Leviticus 13:42-59

42 But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased spot, it is a leprous [a] disease breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead.
43 The priest shall examine him; if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, which resembles a leprous [b] disease in the skin of the body,
44 he is leprous, he is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean; the disease is on his head.
45 The person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be disheveled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, "Unclean, unclean."
46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.
47 Concerning clothing: when a leprous disease appears in it, in woolen or linen cloth,
48 in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin,
49 if the disease shows greenish or reddish in the garment, whether in warp or woof or in skin or in anything made of skin, it is a leprous disease and shall be shown to the priest.
50 The priest shall examine the disease, and put the diseased article aside for seven days.
51 He shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the cloth, in warp or woof, or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, this is a spreading leprous disease; it is unclean.
52 He shall burn the clothing, whether diseased in warp or woof, woolen or linen, or anything of skin, for it is a spreading leprous disease; it shall be burned in fire.
53 If the priest makes an examination, and the disease has not spread in the clothing, in warp or woof or in anything of skin,
54 the priest shall command them to wash the article in which the disease appears, and he shall put it aside seven days more.
55 The priest shall examine the diseased article after it has been washed. If the diseased spot has not changed color, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in fire, whether the leprous spot is on the inside or on the outside.
56 If the priest makes an examination, and the disease has abated after it is washed, he shall tear the spot out of the cloth, in warp or woof, or out of skin.
57 If it appears again in the garment, in warp or woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading; you shall burn with fire that in which the disease appears.
58 But the cloth, warp or woof, or anything of skin from which the disease disappears when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and it shall be clean.
59 This is the ritual for a leprous disease in a cloth of wool or linen, either in warp or woof, or in anything of skin, to decide whether it is clean or unclean.

Leviticus 13:42-59 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 13

In this chapter an account is given of the various sorts of leprosy, and the rules by which they were to be judged of, Le 13:1-3 of the bright spot and scab, Le 13:4-8 of the rising or swelling, Le 13:9-17 of the bile or hot ulcer, Le 13:18-23 of the hot burning or inflammation, Le 13:24-28 of the plague of the scall, Le 13:29-37 of bright spots or blisters, Le 13:38,39 and of shedding the hair, and baldness, Le 13:40-44 of what the leper was to do, and to be done unto, Le 13:45,46 of the leprosy in garments made of linen, woollen, or of skin, Le 13:47-59.

Footnotes 10

  • [a]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
  • [b]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
  • [c]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
  • [d]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
  • [e]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
  • [f]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
  • [g]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
  • [h]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
  • [i]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
  • [j]. A term for several skin diseases; precise meaning uncertain
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.