The Meaning of Leviticus 14:6 Explained

Leviticus 14:6

KJV: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:

YLT: as to the living bird, he taketh it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and hath dipped them and the living bird in the blood of the slaughtered bird, over the running water,

Darby: as to the living bird he shall take it, and the cedar-wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water;

ASV: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As for the living  bird,  he shall take  it, and the cedar  wood,  and the scarlet,  and the hyssop,  and shall dip  them and the living  bird  in the blood  of the bird  [that was] killed  over the running  water: 

What does Leviticus 14:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 14:1-20 - The Law Of The Cleansed Leper
The penalty, when leprosy had unmistakably declared itself, included compulsory severance from the camp, the rent garments, the bare head, the covered lip, the cry "unclean," Leviticus 14:45. Sin severs us from fellowship with God and His saints, and makes us a source of contamination to all in contact with us, though they may not realize that we are defiling them.
Being cured, the leper was first restored to the camp, Leviticus 14:1-9. The birds are striking types of death and resurrection. Notice that the blood of one was mingled with fresh, i.e., running, water, because of the perennial freshness of the blood of Christ; and that the ascension of the other, when liberated, is significant of the freedom from the law of sin and death which the soul of the believer experiences through the power of the Holy Spirit. See Romans 8:1-4.
Secondly, the leper was restored to the sanctuary, Leviticus 14:10-20. On the eighth day of resurrection, the blood and oil were placed on thumb and toe and ear, because all our senses have been purchased and consecrated to the service of God. Let us, in gratitude for our own cleansing from sin, consecrate ourselves anew to God! [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 14

1  The rites and sacrifices in cleansing the leper
33  The signs of leprosy in a house
48  The cleansing of that house

What do the individual words in Leviticus 14:6 mean?

As for bird the living he shall take it and wood the cedar yarn the scarlet the hyssop and dip them and the living in the blood of the bird [that was] killed over the water running
אֶת־ הַצִּפֹּ֤ר הַֽחַיָּה֙ יִקַּ֣ח אֹתָ֔הּ וְאֶת־ עֵ֥ץ הָאֶ֛רֶז שְׁנִ֥י הַתּוֹלַ֖עַת הָאֵזֹ֑ב וְטָבַ֨ל אוֹתָ֜ם וְאֵ֣ת ׀ הַֽחַיָּ֗ה בְּדַם֙ הַצִּפֹּ֣ר הַשְּׁחֻטָ֔ה עַ֖ל הַמַּ֥יִם הַֽחַיִּֽים

אֶת־  As  for 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַצִּפֹּ֤ר  bird 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צִפֹּור  
Sense: bird, fowl.
הַֽחַיָּה֙  the  living 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
יִקַּ֣ח  he  shall  take 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
עֵ֥ץ  wood 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
הָאֶ֛רֶז  the  cedar 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶרֶז  
Sense: cedar.
שְׁנִ֥י  yarn 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׁנִי  
Sense: scarlet, crimson.
הַתּוֹלַ֖עַת  the  scarlet 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּולָע 
Sense: worm, scarlet stuff, crimson.
הָאֵזֹ֑ב  the  hyssop 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵזׄוב  
Sense: hyssop, a plant used for medicinal and religious purposes.
וְטָבַ֨ל  and  dip 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: טָבַל  
Sense: to dip, dip into, plunge.
הַֽחַיָּ֗ה  the  living 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
בְּדַם֙  in  the  blood 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
הַצִּפֹּ֣ר  of  the  bird 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צִפֹּור  
Sense: bird, fowl.
הַשְּׁחֻטָ֔ה  [that  was]  killed 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, feminine singular
Root: שָׁחַט 
Sense: to kill, slaughter, beat.
עַ֖ל  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַמַּ֥יִם  the  water 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
הַֽחַיִּֽים  running 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.