King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the priest shall see him: and, behold, [if] the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce [him] clean [that hath] the plague: he [is] clean.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The cohen will examine him, and if he sees that the sores have turned white, then the cohen is to declare clean the person with the sores; he is clean.
Berean Standard Bible:
The priest will reexamine him, and if the infection has turned white, the priest is to pronounce the infected person clean; then he is clean.
American Standard Version:
and the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the plague be turned into white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the priest{H3548} shall see{H7200} him: and, behold, if the plague{H5061} be turned{H2015} into white{H3836}; then the priest{H3548} shall pronounce him clean{H2891} that hath the plague{H5061}: he is clean{H2889}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Leviticus 13:17
1. Themes:
- Purity and Cleanliness: The verse emphasizes the importance of being ritually clean in the eyes of God, which was essential for the community's spiritual well-being in ancient Israel.
- Role of the Priesthood: It highlights the priest's role in discerning and managing ritual purity, acting as intermediaries between God and the people.
- Health and Disease: The passage reflects an early understanding of skin conditions, with a focus on discerning whether an ailment is healing or not.
2. Historical Context:
- The verse is part of the Holiness Code in the Book of Leviticus, which contains laws and rituals aimed at maintaining the sanctity of the Israelite camp and later the nation.
- Leviticus was likely written during the time of Moses, or it may have been compiled during the post-exilic period (after the Babylonian Exile), reflecting Priestly concerns about ritual purity and holiness.
- The detailed descriptions of skin diseases (often translated as "leprosy," though not limited to what we know as leprosy today) and their treatments were crucial for a society that had to manage such conditions without modern medical knowledge.
- The laws served to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and to maintain the ritual purity of the community, which was necessary for participating in religious life and for the well-being of the community in a pre-scientific society.
In summary, Leviticus 13:17 reflects the themes of purity, the role of priests, and early medical understanding within the historical context of ancient Israel's religious and social practices, as recorded in the Priestly writings of the Torah.
*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: 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: 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: 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).