SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:7
y rociará siete veces sobre el que se purifica de la lepra, y le dará por limpio; y soltará la avecilla viva sobre la faz del campo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Leviticus 14:7
Verse 7. Shall let the living bird loose] The Jews teach that wild birds were employed on this occasion, no tame or domestic animal was used. Mr. Ainsworth piously conjectures that the living and dead birds were intended to represent the death and resurrection of Christ, by which an atonement was made to purify the soul from its spiritual leprosy. The bird let loose bears a near analogy to the scapegoat. See chap. 16.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times , etc.] With the hyssop fastened to the cedar stick, with the scarlet wool or thread bound about it, dipped into the blood and water in the earthen vessel; to which the psalmist alludes, ( Psalm 51:7); the Egyptians had a great notion of “hyssop”, as of a purifying nature, and therefore used to eat it with bread, to take off the strength of that f481 : upon what part of the leper this sprinkling was made is not said; the Targum of Jonathan says, upon the house of his face, that is, upon the vail that was over his face: but in the Misnah it is said to be on the back of his hand; and so Gersom, though some say it was on his forehead; and sprinkling was typical of Christ’s blood of sprinkling, and of the application of it, and of sharing in all the blessings of it; and this was done seven times, to denote the thorough and perfect cleansing of him, and of every part, every faculty of the soul, and every member of the body, and that from all sin, and the frequent application of it: the last mentioned writer says, at every sprinkling there was a dipping, and that the sense is, that he should sprinkle and dip seven times, as Naaman the Syrian leper did in Jordan; but of the washing of the leper mention is afterwards made: and shall pronounce him clean ; from his leprosy, and so fit for civil and religious conversation, to come into the camp or city, and into the tabernacle; and shall let the living bird loose into the open field ; as a token of the freedom of the leper, and that he was at liberty to go where he pleased: the Misnic doctors say f483 , when he came to let go the living bird, he did not turn its face neither to the sea, nor to the city, nor to the wilderness, as it is said, “but he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open field”, as in ( Leviticus 14:53); the Targum of Jonathan here adds, if the man should be prepared to be smitten with the leprosy again, the live bird may return to his house the same day, and be fit to be eaten, but the slain bird he shall bury in the sight of the leper: some say, if the bird returned ever so many times, it was to be let go again: this may be a figure of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and of his justification upon it, as the head and representative of his people, and of their free and full discharge from guilt, condemnation, and death, through him, and of his and their being received up into heaven, and whither their hearts should be directed, in affection and thankfulness for their great deliverance and salvation; (see 1 Timothy 3:16 Colossians 3:1,2).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The priests could not cleanse the lepers; but when the Lord removed the plague, various rules were to be observed in admitting them again to the ordinances of God, and the society of his people. They represen many duties and exercises of truly repenting sinners, and the duties of ministers respecting them. If we apply this to the spiritual leprosy of sin, it intimates that when we withdraw from those who walk disorderly we must not count them as enemies, but admonish them as brethren. An also that when God by his grace has brought to repentance, they ough with tenderness and joy, and sincere affection, to be received again Care should always be taken that sinners may not be encouraged, no penitents discouraged. If it were found that the leprosy was healed the priest must declare it with the particular solemnities her described. The two birds, one killed, and the other dipped in the bloo of the bird that was killed, and then let loose, may signify Chris shedding his blood for sinners, and rising and ascending into heaven The priest having pronounced the leper clean from the disease, he mus make himself clean from all remains of it. Thus those who have comfor of the remission of their sins, must with care and caution cleans themselves from sins; for every one that has this hope in him, will be concerned to purify himself.
Original Hebrew
והזה 5137 על 5921 המטהר 2891 מן 4480 הצרעת 6883 שׁבע 7651 פעמים 6471 וטהרו 2891 ושׁלח 7971 את 853 הצפר 6833 החיה 2416 על 5921 פני 6440 השׂדה׃ 7704
