Leviticus 13:5

5 and the priest shall look on the spot the seventh day; and, behold, the spot remains before him, the spot has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall separate him the second time seven days.

Leviticus 13:5 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 13:5

And the priest shall look on him the seventh day
In the day, and not in the night, as Maimonides, but not on the seventh day, if it happened to be on the sabbath ^F6, then it was put off till after it; and, according to the Jewish canons ^F7, they do not look upon plagues in the morning, nor in the evening, nor in the middle of a house, nor on a cloudy day, nor at noon, but at the fourth, fifth, eighth, and ninth hours:

and, behold, [if] the plague in his sight be at a stay;
it appears to the priest, according to the strictest view he can take of it, that it is in the same state and condition it was, neither better nor worse:

[and] the plague spread not in the skin:
is not greater or larger than it was, though not less:

then the priest shall shut him up seven days more;
such abundant care was taken, lest after all it should prove a leprosy.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Misn. Negaim, c. 1. sect. 4.
F7 Misn. ib. c. 2. sect. 2.

Leviticus 13:5 In-Context

3 And the priest shall view the spot in the skin of his flesh; and the hair in the spot be changed white, and the appearance of the spot be below the skin of the flesh, it is a plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look upon it, and pronounce him unclean.

4 But if the spot be clear and white in the skin of his flesh, yet the appearance of it be not deep below the skin, and its hair have not changed white hair, but it is dark, then the priest shall separate the spot seven days;

5 and the priest shall look on the spot the seventh day; and, behold, the spot remains before him, the spot has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall separate him the second time seven days.

6 And the priest shall look upon him the second time on the seventh day; and, behold, the spot be dark, the spot have not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is a mark, and the man shall wash his garments and be clean.

7 But if the bright spot should have changed and spread in the skin, after the priest has seen him for the purpose of purifying him, then shall he appear the second time to the priest,