Leviticus 14

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name, rendered LORD; the premortal Jesus Christ

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Leviticus 14:1–2

Jehovah gives the law of cleansing. In mortality, as Jesus, He sent cleansed lepers to obey this very law He had given.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• alluded to by Matthew 8:4 — Jesus: "offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
• alluded to by Luke 5:14 — "Offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded."

Atonement of Jesus Christ

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: Leviticus 14:4–7

Christians have long seen Christ's death and Resurrection in these two birds: one dies over running water, and the living one, dipped in its blood, is set free. Hebrews recalls the same cleansing elements, blood with water, scarlet wool and hyssop.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• alluded to by Hebrews 9:19-22 — Blood with water, scarlet wool and hyssop; "without shedding of blood is no remission."

Lamb of God

Lamb of God — the sinless sacrifice provided by God

And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. Leviticus 14:10–13

The lamb without blemish, offered so an unclean person can return to the camp and to God, points to Jesus, the sinless Lamb whose sacrifice brings us back into God's presence.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• a type of what is in 1 Peter 1:18-19 — Redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
• interpreted by Moses 5:7 — Sacrifice is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten.

Atonement of Jesus Christ

And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: Leviticus 14:14–20

The cleansed person is touched first with the blood and then with oil on the ear, hand and foot, the same pattern used to consecrate priests (Lev. 8:23-24). It pictures the Savior's blood cleansing what we hear, do and where we walk, and then consecrating us to serve.

How we know: a traditional type, cited

• alludes to Leviticus 8:23-24 — The same ear, thumb and toe anointing with blood at the consecration of Aaron's sons.
• a type of what is in 1 John 1:7 — "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant name, rendered LORD; the premortal Jesus Christ

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Leviticus 14:33–34

Jehovah speaks as the giver of the promised land and the Lord over its houses.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

Atonement of Jesus Christ

And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: Leviticus 14:49–53

The same two-bird rite now cleanses a house, showing the blood of atonement reaches not only persons but the homes where they live. The living bird freed after the blood is shed again pictures the risen Lord.

How we know: a traditional type, cited · a footnote points to Him

• alluded to by Hebrews 9:22 — "Almost all things are by the law purged with blood."