What Does Leviticus 14:29 Mean in the King James?

And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD.

Leviticus 14:29 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The final oil is placed on the cleansed person’s head as a covering before the LORD.

THE MEANING

The verse places the remaining oil on the head of the one being cleansed, and names the act as a covering before the LORD. Cleansing reaches toward presence: the person is not defined only by what has been removed, but is covered there.

THE ROOT

כפר

kaphar

GROWS FROM

כפר

To cover; to make a covering.

The Hebrew verb ⁨לְכַפֵּר⁩ (lekhapper, “to cover”) gives “atonement” the image of covering. The verse’s final oil placement is thus part of a covering made for the cleansed person before the LORD.

ALSO GROWS

kippur: Covering; atonement.

כִּפּוּר

The name Yom Kippur carries the same covering word, linking this act to the root’s language of covering.

kapporet: The cover of the Ark, often rendered “mercy seat.”

כַּפֹּרֶת

The same root names the cover over the Ark, joining the idea of covering with the place associated with God’s presence.

THE PATTERN

Scripture repeatedly joins cleansing or exposed need with the image of covering.

For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

Leviticus 16:30 · KJVAtonement and cleansing meet together as the people are made clean before the LORD.

A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Psalm 32:1 · KJVThe psalm describes covered sin as part of a person’s release from transgression.

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 · KJVThe covering image also appears in relationships, where love covers many sins.

THE THREAD

For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

Leviticus 16:30 · KJV

The same Hebrew verb ⁨כפר⁩ (kaphar, “to cover”) appears with cleansing and being clean before the LORD. It opens this verse’s final act as part of a movement where cleansing and covering meet in God’s presence.

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