Leviticus 13:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;

Complete Jewish Bible:

However, if the inflamed flesh again turns white, he is to come to the cohen.

Berean Standard Bible:

But if the raw flesh changes and turns white, he must go to the priest.

American Standard Version:

Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, then he shall come unto the priest;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Or if the raw^{H2416} flesh^{H1320} turn again^{H7725}, and be changed^{H2015} unto white^{H3836}, he shall come^{H935} unto the priest^{H3548};

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Leviticus 13:16

1. **Themes:**
- **Purity and Holiness:** Leviticus 13:16 is part of a larger section dealing with skin diseases (often translated as leprosy, though it likely includes various skin conditions). The concern is with maintaining ritual purity within the Israelite community, as skin diseases were considered ritually unclean.
- **Priestly Oversight:** The verse emphasizes the role of priests as arbiters of cleanliness and uncleanliness. They are responsible for examining skin conditions and determining whether an individual may re-enter the community after healing.
- **Healing and Transformation:** The focus on the skin turning from raw to white suggests a sign of healing. The individual must present themselves to the priest for re-evaluation, indicating a process of restoration to the community.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Laws of Cleanliness:** Leviticus is the third book of the Pentateuch, traditionally attributed to Moses. It contains laws given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, focusing on how to live a holy life before God. These laws were particularly relevant as the Israelites journeyed towards the Promised Land, preparing to establish a society centered around worship of Yahweh.
- **Ceremonial Purity:** In the ancient Near Eastern context, ceremonial purity was crucial for participation in religious and community life. Being declared unclean meant temporary exclusion from the community and its religious practices.
- **Healthcare in Ancient Israel:** The detailed descriptions of skin conditions reflect an early form of healthcare observation. Priests functioned as health officers, ensuring that communicable diseases were managed to prevent outbreaks within the camp.
- **Symbolic Significance:** Skin diseases were often seen as a metaphor for sin or moral corruption. The process of examination, isolation, and re-integration after healing can be seen as a physical enactment of spiritual cleansing and forgiveness.

In summary, Leviticus 13:16 deals with the examination of skin conditions as part of the broader theme of maintaining ritual purity in the Israelite community. It reflects the historical context of ancient Israel's societal and religious structures, emphasizing the role of priests in health and ritual practices, and symbolizing deeper spiritual themes of sin, repentance, and restoration.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2416
   There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חַי
   Transliteration: chay
   Pronunciation: khah'-ee
   Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
4. 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).
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
7. 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.