Leviticus 15:4

4 Each bed in which he sleepeth shall be unclean, and wherever he sitteth.

Leviticus 15:4 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 15:4

Every bed whereon he lieth that hath the issue is unclean
Which he constantly makes use of; so the Targum of Jonathan, which is peculiar to him, and appointed and appropriated for him to lie upon. Jarchi says, every bed that is fit to lie upon, thou is appropriated to another service; but, he adds meaning is, which he shall lie upon (or continue to lie upon); for it is not said, which he hath laid upon, but which he lieth upon, and is used by him continually; according to the Misnah F21, a man that has an issue defiles a bed five ways, so as to defile a man, and to defile garments; standing, sitting, lying, hanging, and leaning:

and everything whereon he sitteth shall be unclean;
which is appropriated to sit upon; and so the Targum, as before, what is his proper peculiar seat, what he is used to sit upon, and is fit for that purpose: and it is observed by some Jewish writers F23 that a vessel that is not fit to sit upon is excluded, as if a man was to turn up a bushel, or any other measure, to sit upon it; see ( Titus 1:15 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F21 Zabim, c. 2. sect. 4.
F23 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Niddah, c. 6. sect. 3.

Leviticus 15:4 In-Context

2 Speak ye to the sons of Israel, and say ye to them, A man that suffereth the running out of seed, shall be unclean; (Say thou to the Israelites, When a man suffereth the running out of his seed, such an issue shall be unclean;)
3 and then he shall be deemed to be subject to this vice, when by all moments foul humour, either moisture, cleaveth to his flesh, and groweth (al)together (or runneth continually).
4 Each bed in which he sleepeth shall be unclean, and wherever he sitteth.
5 If any man toucheth his bed, he shall wash his clothes, and he shall be washed in water, and shall be unclean till to eventide.
6 If a man sitteth where he sat, also that man shall wash his clothes (that man shall wash his clothes), and he shall be washed in water, and shall be unclean till to eventide.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.