Leviticus 13:10-20

10 and he shall see the man; and when white colour is in the flesh, and it changeth the sight, or former colour, of [the] hairs, and that flesh appeareth quick, or waxing (and that flesh appeareth to be raw),
11 it shall be deemed the eldest leprosy, and grown to the skin; therefore the priest shall defoul him, that is, deem him to be foul, and the priest shall not close him again, for it is of open uncleanness. (it shall be judged to be an old leprosy, or a chronic skin disease, grown in the skin; and so the priest shall pronounce him to be defiled, or unclean, but he shall not enclose him again, for it is an open uncleanness.)
12 But if the leprosy running about in the skin flowereth out, (or spreadeth,) and covereth all the flesh, from the head till to the feet, (on) whatever thing falleth under the sight of (his) eyes;
13 the priest shall behold him, and he shall deem him to be holden with the cleanest leprosy, for all the skin is turned into whiteness, and therefore the man shall be clean. (the priest shall examine him, and he shall pronounce him to be clean, for all the skin hath turned white, and so the man shall be clean.)
14 Soothly when quick flesh appeareth in him, he shall be defouled (But when raw flesh appeareth on him, he shall be pronounced defiled, or unclean,)
15 by the doom of the priest, and he shall be areckoned among unclean men; for quick flesh is unclean, if it is sprinkled with leprosy. (by the priest, and he shall be reckoned among the unclean; for raw flesh is unclean, if it is sprinkled with leprosy.)
16 That if the (raw) flesh is turned again into whiteness, and covereth all the man, (But when the raw flesh healeth, and turneth white, the man shall go to the priest,)
17 the priest shall behold him, and shall deem that he is clean. (and the priest shall examine him, and shall pronounce that he is clean.)
18 The flesh and the skin, in which a botch is bred, and is healed, (The flesh and the skin, in which a boil, or a sore, is bred, and then is healed,)
19 and the place of the botch, or a fell sore (or the sore), appeareth white, either red, the man shall be brought to the priest;
20 and when the priest seeth the place of the leprosy (to be) lower than the other flesh, and the hairs turned into whiteness, the priest shall defoul him, that is, (shall) deem him (to be) foul, (the priest shall pronounce him to be defiled, or unclean); for the wound of leprosy is bred in the botch [for a plague of leprosy is sprung in the botch].

Leviticus 13:10-20 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.