1. The Tabernacle Practices: Leprosy
Mike Harbrecht

2. Leprosy Infectious skin disease

3. Leprosy Infectious skin disease
Causes disfiguring skin sores and lumps which are usually pale colored

4. Leprosy Infectious skin disease
Causes damage to the nerves in the arms and legs
Infectious skin disease
Causes disfiguring skin sores and lumps which are usually pale colored

5. Leprosy
“A terrible form of skin disease spoken of in the Bible… There were apparently several types of leprosy, and the word is used in the Bible to designate other sicknesses or diseases. For example, clothing and walls were said to be leprous when they had patches of mildew or some fungous growth…” (Bible Dictionary: Leprosy)
To learn more about leprosy, here is a link:

6. Leprosy
“Because leprosy was so visible and involved the decay or corruption of the body, it served as an excellent symbol of sinfulness. Sin corrupts someone spiritually the way leprosy corrupts someone physically.”1

7. Leprosy
“...when an individual acquired leprosy, he or she was required to live outside the camp…

8. Leprosy
…The same is true of sin. When we sin, we cut ourselves off from full communion with the Lord and His Church. For example, we may not be permitted to take the sacrament or receive a temple recommend.” 2

9. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:2-3 “He shall be brought unto the priest: And the priest shall go forth out of the camp.”
Hebrews 13:12  “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”
Hebrews 4:14  “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast out profession.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

10. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:2-3 “He shall be brought unto the priest: And the priest shall go forth out of the camp.”
Luke 5:14. The Savior heals a leper but then charges him that he still follow the rules of cleansing outlined in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 14)
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

11. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:2-3 “He shall be brought unto the priest: And the priest shall go forth out of the camp.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

12. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:4 “Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet and hyssop.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

13. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:4 “Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet and hyssop.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

14. Scarlet = A Scarlet Dyed Cloth (Footnote in LDS Scriptures)
Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:4 “Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet and hyssop.”
Scarlet = A Scarlet Dyed Cloth (Footnote in LDS Scriptures)
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

15. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:4 “Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet and hyssop.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

16. Cedar Wood
“…cedar wood is known as something that helps preserve other things from decay and corruption.”3
Nice strong smell and a “cleaning” oil as well
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

17. Scarlet
“…the color scarlet is red, reminding us of blood, which is the symbol of life [Leviticus 17:11] and the Atonement…” 4

18. “…hyssop was used in the Old Testament as a purifying plant.”5
“Though we are not sure exactly why, we do know that in the Old Testament times the herb hyssop carried with it the symbolism of purification.”6
Psalms 51:7 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

19. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

20. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:6 “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.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

21. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:7 “And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

22. Cleansing a Leper
“As the only living objects used in the ritual, the birds symbolized the candidate. Because of the two truths to be taught, two birds were required. The first bird was killed by the shedding of its blood, signifying that the leper [the natural man] had to give up his life. The second bird, after being bound together with other symbols, was released. This signified that the man had been freed from the bondage of sin.”7
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

23. Cleansing a Leper
“Notice that the blood of the bird was mixed with the water. In Moses 6:59 we learn that blood and water are the symbols of birth, both physical and spiritual. Also, we know that the place of spiritual rebirth, the baptismal font, is a symbol of the place where the natural man is put to death. (See Romans 6:1–6; D&C 128:12–13)…
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

24. Cleansing a Leper
…Over the basin of water the first bird was killed, symbolizing the death of the natural man and the eventual rebirth of the spiritually innocent person.”8
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

25. Cleansing a Leper
Just as a newborn has no hair, the leper was to shave all his hair. He also was to wash his clothes and himself, cleansing everything of the leprosy. This reminds us of birth and taught the leper of being reborn.
Leviticus 14:8-9 “And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

26. 1 he lamb without blemish was required as a trespass offering.
The leper was then required to give offerings to the Lord, including a trespass offering.
“The typology is clear, since the lamb offered had to be the firstborn male without spot or blemish. It symbolized the offering of the Son of God.”9
1 he lamb without blemish was required as a trespass offering.

27. 1 he lamb without blemish was required as a trespass offering.
The leper was then required to give offerings to the Lord, including a trespass offering.
“The typology is clear, since the lamb offered had to be the firstborn male without spot or blemish. It symbolized the offering of the Son of God.”10
1 he lamb without blemish was required as a trespass offering.

28. Washing & Anointing
Leviticus 14:14 “And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.”

29. Washed clean from… What we have heard or listened to….
Where we have gone or places we have been to…
What we have done…

30. Washing & Anointing
Leviticus 14:17 “And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering: And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord.”

31. Anointed to… Things we listen to or hear…
Where we go or what direction our life goes…
What we will do…

32. Cleansing a Leper
The house and clothing of lepers had to be cleansed as well. This was done to make sure everything was cleansed of the leprosy. By doing so, the leprosy would not return to the leper or cause anyone else to become afflicted.
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

33. Cleansing a Leper
Likewise, we should clean every aspect of our life from our sins. This way the spiritual leprosy may not return to us or tempt others around us.
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

34. Cedar Wood? Hyssop? Scarlet?
John 19:29 “Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”
Cedar Wood?
Hyssop?
John 19:17-18 “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”
Scarlet?
Luke 22:44  “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

35. Leviticus 14:5 “And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water.”
John 19:34 “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

36. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:6 “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.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

37. Cleansing a Leper
Leviticus 14:6 “As for the sinner, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the sinner in the blood of the Savior over the running water.”
Leviticus 14:2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing…”

38. Christ’s bleeding in 7 different areas: 11
Leviticus 14:7 “And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.”
His head (Matthew 27:29-30) His sweat (Luke 22:44) His face (Isaiah 50:6) His back (Isaiah 50:6, Matthew 27:26) His hands (Psalms 22:16, John 20:25) His Feet (Psalms 22:16) His side (John 19:34)

39. Leviticus 14:7 “And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.”
The symbolism of 7 is that of perfection or totality. So the leper was completely cleaned and the Savior bled out of his whole body.

40. Footnote
Source Information 1
Old Testament Seminary Student Guide. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1998, 2002, 2 3 4 5 6
Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1980, 1981, 2003, chapter 15. 7

41. Footnote
Source Information 8
Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1980, 1981, 2003, chapter 15. 9 10 11
Rayan, Jemima. "Cleansing the Leper.” Accessed May 7,