Leviticus 13

1 locutus est Dominus ad Mosen et Aaron dicens
2 homo in cuius carne et cute ortus fuerit diversus color sive pustula aut quasi lucens quippiam id est plaga leprae adducetur ad Aaron sacerdotem vel ad unum quemlibet filiorum eius
3 qui cum viderit lepram in cute et pilos in album mutatos colorem ipsamque speciem leprae humiliorem cute et carne reliqua plaga leprae est et ad arbitrium eius separabitur
4 sin autem lucens candor fuerit in cute nec humilior carne reliqua et pili coloris pristini recludet eum sacerdos septem diebus
5 et considerabit die septimo et siquidem lepra ultra non creverit nec transierit in cute priores terminos rursum includet eum septem diebus aliis
6 et die septimo contemplabitur si obscurior fuerit lepra et non creverit in cute mundabit eum quia scabies est lavabitque homo vestimenta sua et mundus erit
7 quod si postquam a sacerdote visus est et redditus munditiae iterum lepra creverit adducetur ad eum
8 et inmunditiae condemnabitur
9 plaga leprae si fuerit in homine adducetur ad sacerdotem
10 et videbit eum cumque color albus in cute fuerit et capillorum mutarit aspectum ipsa quoque caro viva apparuerit
11 lepra vetustissima iudicabitur atque inolita cuti contaminabit itaque eum sacerdos et non recludet quia perspicue inmunditia est
12 sin autem effloruerit discurrens lepra in cute et operuerit omnem carnem a capite usque ad pedes quicquid sub aspectu oculorum cadit
13 considerabit eum sacerdos et teneri lepra mundissima iudicabit eo quod omnis in candorem versa sit et idcirco homo mundus erit
14 quando vero caro vivens in eo apparuerit
15 tunc sacerdotis iudicio polluetur et inter inmundos reputabitur caro enim viva si lepra aspergatur inmunda est
16 quod si rursum versa fuerit in alborem et totum hominem operuerit
17 considerabit eum sacerdos et mundum esse decernet
18 caro et cutis in qua ulcus natum est et sanatum
19 et in loco ulceris cicatrix apparuerit alba sive subrufa adducetur homo ad sacerdotem
20 qui cum viderit locum leprae humiliorem carne reliqua et pilos versos in candorem contaminabit eum plaga enim leprae orta est in ulcere
21 quod si pilus coloris est pristini et cicatrix subobscura et vicina carne non est humilior recludet eum septem diebus
22 et siquidem creverit adiudicabit eum leprae
23 sin autem steterit in loco suo ulceris est cicatrix et homo mundus erit
24 caro et cutis quam ignis exuserit et sanata albam sive rufam habuerit cicatricem
25 considerabit eam sacerdos et ecce versa est in alborem et locus eius reliqua cute humilior contaminabit eum quia plaga leprae in cicatrice orta est
26 quod si pilorum color non fuerit inmutatus nec humilior plaga carne reliqua et ipsa leprae species fuerit subobscura recludet eum septem diebus
27 et die septimo contemplabitur si creverit in cute lepra contaminabit eum
28 sin autem in loco suo candor steterit non satis clarus plaga conbustionis est et idcirco mundabitur quia cicatrix est conbusturae
29 vir sive mulier in cuius capite vel barba germinarit lepra videbit eos sacerdos
30 et siquidem humilior fuerit locus carne reliqua et capillus flavus solitoque subtilior contaminabit eos quia lepra capitis ac barbae est
31 sin autem viderit et locum maculae aequalem vicinae carni et capillum nigrum recludet eos septem diebus
32 et die septimo intuebitur si non creverit macula et capillus sui coloris est et locus plagae carni reliquae aequalis
33 radetur homo absque loco maculae et includetur septem diebus aliis
34 si die septimo visa fuerit stetisse plaga in loco suo nec humilior carne reliqua mundabit eum lotisque vestibus mundus erit
35 sin autem post emundationem rursus creverit macula in cute
36 non quaeret amplius utrum capillus in flavum colorem sit commutatus quia aperte inmundus est
37 porro si steterit macula et capilli nigri fuerint noverit hominem esse sanatum et confidenter eum pronuntiet mundum
38 vir et mulier in cuius cute candor apparuerit
39 intuebitur eos sacerdos si deprehenderit subobscurum alborem lucere in cute sciat non esse lepram sed maculam coloris candidi et hominem mundum
40 vir de cuius capite capilli fluunt calvus ac mundus est
41 et si a fronte ceciderint pili recalvaster et mundus est
42 sin autem in calvitio sive in recalvatione albus vel rufus color fuerit exortus
43 et hoc sacerdos viderit condemnabit eum haut dubiae leprae quae orta est in calvitio
44 quicumque ergo maculatus fuerit lepra et separatus ad arbitrium sacerdotis
45 habebit vestimenta dissuta caput nudum os veste contectum contaminatum ac sordidum se clamabit
46 omni tempore quo leprosus est et inmundus solus habitabit extra castra
47 vestis lanea sive linea quae lepram habuerit
48 in stamine atque subtemine aut certe pellis vel quicquid ex pelle confectum est
49 si alba aut rufa macula fuerit infecta lepra reputabitur ostendeturque sacerdoti
50 qui consideratam recludet septem diebus
51 et die septimo rursus aspiciens si crevisse deprehenderit lepra perseverans est pollutum iudicabit vestimentum et omne in quo fuerit inventa
52 et idcirco conburetur flammis
53 quod si eam viderit non crevisse
54 praecipiet et lavabunt id in quo lepra est recludetque illud septem diebus aliis
55 et cum viderit faciem quidem pristinam non reversam nec tamen crevisse lepram inmundum iudicabit et igne conburet eo quod infusa sit in superficie vestimenti vel per totum lepra
56 sin autem obscurior fuerit locus leprae postquam vestis est lota abrumpet eum et a solido dividet
57 quod si ultra apparuerit in his locis quae prius inmaculata erant lepra volatilis et vaga debet igne conburi
58 si cessaverit lavabit ea quae pura sunt secundo et munda erunt
59 ista est lex leprae vestimenti lanei et linei staminis atque subteminis omnisque supellectilis pelliciae quomodo mundari debeat vel contaminari

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

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.