Definition: 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:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Leviticus 14:17. It's a really important and somewhat unusual passage about ritual cleansing in ancient Jewish practice. Here’s a simplified explanation: What it means: This verse describes a specific ritual – a purification – that priests performed on animals, particularly goats, sheep, and cattle, as part of the laws surrounding sacrifice in Judaism. Essentially, it's saying these animals would be treated with special reverence and cleansed in a particular way. Let’s unpack the details: “Of the rest of the oil that [is] in his hand” : This refers to the oil that the priest had on their hands before the animal was offered. It's about the oil they used for purification. “…shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear…” : This is a very specific action. The priest would carefully apply a small amount of oil to the tip of the right ear. It’s a symbolic act, representing purity and being “clean.” "...upon the thumb of his right hand” : They'd also apply the oil to the thumb of their right hand. "...upon the great toe of his right foot” : The last part is where it gets really interesting and highlights a significant aspect of the ritual. The priest would apply the oil to the great toe of their right foot. This was a crucial point – it symbolized that the animal had been marked by a transgression, and the oil was meant to cleanse that transgression completely. "...upon the blood of the trespass offering:” This is the most important part. The oil was placed on the blood of the animals offered as a sacrifice. This blood represented the remorse and atonement for the wrong done. What's the point? The purpose of this ritual was to symbolically wipe away any imperfections, guilt, or wrongdoing associated with the animal. It was a way to ensure the animal was truly “clean” enough to be offered as a sacrifice, allowing God to receive the atonement and forgiveness for the transgression. Important Note: This practice is largely lost in later Jewish tradition. It’s considered a symbolic and somewhat gruesome ritual, highlighting the importance of purity and atonement within Judaism. --- Do you want me to explain any part of this verse in more detail? For example, I could go into: The historical context of this practice Why it was important for Jewish law What it symbolizes beyond just physical cleansing