Leviticus 14:7
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The release of the living bird into the open field signifies more than just restored freedom; it symbolizes the complete removal of the leper's uncleanness, carrying it away to a place where it can no longer affect him or the community. This act emphasizes that the cleansing is total and the separation from sin and impurity is now complete, allowing for reintegration.
And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage describes the final steps in a complex purification ritual for someone who has recovered from leprosy. Following the sprinkling of blood and oil, and a seven-day period of separation, the priest makes a final cleansing with a living bird, symbolizing freedom. This ritual culminates in the formerly unclean person being declared "clean" and allowed to rejoin society.
Why did the priest sprinkle the blood seven times? It wasn't just a ritual, but a powerful picture of God's desire for total restoration.
The Significance of Seven
The number seven in Scripture often signifies completeness or perfection. In this cleansing ritual, the seven sprinklings with the blood of the slain bird and water were a profound symbol.
This ritual paints a vivid picture of God's intention for us – not just to be forgiven, but to be made fully whole.
What does a bird flying free have to do with a healed leper? This seemingly simple act carried immense symbolic weight for restoration.
A Symbol of New Life
The release of the living bird into the open field was a powerful concluding act in the cleansing ceremony. It represented several vital truths:
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This act declared not just a healed body, but a restored life, free from the stigma and restrictions of disease.
Understand the original words
nazah · Hebrew Verb
To scatter or distribute a liquid, often blood or oil, signifying the application of atonement or consecration to a person or object.
tahor · Hebrew Adjective
A state of ritual purity or freedom from the contagion of sin or disease, allowing one to participate in the covenant community and worship God.
tahar · Hebrew Verb
An act of removing impurity or guilt, often through ritual, sacrifice, or obedience to God's law, to restore one to a right standing before Him.
tsaraath · Hebrew Noun
Commonly translated as leprosy, this term refers to a range of skin diseases that rendered a person ritually unclean and separated them from the community.
This passage speaks to how the blood of animals could purify flesh, but it points forward to Christ's blood, which can cleanse our conscience from dead works, just as the sprinkling in Leviticus foreshadowed a more complete cleansing.
Psalm 51:7The psalmist directly references this ritual, praying 'Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,' showing how this purification rite was understood as a symbol of deep spiritual cleansing from sin.
2 Kings 5:10-14Naaman's healing from leprosy by washing in the Jordan seven times echoes the symbolic cleansing of Leviticus, highlighting God's power to heal and restore through seemingly simple, yet divinely appointed, acts.
Colossians 2:11-12This New Testament passage connects spiritual cleansing from sin to a 'circumcision of Christ' that happens through baptism, drawing a parallel to the ritual cleansing that restored the leper to fellowship, signifying a death to the old life and a new life in Christ.
Luke 17:12-14The story of Jesus healing ten lepers shows that even after physical healing, a formal declaration of cleanness and restoration to community was still significant, mirroring the priest's pronouncement and the symbolic release of the bird in Leviticus.
bensonLeviticus 14:7: "And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field."
Leviticus 14:7 . Into the open field — The place of its former abode, signifying the taking off that restraint which was laid upon the leper, and that he was restored to free conversation with his neighbours.
calvinLeviticus 14:1-57: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar-wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
Avem vivam tollet, et lignum cedrinum, et cuccum vermiculi, et hyssopum: et tinget illa, et avem vivam in sanguine avis mactatae super aquas vivas.
And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven time…
The release of the living bird into the open field signifies more than just restored freedom; it symbolizes the complete removal of the leper's uncleanness, carrying it away to a place where it can no longer affect him or the community. This act emphasizes that the cleansing is total and the separation from sin and impurity is now complete, allowing for reintegration.
This passage describes the final steps in a complex purification ritual for someone who has recovered from leprosy. Following the sprinkling of blood and oil, and a seven-day period of separation, the priest makes a final cleansing with a living bird, symbolizing freedom. This ritual culminates in the formerly unclean person being declared "clean" and allowed to rejoin society.
This passage describes the final steps in a complex purification ritual for someone who has recovered from leprosy. Following the sprinkling of blood and oil, and a seven-day period of separation, the priest makes a final cleansing with a living bird, symbolizing freedom. This ritual culminates in the formerly unclean person being declared "clean" and allowed to rejoin society.
"And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field." — The release of the living bird into the open field signifies more than just restored freedom; it symbolizes the complete removal of the leper's uncleanness, carrying it away to a place where it can n…
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Last reviewed October 2026
