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Leviticus 15

Read Leviticus 15 (WEB)+

1Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When any man has a discharge from his body, because of his discharge he is unclean. 3This shall be his uncleanness in his discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body has stopped from his discharge, it is his uncleanness. 4“‘Every bed whereon he who has the discharge lies shall be unclean; and everything he sits on shall be unclean. 5Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 6He who sits on anything whereon the man who has the discharge sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 7“‘He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 8“‘If he who has the discharge spits on him who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 9“‘Whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on shall be unclean. 10Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. He who carries those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 11“‘Whoever he who has the discharge touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 12“‘The earthen vessel, which he who has the discharge touches, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. 13“‘When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14“‘On the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before Yahweh to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest: 15and the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. The priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh for his discharge. 16“‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. 17Every garment, and every skin, whereon the semen is, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. 18If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening. 19“‘If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening. 20“‘Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be unclean. Everything also that she sits on shall be unclean. 21Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 23If it is on the bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening. 24“‘If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lies shall be unclean. 25“‘If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her period; all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness shall be as in the days of her period: she is unclean. 26Every bed whereon she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her period: and everything whereon she sits shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her period. 27Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 28“‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting. 30The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Yahweh for the uncleanness of her discharge. 31“‘Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.’” 32This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean thereby; 33and of her who has her period, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.

World English Bible (public domain)

Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.

Leviticus 15:31

Summary

Leviticus chapter 15 addresses the laws concerning bodily discharges, which are categorized into two main types: discharges from men and discharges from women. The chapter delineates specific conditions that render individuals, and even items they come into contact with, ceremonially unclean. For men, the focus is on bodily emissions, and for women, the conditions of menstruation and childbirth are highlighted as significant events associated with ceremonial impurity. The chapter emphasizes the importance of maintaining purity and the guidelines for how to reestablish cleanliness after such discharges occur. The text outlines procedures for purification, including washing and the offering of sacrifices, which are necessary for restoring one's status within the community and in relation to God. This demonstrates the seriousness of ritual cleanliness in the life of the Israelite community, highlighting the sacred nature of the body and the need for holiness in all aspects of life. The regulations serve to remind the Israelites that their daily lives are interconnected with their spiritual lives, illustrating the holistic nature of God’s design for His people. The chapter closes with a reiteration of the importance of these laws, underscoring that they are for the benefit of the community's holiness and health. By adhering to these regulations, the Israelites symbolize their commitment to living in a way that reflects God's character and his covenant relationship with them. Overall, Leviticus 15 teaches the value of purity and the necessity of appropriate responses to physical conditions that affect community life.

Key Themes

ritual puritycommunity healthGod's holinesssacredness of the body

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Leviticus 15: frequently asked questions

What is Leviticus 15 about?+
Leviticus chapter 15 addresses the laws concerning bodily discharges, which are categorized into two main types: discharges from men and discharges from women. The chapter delineates specific conditions that render individuals, and even items they come into contact with, ceremonially unclean. For men, the focus is on bodily emissions, and for women, the conditions of menstruation and childbirth are highlighted as significant events associated with ceremonial impurity. The chapter emphasizes the importance of maintaining purity and the guidelines for how to reestablish cleanliness after such discharges occur. The text outlines procedures for purification, including washing and the offering of sacrifices, which are necessary for restoring one's status within the community and in relation to God. This demonstrates the seriousness of ritual cleanliness in the life of the Israelite community, highlighting the sacred nature of the body and the need for holiness in all aspects of life. The regulations serve to remind the Israelites that their daily lives are interconnected with their spiritual lives, illustrating the holistic nature of God’s design for His people. The chapter closes with a reiteration of the importance of these laws, underscoring that they are for the benefit of the community's holiness and health. By adhering to these regulations, the Israelites symbolize their commitment to living in a way that reflects God's character and his covenant relationship with them. Overall, Leviticus 15 teaches the value of purity and the necessity of appropriate responses to physical conditions that affect community life.
What is the key verse in Leviticus 15?+
Leviticus 15:31: "Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst."
What are the main themes of Leviticus 15?+
The main themes of Leviticus 15 are ritual purity, community health, God's holiness, sacredness of the body.

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