Leviticus 17:16

16 "But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then ¹he shall bear his guilt."

Leviticus 17:16 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 17:16

But if he wash [them] not
Neither wash his clothes: nor bathe his flesh; if he is negligent, and does not take care to make use of these ablutions: then he shall bear his iniquity;
his guilt shall remain on him, and he shall suffer the punishment the law exposes him to, either by the hand of God, or the civil magistrate, which is due to persons that enter into the sanctuary in their uncleanness, or eat of holy things. For not washing his body the punishment was cutting off, and for not washing his garments, beating, as Jarchi says.

Leviticus 17:16 In-Context

14 "For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.'

15 "When any person eats an animal which dies or is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or an alien, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and remain unclean until evening; then he will become clean.

16 "But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt."

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 19:20

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "iniquity"