Leviticus 14:49

49 "The priest must take two birds, cedar wood, red yarn, and a hyssop sprig and use them to make the house clean.

Leviticus 14:49 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 14:49

And he shall take to cleanse the house
The priest, or by his fellow priest, as Aben Ezra, though some interpret it of the master of the house; in ( Leviticus 14:49-53 ) , an account is given of the manner of cleansing a leprous house, which is the same with that of cleansing a leprous man, see notes on Le 14:4-7,
Two birds.
The birds here indeed are not described as "alive and clean", ( Leviticus 14:4 ) ; but both are plainly implied and the house is said to be cleansed with the blood of the slain bird, as well as with the living bird; and it was the upper door post of the house which was sprinkled seven times with it, but there were no sacrifices offered; in this case, as in the cleansing of the leper, the atonement for it was made by the other rites, which were sufficient to render it habitable again, and free for use, either of the owner or any other person; and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. (See Gill on Leviticus 14:4).

Leviticus 14:49 In-Context

47 Whoever sleeps or eats in the house must wash his clothes.

48 But if the priest comes and makes an examination and the mildew has not spread in the house after it is plastered again, the priest must declare the house clean. The mildew is gone.

49 "The priest must take two birds, cedar wood, red yarn, and a hyssop sprig and use them to make the house clean.

50 He must kill the one bird over a clay bowl containing fresh water.

51 He must take the cedar wood, the hyssop sprig, the red yarn, and the living bird and dip them in the fresh water containing the blood of the bird that was killed. He must sprinkle the house seven times.