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Leviticus 10:10
And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

Jeremiah 15:19
Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again,and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

Ezekiel 44:23
And they shall teach my peoplethe difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

this is

Deuteronomy 24:8
Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them,so ye shall observe to do.

This is the law regarding skin diseases and mildew.
The specific mention of skin diseases and mildew refers to the detailed regulations found inLeviticus 13 and 14. These chapters provide instructions for diagnosing and treating various skin conditions and mold infestations, which were considered serious threats to both individual and communal health. The priests acted as mediators and inspectors, ensuring that the community remained pure and free from defilement. This process underscores the importance of holiness and the need for divine intervention in matters of impurity. The cleansing rituals, involving sacrifices and offerings, point to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who cleanses believers from all unrighteousness (1John 1:7). The meticulous attention to detail in these laws reflects God's concern for both the physical and spiritual well-being of His people.

“to determine when something is clean or unclean. This is the law regarding skin diseases and mildew.” (Leviticus 14:57)

• Chapters 13–14 form one unit: chapter 13 identifies uncleanness; chapter 14 prescribes cleansing.

•Leviticus 14:57 functions like a divine “purpose statement,” reminding the priests that their inspections are guided by God’s own criteria, not personal preference (compareLeviticus 10:10;Deuteronomy 24:8).

• The scope includes “infectious skin diseases” (often called leprosy) and “mildew” in clothing or houses, showing that holiness touches both people and property (Leviticus 13:47–59; 14:33–53).

• Priests serve as God-appointed inspectors, declaring either “clean” or “unclean” (Leviticus 13:3, 13, 23).

• Their verdict carries social weight: an “unclean” person lives outside the camp (Leviticus 13:45–46;Numbers 5:2–4).

• When healing occurs, only a priestly declaration restores the sufferer to worship and community (Leviticus 14:2–3;Luke 17:14).

• This foreshadows Christ, our High Priest, who alone can pronounce sinners clean (Hebrews 4:14–16;Mark 1:40-45).

• Uncleanness often protected Israel from contagion, promoting communal health centuries before modern medicine (Leviticus 13:4–8, 52).

• Mildew laws guarded dwellings from structural decay and hidden hazards (Leviticus 14:34–48).

• God values bodily well-being; His law integrates faith with daily life (Exodus 15:26; 3John 2).

• Being “unclean” barred a worshiper from the sanctuary, teaching that sin excludes us from God’s presence (Isaiah 64:6;Romans 3:23).

• The required sacrifices—two birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, hyssop, and later a guilt offering (Leviticus 14:4–20)—point to substitutionary atonement fulfilled in Christ’s blood (Hebrews 9:13-14;1 Peter 2:24).

• The seven-day waiting period, re-inspection, and final anointing with oil illustrate sanctification: cleansing, waiting, and consecration (Leviticus 14:8–18;1 Corinthians 6:11).

• God still cares about the whole person—body, home, and heart (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

• Sin, like skin disease, starts small but spreads; prompt confession prevents wider damage (1 John 1:9;Psalm 32:3-5).

• Only Christ’s declaration—“You are clean” (John 15:3)—restores us fully; self-diagnosis is never enough.

• Believers, now a royal priesthood, are called to discern between clean and unclean in doctrine, lifestyle, and fellowship (1 Peter 2:9;1 John 4:1).

Leviticus 14:57 sums up God’s gracious provision for diagnosing and removing impurity. By assigning priests to “determine when something is clean or unclean,” the Lord protects His people physically, instructs them spiritually, and ultimately foreshadows the cleansing work of Christ. The verse invites us to take both sin and holiness seriously, trusting the perfect Priest who alone can declare us eternally clean.

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