Leviticus 13:42

42 But whenever there is a reddish-white infection in the bald spot or in the receding hairline, it is a case of skin disease breaking out there.

Leviticus 13:42 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 13:42

And if there be
Or, "but if there be", or, "when there shall be" ^F25, or shall appear to be:

in the bald head, or in the bald forehead, a white reddish sore;
white and red mixed, as the Targum of Jonathan, having something of both colours, neither a clear white nor thorough red; though, according to Bochart, it should be rendered "a white sore exceeding bright"; (See Gill on Leviticus 13:19);

it [is] a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or in his bald forehead;
the signs of which were raw flesh and spreading; so it is said in the Misnah ^F26,

``those two sorts of baldness defile in two weeks, by two signs, by quick raw flesh and by spreading;''

if there was the bright spot and no quick flesh, then he was to be shut up seven days, and looked upon at the end of them; and if there was either quick flesh or a spreading, he was pronounced unclean, but if neither, he was shut up seven days more; and if either of the above signs appeared he was pronounced unclean, if not he was set free.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (ykw) "sin autem", V. L. "quum autem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator Drusius.
F26 Ut supra. (Misn. Negaim, c. 10. sect. 10.)

Leviticus 13:42 In-Context

40 If someone loses their hair, they are bald, but they are clean.

41 If the hair is lost at the sides of the forehead, the person has a receding hairline, but they are clean.

42 But whenever there is a reddish-white infection in the bald spot or in the receding hairline, it is a case of skin disease breaking out there.

43 The priest must examine it. If the swelling of the infection is reddish white in the bald spot or receding hairline and resembles skin disease on the body,

44 the person is afflicted with skin disease; they are unclean. The priest must declare them unclean on account of the head infection.