Leviticus 13
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Laws relative to the leprosy. It is to be known by a rising in the flesh, a scab, or a bright spot, Lev 13:1, Lev 13:2. When the priest sees these signs he shall pronounce the man unclean, infected with the leprosy, and unfit for society, Lev 13:3. Dubious or equivocal signs of this disorder, and how the person is to be treated in whom they appear, Lev 13:4-8. In what state of this disorder the priest may pronounce a man clean or unclean, Lev 13:9-13. Of the raw flesh, the sign of the unclean leprosy, Lev 13:14, Lev 13:15. Of the white flesh, the sign of the leprosy called clean, Lev 13:16, Lev 13:17. Of the leprosy which succeeds a boil, Lev 13:18-20. Equivocal marks relative to this kind of leprosy, Lev 13:21, Lev 13:22. Of the burning boil, Lev 13:23. Of the leprosy arising out of the burning boil, Lev 13:24, Lev 13:25. Equivocal marks relative to this kind of leprosy, Lev 13:26-28. Of the plague on the head or in the beard, Lev 13:29. Of the scall, and how it is to be treated, Lev 13:30-37. Of the plague of the bright white spots, Lev 13:38, Lev 13:39. Of the bald head, Lev 13:40, Lev 13:41. Of the white reddish sore in the bald head, Lev 13:42-44. The leper shall rend his clothes, put a patch on his upper lip, and cry unclean, Lev 13:45. He shall be obliged to avoid society, and live by himself without the camp, Lev 13:46. Of the garments infected by the leprosy, and the signs of this infection, Lev 13:47-52. Equivocal marks relative to this infection, and how the garment is to be treated, by washing or by burning, Lev 13:53-58. Conclusion relative to the foregoing particulars, Lev 13:59.
Open source ↗THE LAWS AND TOKENS IN DISCERNING LEPROSY. (Lev. 13:1-59) When a man shall have in the skin, &c.--The fact of the following rules for distinguishing the plague of leprosy being incorporated with the Hebrew code of laws, proves the existence of the odious disease among that people. But a short time, little more than a year (if so long a period had elapsed since the exodus) when symptoms of leprosy seem extensively to have appeared among them; and as they could not be very liable to such a cutaneous disorder amid their active journeyings and in the dry open air of Arabia, the seeds of the disorder must have been laid in Egypt, where it has always been endemic. There is every reason to believe that this was the case: that the leprosy was not a family complaint, hereditary among the Hebrews, but that they got it from intercourse with the Egyptians and from the unfavorable circumstances of their condition in the house of bondage. The great excitement and irritability of the skin in the hot and sandy regions of the East produce a far greater predisposition to leprosy of all kinds than in cooler temperatures; and cracks or blotches, inflammations or even contusions of the skin, very often lead to these in Arabia and Palestine, to some extent, but particularly in Egypt. Besides, the subjugated and distressed state of the Hebrews in the latter country, and the nature of their employment, must have rendered them very liable to this as well as to various other blemishes and misaffections of the skin; in the production of which there are no causes more active or powerful than a depressed state of body and mind, hard labor under a burning sun, the body constantly covered with the excoriating dust of brick fields, and an impoverished diet--to all of which the Israelites were exposed…
Open source ↗And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron,.... Aaron is addressed again, though left out in the preceding law, because the laws concerning leprosy chiefly concerned the priests, whose business it was to judge of it, and cleanse from it; and so Ben Gersom observes, mention is made of Aaron here, because to him and his sons belonged the affair of leprosies, to pronounce unclean or clean, to shut up or set free, and, as Aben Ezra says, according to his determination were all the plagues or strokes of a man, who should be declared clean or unclean: saying; as follows.
Open source ↗Leprosy. - The law for leprosy, the observance of which is urged upon the people again in Deu 24:8-9, treats, in the first place, of leprosy in men: (a) in its dangerous forms when appearing either on the skin (vv. 2-28), or on the head and beard (Lev 13:29-37); (b) in harmless forms (Lev 13:38 and Lev 13:39); and (c) when appearing on a bald head (Lev 13:40-44). To this there are added instructions for the removal of the leper from the society of other men (Lev 13:45 and Lev 13:46). It treats, secondly, of leprosy in linen, woollen, and leather articles, and the way to treat them (Lev 13:47-59); thirdly, of the purification of persons recovered from leprosy (Lev 14:1-32); and fourthly, of leprosy in houses and the way to remove it (vv. 33-53). - The laws for leprosy in man relate exclusively to the so-called white leprosy, λεύκη λέπρα, lepra, which probably existed at that time in hither Asia alone, not only among the Israelites and Jews (Num 12:10.; Sa2 3:29; Kg2 5:27; Kg2 7:3; Kg2 15:5; Mat 8:2-3; Mat 10:8; Mat 11:5; Mat 26:6, etc.), but also among the Syrians (Kg2 5:1.), and which is still found in that part of the world, most frequently in the countries of the Lebanon and Jordan and in the neighbourhood of Damascus, in which city there are three hospitals for lepers (Seetzen, pp. 277, 278), and occasionally in Arabia (Niebuhr, Arab. pp. 135ff.) and Egypt; though at the present time the pimply leprosy, lepra tuberosa s. articulorum (the leprosy of the joints), is more prevalent in the East, and frequently occurs in Egypt in the lower extremities in the form of elephantiasis. Of the white leprosy (called Lepra Mosaica), which is still met with in Arabia sometimes, where it is called Baras, Trusen gives the following description: "Very frequently, even for years bef…
Open source ↗I. Concerning the plague of leprosy we may observe in general, 1. That it was rather an uncleanness than a disease; or, at least, so the law considered it, and therefore employed not the physicians but the priests about it. Christ is said to cleanse lepers, not to cure them. We do not read of any that died of the leprosy, but it rather buried them alive, by rendering them unfit for conversation with any but such as were infected like themselves. Yet there is a tradition that Pharaoh, who sought to kill Moses, was the first that ever was struck with this disease, and that he died of it. It is said to have begun first in Egypt, whence it spread into Syria. It was very well known to Moses, when he put his own hand into his bosom and took it out leprous. 2. That it was a plague inflicted immediately by the hand of God, and came not from natural causes, as other diseases; and therefore must be managed according to a divine law. Miriam's leprosy, and Gehazi's, and king Uzziah's, were all the punishments of particular sins: and, if generally it was so, no marvel there was so much care taken to distinguish it from a common distemper, that none might be looked upon as lying under this extraordinary token of divine displeasure but those that really were so. 3. That it is a plague not now known in the world; what is commonly called the leprosy is of a quite different nature. This seems to have been reserved as a particular scourge for the sinners of those times and places. The Jews retained the idolatrous customs they had learnt in Egypt, and therefore God justly caused this with some others of the diseases of Egypt to follow them. Yet we read of Naaman the Syrian, who was a leper, Kg2 5:1. 4. That there were other breakings-out in the body which did very much resemble the leprosy…
Open source ↗13:1–14:57 Concerning the regulations pertaining to infections, the principle of normal and abnormal comes into play (see “Clean, Unclean, and Holy” Theme Note). Whether in a person, clothing, or a building, infections are not normal: They indicate disease and death, the antitheses of wholeness, and were therefore declared unclean. 13:1-46 a serious skin disease (Hebrew tsara‘at): The Hebrew word is much broader than the severely disfiguring Hansen’s disease (see study note on 13:2). This larger range included symptoms such as an open sore (13:10), a boil (13:18), a burn (13:24), a sore on the head or chin (13:29), shiny white patches (13:38), or abnormal baldness (13:40). A general test was whether or not the abnormality was spreading (13:5-8). If so, a quarantine was ordered for as long as the disorder persisted (13:46). Not just people, but clothing (13:47-59) and even buildings (14:33-53) could contract such infections.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… שְׂאֵת (sᵉʼêth, H7613) — an elevation or leprous scab; figuratively, elation or cheerfulness; exaltation in rank… סַפַּחַת (çappachath, H5597) — the mange (as making the hair fall off) בֹּהֶרֶת (bôhereth, H934) — a whitish spot on the skin נֶגַע (negaʻ, H5061) — a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous… צָרַעַת (tsâraʻath, H6883) — leprosy בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… נֶגַע (negaʻ, H5061) — a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous… עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… שֵׂעָר (sêʻâr, H8181) — hair (as if tossed or bristling) הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert לָבָן (lâbân, H3836) — white מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape… עָמֹק (ʻâmôq, H6013) — deep (literally or figuratively) צָרַעַת (tsâraʻath, H6883) — leprosy טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2930) — to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
Open source ↗בֹּהֶרֶת (bôhereth, H934) — a whitish spot on the skin לָבָן (lâbân, H3836) — white עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape… עָמֹק (ʻâmôq, H6013) — deep (literally or figuratively) שֵׂעָר (sêʻâr, H8181) — hair (as if tossed or bristling) הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… סָגַר (çâgar, H5462) — to shut up; figuratively, to surrender נֶגַע (negaʻ, H5061) — a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous… שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to…
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… שְׁבִיעִי (shᵉbîyʻîy, H7637) — seventh יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… נֶגַע (negaʻ, H5061) — a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) פָּשָׂה (pâsâh, H6581) — to spread עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather סָגַר (çâgar, H5462) — to shut up; figuratively, to surrender שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… שֵׁנִי (shênîy, H8145) — properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… שֵׁנִי (shênîy, H8145) — properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again שְׁבִיעִי (shᵉbîyʻîy, H7637) — seventh יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… נֶגַע (negaʻ, H5061) — a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous… כֵּהֶה (kêheh, H3544) — feeble, obscure פָּשָׂה (pâsâh, H6581) — to spread עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather טָהֵר (ṭâhêr, H2891) — to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; Levitically, uncontaminated; morally,… מִסְפַּחַת (miçpachath, H4556) — scruf (as spreading over the surface) כָּבַס (kâbaç, H3526) — to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal… בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage
Open source ↗מִסְפַּחַת (miçpachath, H4556) — scruf (as spreading over the surface) פָּשָׂה (pâsâh, H6581) — to spread עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… טׇהֳרָה (ṭohŏrâh, H2893) — ceremonial purification; moral purity שֵׁנִי (shênîy, H8145) — properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… מִסְפַּחַת (miçpachath, H4556) — scruf (as spreading over the surface) פָּשָׂה (pâsâh, H6581) — to spread עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2930) — to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated) צָרַעַת (tsâraʻath, H6883) — leprosy
Open source ↗נֶגַע (negaʻ, H5061) — a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous… צָרַעַת (tsâraʻath, H6883) — leprosy אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a…
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… שְׂאֵת (sᵉʼêth, H7613) — an elevation or leprous scab; figuratively, elation or cheerfulness; exaltation in rank… לָבָן (lâbân, H3836) — white עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert שֵׂעָר (sêʻâr, H8181) — hair (as if tossed or bristling) מִחְיָה (michyâh, H4241) — preservation of life; hence, sustenance; also the live flesh, i.e. the quick חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the…
Open source ↗יָשֵׁן (yâshên, H3462) — properly, to be slack or languid, i.e. (by implication) sleep (figuratively, to die);… צָרַעַת (tsâraʻath, H6883) — leprosy עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2930) — to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated) סָגַר (çâgar, H5462) — to shut up; figuratively, to surrender טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2931) — foul in a religious sense
Open source ↗צָרַעַת (tsâraʻath, H6883) — leprosy פָּרַח (pârach, H6524) — to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as… עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather כָּסָה (kâçâh, H3680) — properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or… נֶגַע (negaʻ, H5061) — a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous… רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… רֶגֶל (regel, H7272) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… מַרְאֶה (marʼeh, H4758) — a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Open source ↗כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… צָרַעַת (tsâraʻath, H6883) — leprosy כָּסָה (kâçâh, H3680) — properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or… בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… טָהֵר (ṭâhêr, H2891) — to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; Levitically, uncontaminated; morally,… נֶגַע (negaʻ, H5061) — a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous… הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert לָבָן (lâbân, H3836) — white טָהוֹר (ṭâhôwr, H2889) — pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense)
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2930) — to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
Open source ↗