empowerment and presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

Role of the Priest
Just as the priest mediates the cleansing process, Jesus is our High Priest who mediates our purification and reconciliation with God.

Restoration to Community
The cleansing ritual allows the individual to be restored to the community, emphasizing the importance of fellowship and unity in the body of Christ.

Spiritual Consecration
The ritual underscores the importance of dedicating every part of our lives to God, aligning our thoughts, actions, and paths with His will.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the role of the priest in Leviticus 14:17 foreshadow the work of Jesus as our High Priest?

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

3. How does the concept of holistic cleansing in Leviticus 14:17 challenge us to examine different areas of our lives for spiritual purity?

4. What parallels can we draw between the restoration of the cleansed individual to the community and the New Testament teachings on reconciliation and unity in the church?

5. How can we apply the principles of consecration found in this passage to our daily walk with God, ensuring that our thoughts, actions, and paths are aligned with His will?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 29:20
This verse describes the consecration of Aaron and his sons, where blood is applied to the ear, thumb, and toe, similar to the cleansing ritual in Leviticus 14:17. This connection highlights the theme of consecration and dedication to God.

Isaiah 53:5
The concept of atonement and healing through sacrifice is echoed in the prophecy of the suffering servant, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Hebrews 9:22
This verse discusses the necessity of blood for purification, reinforcing the importance of the blood in the cleansing rituals of Leviticus.

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

Big, Blood, Cleansed, Ear, Foot, Guilt, Lobe, Offering, Oil, Palm, Priest, Remaining, Rest, Thumb, Tip, Toe

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Leviticus 14:17

5192 thumbs

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 14:15-18

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

Links

Leviticus 14:17 NIV
Leviticus 14:17 NLT
Leviticus 14:17 ESV
Leviticus 14:17 NASB
Leviticus 14:17 KJV

Leviticus 14:17 Commentaries

Bible Hub