Leviticus 14:49

49 And to the cleansing thereof (And for its cleansing), the priest shall take two sparrows, and cedar wood, and vermilion, that is, a red thread, and hyssop.

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 and he that sleepeth [in it,] and eateth anything therein, he shall wash his clothes.

48 That if the priest entereth, and seeth that the leprosy increased not in the house, after that it was daubed the second time, the priest shall cleanse it; for health is yielded [again] thereto. (But if the priest entereth, and seeth that the leprosy hath not grown again, or not spread, in the house, after that it was daubed the second time, the priest shall pronounce it to be clean; for health hath been restored to it, that is, the plague hath been cured.)

49 And to the cleansing thereof (And for its cleansing), the priest shall take two sparrows, and cedar wood, and vermilion, that is, a red thread, and hyssop.

50 And when one sparrow is offered in a vessel of earth, on quick waters, (And when one sparrow is offered in an earthen, or a clay, vessel, filled with fresh water,)

51 the priest shall take the cedar wood, and hyssop, and the red thread, and the quick sparrow, and he shall dip, or wet, all these things in the blood of the sparrow offered, or slain, and in the quick waters; and he shall sprinkle the house seven times; (the priest shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the red thread, and the living sparrow, and he shall dip all these things in the blood of the slain sparrow, and in the fresh water; and he shall sprinkle the house seven times;)