Scapebird
Two living birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop: that is what a priest called for in Leviticus 14 when a person was to be declared clean of a skin disease. One bird was killed over running water. The other, dipped in that blood, was set free, “loose into the open field.” The same act is repeated for a house in verse 53, where the bird is let go “out of the city.” The old word for it is scapebird. Many readers see in the freed bird a picture of cleansing carried away. Leviticus 14 tells the whole ritual in order.
5 verses
Leviticus
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:
And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
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:
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.
But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.