Leviticus 15:1-18

Rules About Liquid Body Wastes

1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,
2 "Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Suppose liquid waste is flowing out of a man's body. That liquid is not "clean."
3 It does not matter whether it continues to flow out of his body or is blocked. It will make him "unclean." Here is how his liquid body waste will make him "unclean."
4 " 'Any bed the man who has the flow of liquid body waste lies on will not be "clean." Anything he sits on will not be "clean."
5 " 'If any of you touches the man's bed, you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.
6 Suppose you sit on anything the man sat on. Then you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.
7 " 'Suppose you touch the man who has the flow of liquid body waste. Then you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.
8 " 'Suppose you are "clean." And suppose the man who has the flow of liquid waste spits on you. Then you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.
9 " 'Everything the man sits on when he is riding will be "unclean."
10 Suppose you touch any of the things that were under him. Then you will be "unclean" until evening. Even if you pick up those things, you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.
11 " 'Suppose the man who has the liquid flow touches you. And suppose he does it without rinsing his hands with water. Then you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.
12 " 'Suppose the man touches a clay pot. Then that pot must be broken. Any wooden article he touches must be rinsed with water.
13 " 'Suppose the man has been healed from his liquid flow. Then he must wait seven days. He must wash his clothes. He must take a bath in fresh water. After that, he will be "clean."
14 " 'On the eighth day he must get two doves or two young pigeons. He must come to the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. There he must give the birds to the priest.
15 The priest must sacrifice them. One is for a sin offering. The other is for a burnt offering. In that way the priest will pay for the man's sin in the sight of the Lord. He will do it because the man had a liquid flow.
16 " 'Suppose semen flows from a man's body. Then he must wash his whole body with water. He will be "unclean" until evening.
17 " 'Suppose clothes or leather have semen on them. Then they must be washed with water. They will be "unclean" until evening.
18 " 'Suppose a man makes love to a woman. And suppose semen flows from his body and touches both of them. Then they must take a bath. They will be "unclean" until evening.

Leviticus 15:1-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 15

This chapter treats of uncleanness by issues in men and women; in men, a running issue, Le 15:1-3, which defiles him, and everything he touches, or that touches him or them, Le 15:4-12; the cleansing from which is directed to, Le 15:13-15; and seed flowing from him, Le 15:16-18; in women, their ordinary courses, Le 15:19-24; or extraordinary ones, Le 15:25-27; and the law for the cleansing of them, Le 15:28-31; and a recapitulation of the whole, Le 15:32,33.

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