Leviticus 13
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1Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2“When a man shall have a rising in his body’s skin, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes in the skin of his body the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or to one of his sons, the priests: 3and the priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the body: and if the hair in the plague has turned white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body’s skin, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean. 4If the bright spot is white in the skin of his body, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and its hair hasn’t turned white, then the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days. 5The priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and, behold, if in his eyes the plague is arrested, and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days. 6The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day; and behold, if the plague has faded, and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7But if the scab spreads on the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again. 8The priest shall examine him; and behold, if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy. 9“When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought to the priest; 10and the priest shall examine him. Behold, if there is a white rising in the skin, and it has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the rising, 11it is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not isolate him, for he is already unclean. 12“If the leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of the infected person from his head even to his feet, as far as it appears to the priest; 13then the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the leprosy has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean of the plague. It has all turned white: he is clean. 14But whenever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean. 15The priest shall examine the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean: the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy. 16Or if the raw flesh turns again, and is changed to white, then he shall come to the priest; 17and the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the plague has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean of the plague. He is clean. 18“When the body has a boil on its skin, and it has healed, 19and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest; 20and the priest shall examine it; and behold, if its appearance is lower than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. It has broken out in the boil. 21But if the priest examines it, and behold, there are no white hairs in it, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest shall isolate him seven days. 22If it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague. 23But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 24“Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white, or white, 25then the priest shall examine it; and behold, if the hair in the bright spot has turned white, and its appearance is deeper than the skin; it is leprosy. It has broken out in the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. 26But if the priest examines it, and behold, there is no white hair in the bright spot, and it isn’t lower than the skin, but is faded; then the priest shall isolate him seven days. 27The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. 28If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread in the skin, but is faded, it is the swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is the scar from the burn. 29“When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the beard, 30then the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is an itch, it is leprosy of the head or of the beard. 31If the priest examines the plague of itching, and behold, its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person infected with itching seven days. 32On the seventh day the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the appearance of the itch isn’t deeper than the skin, 33then he shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the itch; and the priest shall shut him up who has the itch seven more days. 34On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the itch; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread in the skin, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 35But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, 36then the priest shall examine him; and behold, if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest shall not look for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37But if in his eyes the itch is arrested, and black hair has grown in it; the itch is healed, he is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean. 38“When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots; 39then the priest shall examine them; and behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless rash, it has broken out in the skin; he is clean. 40“If a man’s hair has fallen from his head, he is bald. He is clean. 41If his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald. He is clean. 42But if there is in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43Then the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh, 44he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean. His plague is on his head. 45“The leper in whom the plague is shall wear torn clothes, and the hair of his head shall hang loose. He shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46All the days in which the plague is in him he shall be unclean. He is unclean. He shall dwell alone. Outside of the camp shall be his dwelling. 47“The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it is a woolen garment, or a linen garment; 48whether it is in warp, or woof; of linen, or of wool; whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin; 49if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of skin; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest. 50The priest shall examine the plague, and isolate the plague seven days. 51He shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever use the skin is used for, the plague is a destructive mildew. It is unclean. 52He shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of skin, in which the plague is: for it is a destructive mildew. It shall be burned in the fire. 53“If the priest examines it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin; 54then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which the plague is, and he shall isolate it seven more days. 55Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn’t changed its color, and the plague hasn’t spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside. 56If the priest looks, and behold, the plague has faded after it is washed, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof: 57and if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire that in which the plague is. 58The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean.” 59This is the law of the plague of mildew in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.
World English Bible (public domain)
“The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, 'Unclean, unclean.'”
Leviticus 13:45
Summary
Leviticus chapter 13 addresses the condition of skin diseases, often referred to as leprosy, and provides detailed regulations for the diagnosis and management of these ailments within the Israelite community. The chapter outlines the roles of priests in examining individuals and determining whether their affliction is contagious or non-contagious. When a person is found to have a serious skin condition, they are declared unclean and required to live outside the camp until they have been healed and pronounced clean by the priest. This emphasizes the importance of purity and the communal nature of health in Israel’s religious system. The meticulous instructions underscore God's concern for both physical health and spiritual cleanliness among His people.
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Chapter outline
How Leviticus 13 unfolds
Leviticus 13:1–3 Initial Examination of Skin Plagues
Yahweh instructs Moses and Aaron about examining skin conditions. The priest determines whether a skin issue is leprosy based on specific criteria.
Leviticus 13:4–8 Isolation for Observation
If the skin condition appears non-threatening, the priest isolates the individual for seven days to monitor changes. This process ensures careful assessment of the individual’s health.
Leviticus 13:9–15 Chronic Leprosy Determination
The priest examines more severe skin conditions, determining chronic leprosy. If raw flesh appears, the individual is declared unclean and does not require isolation.
Leviticus 13:16–28 Evaluation of Healed Boils and Burns
Procedures for examining healed boils and burns are outlined. The priest assesses any resulting skin changes to determine cleanliness or leprosy.
Leviticus 13:29–37 Itch and Baldness Regulations
The chapter details how priests assess skin conditions on the head and beard. Itchiness or baldness with certain characteristics leads to classification as leprosy.
Leviticus 13:38–41 Bright Spots and Baldness Overview
Guidelines for evaluating bright spots on skin, including baldness, are provided. Distinguishing characteristics help determine whether the individual is clean or unclean.
Leviticus 13:42–59 Leprosy in Clothing and Mildew
The chapter concludes with regulations for identifying leprosy in garments. The priest is responsible for determining the cleanliness of clothing affected by mildew.
Key verses
Leviticus 13:45Leviticus 13:45 encapsulates the chapter's weight by illustrating the visible sign of uncleanliness and the social implications for the afflicted.
Main themes in Leviticus 13
Purity and Holiness
Purity and holiness are central themes in Leviticus 13, particularly through the detailed regulations for diagnosing leprosy, as seen in verses 1-3. The chapter illustrates how physical ailments, such as skin diseases, are not merely medical issues but also symbolize spiritual uncleanliness, thereby emphasizing the importance of community members actively maintaining their purity. This connection invites reflection on the broader implications of health and holiness in the life of the community, reinforcing the understanding that spiritual integrity is foundational to communal life.
Community and Isolation
Community and isolation emerge as significant themes in Leviticus 13, particularly in verse 46, which mandates that individuals with leprosy must dwell outside the camp. This enforced separation highlights the collective responsibility of the community to uphold purity and health, reflecting the social dynamics of ancient Israel. As such, the text underscores the tension between individual affliction and the well-being of the community, prompting readers to consider the implications of isolation on both personal and communal levels.
Role of Priesthood
The role of the priesthood is emphasized throughout Leviticus 13, as they are tasked with examining and declaring individuals clean or unclean. The priests serve as intermediaries between God and the people, guiding them in matters of health and purity. This reinforces their essential function in sustaining the spiritual and social order within the community.
Health and Spirituality
Health and spirituality are intricately linked in Leviticus 13, where leprosy represents deeper issues of spiritual cleanliness, especially in verses 7-8. The chapter’s meticulous examination process illustrates God’s concern for the holistic well-being of His people, emphasizing that physical ailments are not isolated from spiritual conditions. Thus, the text serves as a reminder that the state of one's health can reflect one's spiritual condition, prompting a call for self-examination and restoration within the community.
Cross-references
Passages that echo Leviticus 13
- Leviticus 14Leviticus 14 develops the theme of cleansing procedures for those healed from leprosy, illustrating the transition from unclean to clean.
- Luke 17Luke 17 echoes the importance of leprosy by recounting Jesus healing ten lepers, showing the continuation of this theme in the New Testament.
- 2 Kings 52 Kings 5 connects through the narrative of Naaman's healing, highlighting the significance of leprosy and the prophet's role in restoration.
- Numbers 12Numbers 12 develops the theme of skin disease as Miriam is punished with leprosy, showcasing God's authority over purity.
- Ezekiel 24Ezekiel 24 connects through the theme of physical affliction as a metaphor for spiritual judgment on Israel's unfaithfulness.
- Leviticus 11Leviticus 11 echoes themes of purity laws, establishing a broader context for understanding cleanliness in the community.
Study questions
Questions for studying Leviticus 13
- What specific signs of leprosy must the priest look for in an examination?
- How does the isolation process reveal the community's approach to health?
- What implications arise from declaring someone unclean in this chapter?
- Why is the priest's role critical in diagnosing skin conditions?
- How does the text portray the relationship between physical and spiritual cleanliness?
- What procedures are outlined for dealing with leprosy in garments?
- How does this chapter reflect the communal aspect of health in Israel?
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