King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, [if] the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce [him] clean [that hath] the plague: it is all turned white: he [is] clean.
Complete Jewish Bible:
then the cohen is to examine him, and if he sees that the tzara'at has covered his entire body, he is to pronounce the person with the sores clean -it has all turned white, and he is clean.
Berean Standard Bible:
the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has covered his entire body, he is to pronounce the infected person clean. Since it has all turned white, he is clean.
American Standard Version:
then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Then the priest{H3548} shall consider{H7200}: and, behold, if the leprosy{H6883} have covered{H3680} all his flesh{H1320}, he shall pronounce him clean{H2891} that hath the plague{H5061}: it is all turned{H2015} white{H3836}: he is clean{H2889}.
Cross-References (KJV):
John 9:41
- Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Isaiah 64:6
- ¶ But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 13:13
1. Themes:
- Purity and Cleanliness: The verse reflects the theme of maintaining ritual purity within the Israelite community, which is essential for the people's spiritual well-being and their relationship with God.
- Divine Order: It illustrates the importance of divine order, where even seemingly counterintuitive declarations (declaring someone covered in a skin condition clean) are based on God's commandments as mediated through the priesthood.
- Trust in Authority: The instruction underscores the theme of trusting in the authority of the priest as the intermediary between God and the people regarding matters of health and purity.
2. Historical Context:
- The laws concerning leprosy in Leviticus 13 are part of the Holiness Code, which is a set of regulations given to Moses for the Israelites in the wilderness, intended to set them apart as a holy nation.
- Leprosy, or "tzaraath" in Hebrew, likely refers to a range of skin conditions and is not limited to what is known today as Hansen's disease (modern leprosy). These conditions were considered ritually unclean, and those affected were isolated from the community to prevent the spread of impurity.
- The priest's role was to diagnose such conditions and determine when an individual could be considered clean and thus rejoin the community. The criteria for cleanliness were not based on modern medical understanding but on religious and ritual considerations.
- The verse in question (Leviticus 13:13) presents a paradoxical situation where full coverage of the skin condition by white spots signifies a state of purity, possibly indicating that the condition is no longer spreading and the individual poses no further risk to the community according to the standards of the time.
In summary, Leviticus 13:13 deals with the ritual purity laws concerning skin diseases, emphasizing the role of the priest in maintaining the spiritual and physical health of the Israelite community according to the divine instructions given to Moses.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3548
There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֹּהֵן
Transliteration: kôhên
Pronunciation: ko-hane'
Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H6883
There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָרַעַת
Transliteration: tsâraʻath
Pronunciation: tsaw-rah'-ath
Description: from צָרַע; leprosy; leprosy. - Strong's Number: H3680
There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּסָה
Transliteration: kâçâh
Pronunciation: kaw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy); clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm. Compare כָּשָׂה. - Strong's Number: H1320
There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּשָׂר
Transliteration: bâsâr
Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. - Strong's Number: H2891
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טָהֵר
Transliteration: ṭâhêr
Pronunciation: taw-hare'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be bright; i.e. (by implication); to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; Levitically, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy); be (make, make self, pronounce) clean, cleanse (self), purge, purify(-ier, self). - Strong's Number: H5061
There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֶגַע
Transliteration: negaʻ
Pronunciation: neh'-gah
Description: from נָגַע; a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous person or dress); plague, sore, stricken, stripe, stroke, wound. - Strong's Number: H2015
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָפַךְ
Transliteration: hâphak
Pronunciation: haw-fak'
Description: a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert; [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way). - Strong's Number: H3836
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָבָן
Transliteration: lâbân
Pronunciation: law-bawn'
Description: or (Genesis 49:12) לָבֵן; from לָבַן; white; white. - Strong's Number: H2889
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טָהוֹר
Transliteration: ṭâhôwr
Pronunciation: taw-hore'
Description: or טָהֹר; from טָהֵר; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense); clean, fair, pure(-ness).