Leviticus 13

1 And the Lord spake vnto Moses ad uto Aaro saynge:
2 whe there apeareth a rysinge in any mas flesh ether a scabbe or a glistrige whyte: as though the plage of leprosye were in the skynne of his flesh, then let him be brought vnto Aaron the preast or vnto one of hys sonnes the preastes,
3 and let the preast loke on the sore that is in the skynne of his fleshe. Yf the heer in the sore be turned vnto whyte, and the sore also seme to be lower than the skynne of his fleshe then it is suerly a leprosye, and let the preast loke on him and make hym vnclene.
4 Yf there be but a white plecke in the skynne of his fleshe and seme not to be lower than the other skynne nor the heer thereof is turned unto white: then let the preast shitt him vpp seuen dayes.
5 And let the preast loke apon hym the .vij. daye: yf the sore seme to him to abyde styll and to go no further in the skyne, then let the preast shutt him vppe yet .vij. dayes moo.
6 And let the preast loke on him agayne the .vij. daye. Then yf the sore be waxed blackesh and is not growen abrode in the skynne, let the preast make him clene, for it is but a skyrfe. And let him wasshe his clothes, and then he is clene
7 But and yf the scabbe growe in the skynne after that he is sene of the preast agayne.
8 Yf the preast se that the scabbe be growen abrode in the skynne, let him make him vnclene: for it is suerly a leprosye.
9 Yf the plage of leprosye be in a man, let hi be broughte vnto the preast,
10 and let the preast se him. Yf the rysinge apeare white in the skynne ad haue also made the heer white, ad there be rawe flesh in the sore also:
11 then it is an olde leprosye in the skynne of his flesh. And the preast shall make him vnclene, ad shall not shutte him vp for he is vnclene.
12 Yf a leprosye breake out in the skynne and couer all the skynne from the heed to the fote ouer all wheresoeuer the preast loketh,
13 then let the preast loke apon him. Yf the leprosye haue couered all his flesh, let him make the disease clene: for in as moch as he is altogether white he is therfore cleane.
14 But and yf there be rawe flesh on him when he is sene, then he shalbe vncleane.
15 Therfore when the preast seeth the rawe flesh, let him make him vnclene. For in as moch as his flesh is rawe, he is vnclene and it is suerly a true leprosye.
16 But and yf the rawe flesh departe agayne and chaunge vnto white, then let him come to the preast
17 and let the preast se him: Yf the sore be chaunged vnto white, let the preast make the disease cleane, ad the he is cleane.
18 When there is a byele in the skynne of any mans flesh and is helede
19 and after in the place of the byele there appeare a whyte rysyng ether a shynynge white somwhat redysh, let him be sene of the preast.
20 Yf when the preast seeth hi it appeare lower than the other skynne and the heer thereof be chaunged vnto white, let the preast make hi vncleane: for it is a very leprosye, that is broken out in the place of the byele
21 But and yf when the preast loketh on it there be no white heeres therein nether the scabbe lower than the other skynne and be somwhat blackesh, then the preast shall shutt him aparte vij. dayes.
22 Yf it sprede abrode in the meane season, then let the preast make him vnclene: for it is a leprosye.
23 But ad yf the glistringe white abyde styll in one place and go no further, then it is but the prynte of the byele, and the preast shal make him cleane.
24 When the skynne of any mas flesh is burnt with fire that it be rawe and there apere in the burnynge a glistringe white that is somwhat redysh or altogether white,
25 let the preast loke apon it. Yf the heer in that brightnesse be chaunged to white and it also appeare lower than the other skynne, than it is a leprosye that is broken out in the place of the burnynge. And the preast shall make him vncleane, for it is a leprosye.
26 But and yf (when the preast loketh on it) he se that there is no white heer in the bryghtenesse and that it is no lower than the other skynne and that it is also blackesh, then let the preast shutt him upp seuen dayes.
27 And yf (when the preast loketh on him the seuenth daye) it be growen abrode in the skynne, lett him make him vncleane: for it is a leprosye.
28 But and yf that bryghtnesse abyde styll in one place and goo no further in the skynne ad be blackesh, than it is but a rysyng in the place of the burnynge, and the preast shall make hym cleane: for it is but the prynte of the burnynge only.
29 Whe ether man or woman hath a breakinge out apon the heed or the beerde, let the preast se it.
30 And yf it apeare lower than the other skynne and there be therein golden heeres ad thyn, let the preast make him vncleane, for it is a breaking out of leprosye apo the heed or berde.
31 yf (whe the preast loketh on the breakige out) he se that it is no lower tha the other skynne ad that there are blacke heeres therein let hi shutt hi vp .vij. dayes.
32 And let the preast loke on the disease the seuenth daye: ad yf the breakynge oute be gone no forther nether be any golden heeres therein nether the scabbe be lower than the other skynne,
33 then lett him be shauen, but lett hym not shaue the scabbe, and let the preast shutt him vpp seuen dayes moo.
34 And let the preast loke on the breakynge out the .vij. daye agayne: Yf the breakynge out be gone no further in the skynne nor moare lower the the other skynne, then lett the preaste make him cleane, and let him wasshe his clothes and then he is cleane.
35 Yf the breakynge out growe in the skynne after that he is once made cleane,
36 let the preast see him. Yf it be growne abrode in dede in the skynne, let the preast seke no further for ony golden heeres, for he is vncleane.
37 But and yf he se that the scabbe stonde styll and that there is blacke heer growne vpp there in, the the scabbe is healed and he is cleane: and the preast shall make him cleane.
38 Yf there be founde in the skynne of the flesh of man or woman a glisterynge white,
39 let the preast se it. Yf there appeare in their flesh a glisterynge white somwhat blackesh, the it is but frekels growe vpp in the skynne: ad he is cleane
40 Yf a mans heer fall of his heed, the he is heedbaulde and cleane.
41 yf his heer fall before in his foreheade, then he is foreheadbalde and cleane.
42 yf there be in the baulde head or baulde forehead a redysh white scabbe, then there is leprosye spronge vpp in his baulde head or baulde foreheade.
43 And let the preast se it: and yf the rysynge of the sore be reddyshwhite in his baulde heade or foreheade after the maner of a leprosye in the skynne of the flesh,
44 then he is a leper and vncleane: ad the preast shall make him vncleane, for the plage of his heede.
45 And the leper in whome the plage is shall haue his clothes rent and his heade bare ad his mouth moffeld, and shalbe called vncleane.
46 And as longe as the dysease lesteth apon him, he shalbe vncleane: for he is vncleane, and shall therfore dwell alone, ad even without the host shall his habitacion be.
47 When the plage of leprosye is in a cloth: whether it be lynen or wollen,
48 yee and whether it be in the warpe or wolfe of the lynen or of the wollen: ether in a skynne or any thinge made of skynne
49 yf the disease be pale or somwhat redysh in the cloth or skynne: whether it be in the warpe or wolfe or any thinge that is made of skynne, the it is a very leprosye and must be shewed vnto the preast.
50 And whe the preast seeth the plage, let him shutt it vpp .vij. dayes,
51 and let him loke on the plage the seuenth daye. yf it be increased in the cloth: whether it be in the warpe or wolfe or in a skynne or in any thynge that is made of skynne, then the plage is a fretynge leprosye and it is vncleane:
52 And that cloth shalbe burnt, ether warpe or wolfe, whether it be wollen or lynen or any thynge that is made of skynne where in the plage is, for it is a fretynge leprosye and shalbe burnt in the fyre.
53 Yf the preast se that the plage hath freten no further in the cloth: ether in the warpe or wolfe or in what soeuer thynge of skynne it be,
54 then let the preast comaunde the to wasshe the thynge wherein the plage is, and let him shutt it vpp vij. dayes moo.
55 And let the preast loke on it agayne after that the plage is wasshed: Yf the plage haue not chaunged his fascion though it be spred no further abrode, it is yet vncleane. And se that ye burne it in the fyre, for it is frete in warde: whether in parte or in all together.
56 But and yf the preast se that it is somwhat blackysh after that it is wasshed, let him rent it out of the clothe, or out of the skynne or out of the warpe or wolfe.
57 But and yf it apeare any moare in the cloth ether in the warpe or in the wolfe or in any thynge made of skynne than it is a waxynge plage. And se that ye burne that with fyre, where in the plage is.
58 Moreouer the cloth ether warpe or wolfe or what soeuer thinge of skynne it be which thou hast wasshed and the plage be departed from it, shalbe wasshed once agayne: and then it is cleane.
59 This is the lawe of the plage of leprosye in a cloth whether it be wolle or lynen: eyther whether it be in the warpe or wolfe or in any thynge made of skynnes, to make it cleane or vncleane.

Leviticus 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

Directions to the priest to judge concerning leprosy. (1-17) Further directions. (18-44) How the leper must be disposed of. (45,46) The leprosy in garments. (47-59)

Verses 1-17 The plague of leprosy was an uncleanness, rather than a disease. Christ is said to cleanse lepers, not to cure them. Common as the leprosy was among the Hebrews, during and after their residence in Egypt, we have no reason to believe that it was known among them before. Their distressed state and employment in that land must have rendered them liable to disease. But it was a plague often inflicted immediately by the hand of God. Miriam's leprosy, and Gehazi's, and king Uzziah's, were punishments of particular sins; no marvel there was care taken to distinguish it from a common distemper. The judgment of it was referred to the priests. And it was a figure of the moral pollutions of men's minds by sin, which is the leprosy of the soul, defiling to the conscience, and from which Christ alone can cleanse. The priest could only convict the leper, (by the law is the knowledge of sin,) but Christ can cure the sinner, he can take away sin. It is a work of great importance, but of great difficulty, to judge of our spiritual state. We all have cause to suspect ourselves, being conscious of sores and spots; but whether clean or unclean is the question. As there were certain marks by which to know it was leprosy, so there are marks of such as are in the gall of bitterness. The priest must take time in making his judgment. This teaches all, both ministers and people, not to be hasty in censures, nor to judge anything before the time. If some men's sins go before unto judgment, the sins of others follow after, and so do men's good works. If the person suspected were found to be clean, yet he must wash his clothes, because there had been ground for the suspicion. We have need to be washed in the blood of Christ from our spots, though not leprosy spots; for who can say, I am pure from sin?

Verses 18-44 The priest is told what judgment to make, if there were any appearance of a leprosy in old sores; and such is the danger of those who having escaped the pollutions of the world are again entangled therein. Or, in a burn by accident, ver. ( 24 ) . The burning of strife and contention often occasions the rising and breaking out of that corruption, which proves that men are unclean. Human life lies exposed to many grievances. With what troops of diseases are we beset on every side; and thy all entered by sin! If the constitution be healthy, and the body lively and easy, we are bound to glorify God with our bodies. Particular note was taken of the leprosy, if in the head. If the leprosy of sin has seized the head; if the judgment be corrupted, and wicked principles, which support wicked practices, are embraced, it is utter uncleanness, from which few are cleansed. Soundness in the faith keeps leprosy from the head.

Verses 45-46 When the priest had pronounced the leper unclean, it put a stop to his business in the world, cut him off from his friends and relations, and ruined all the comfort he could have in the world. He must humble himself under the mighty hand of God, not insisting upon his cleanness, when the priest had pronounced him unclean, but accepting the punishment. Thus must we take to ourselves the shame that belongs to us, and with broken hearts call ourselves "Unclean, unclean;" heart unclean, life unclean; unclean by original corruption, unclean by actual transgression; unclean, therefore deserving to be for ever shut out from communion with God, and all hope of happiness in him; unclean, therefore undone, if infinite mercy do not interpose. The leper must warn others to take heed of coming near him. He must then be shut out of the camp, and afterward, when they came to Canaan, be shut out of the city, town, or village where he lived, and dwell with none but those that were lepers like himself. This typified the purity which ought to be in the gospel church.

Verses 47-59 The garment suspected to be tainted with leprosy was not to be burned immediately. If, upon search, it was found that there was a leprous spot, it must be burned, or at least that part of it. If it proved to be free, it must be washed, and then might be used. This also sets forth the great evil there is in sin. It not only defiles the sinner's conscience, but it brings a stain upon all he has and all that he does. And those who make their clothes servants to their pride and lust, may see them thereby tainted with leprosy. But the robes of righteousness never fret, nor are moth-eaten.

Chapter Summary

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.

Leviticus 13 Commentaries

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