King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it [be] in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The cohen is to examine it; if he sees that it appears to be more than skin-deep, and its hair has turned white, then the cohen is to pronounce him unclean - the disease of tzara'at has broken out in the boil.
Berean Standard Bible:
The priest shall examine it, and if it appears to be beneath the skin and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection that has broken out in the boil.
American Standard Version:
and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken out in the boil.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And if, when the priest{H3548} seeth{H7200} it, behold, it be in sight{H4758} lower{H8217} than the skin{H5785}, and the hair{H8181} thereof be turned{H2015} white{H3836}; the priest{H3548} shall pronounce him unclean{H2930}: it is a plague{H5061} of leprosy{H6883} broken{H6524} out of the boil{H7822}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 13:3
- And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and [when] the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight [be] deeper than the skin of his flesh, it [is] a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
John 5:14
- Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
2 Peter 2:20
- For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
Matthew 12:45
- Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
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Commentary for Leviticus 13:20
Leviticus 13:20 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with laws concerning skin diseases and ritual cleanliness. The historical context of this verse is the life of the ancient Israelites, who were given detailed instructions by God through Moses regarding various aspects of their community life, including health, hygiene, and worship.
The themes of Leviticus 13:20 include:
1. **Ritual Purity and Cleanliness**: The Israelites were to maintain a state of ritual purity, which was essential for participating in religious activities and for living in community with others. Leprosy, a term that likely encompassed various skin conditions in the biblical context, was considered ritually unclean.
2. **Role of the Priest**: The priests in Israelite society had the responsibility of diagnosing skin diseases. They acted as intermediaries between the people and God, determining the ritual status of individuals based on the appearance of skin lesions.
3. **Health and Community Safety**: The detailed descriptions of skin conditions and the procedures for dealing with them reflect a concern for the health of the community. Isolating individuals with infectious diseases would have been a practical measure to prevent the spread of illness.
4. **Divine Order and Holiness**: The laws regarding leprosy and other skin conditions underscore the importance of holiness and order in the Israelite community. The distinction between clean and unclean was not just a health regulation but also a symbolic way of setting apart the people of Israel as holy to God.
In Leviticus 13:20, the specific criteria for diagnosing a "plague of leprosy" include a lesion that appears lower than the skin and has turned the hair white. If these signs were present, the priest would declare the individual unclean, which would necessitate a period of isolation and, upon recovery, a series of rituals to restore the person's ceremonial cleanness.
This verse reflects the broader themes of the book of Leviticus, which seeks to guide the Israelites in living a life that is set apart for God, with an emphasis on community health, ritual purity, and the distinction between the sacred and the profane.
*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: H4758
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַרְאֶה
Transliteration: marʼeh
Pronunciation: mar-eh'
Description: from רָאָה; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision; [idiom] apparently, appearance(-reth), [idiom] as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision. - Strong's Number: H8217
There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁפָל
Transliteration: shâphâl
Pronunciation: shaw-fawl'
Description: from שָׁפֵל; depressed, literally or figuratively; base(-st), humble, low(-er, -ly). - Strong's Number: H5785
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עוֹר
Transliteration: ʻôwr
Pronunciation: ore
Description: from עוּר; skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather; hide, leather, skin. - Strong's Number: H8181
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׂעָר
Transliteration: sêʻâr
Pronunciation: say-awr'
Description: or שַׂעַר; (Isaiah 7:20), from שָׂעַר in the sense of dishevelling; hair (as if tossed or bristling); hair(-y), [idiom] rough. - 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: H2930
There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טָמֵא
Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
Pronunciation: taw-may'
Description: a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated); defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly. - 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: 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: H6524
There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּרַח
Transliteration: pârach
Pronunciation: paw-rakh'
Description: a primitive root; to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); figuratively, to flourish; [idiom] abroad, [idiom] abundantly, blossom, break forth (out), bud, flourish, make fly, grow, spread, spring (up). - Strong's Number: H7822
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁחִין
Transliteration: shᵉchîyn
Pronunciation: shekh-een'
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to burn; inflammation, i.e. an ulcer; boil, botch.