Leviticus 13:51

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, [or] in any work that is made of skin; the plague [is] a fretting leprosy; it [is] unclean.

Complete Jewish Bible:

On the seventh day he is to examine the stain; if the stain has spread on the garment, threads, woven-in parts or leather, whatever its use, the infection is a contagious tzara'at; the garment is unclean.

Berean Standard Bible:

On the seventh day the priest shall reexamine it, and if the mildew has spread in the fabric, weave, knit, or leather, then regardless of how it is used, it is a harmful mildew; the article is unclean.

American Standard Version:

and he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever service skin is used for; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he shall look{H7200} on the plague{H5061} on the seventh{H7637} day{H3117}: if the plague{H5061} be spread{H6581} in the garment{H899}, either in the warp{H8359}, or in the woof{H6154}, or in a skin{H5785}, or in any work{H4399} that is made{H6213} of skin{H5785}; the plague{H5061} is a fretting{H3992} leprosy{H6883}; it is unclean{H2931}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Leviticus 14:44

  • Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, [if] the plague be spread in the house, it [is] a fretting leprosy in the house: it [is] unclean.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Leviticus 13:51

Leviticus 13:51 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with the diagnosis and management of skin diseases, often referred to as "leprosy" in the biblical text. The term "leprosy" in the Bible likely encompassed a variety of skin conditions, not limited to what we know today as Hansen's disease (the modern medical term for leprosy).

**Themes:**
1. **Ritual Purity and Cleanliness:** The primary theme of this verse, and the surrounding chapters, is the distinction between clean and unclean, which was crucial in maintaining ritual purity in ancient Israelite society. Ritual impurity could prevent individuals from participating in religious and community life.

2. **Isolation and Quarantine:** The detailed instructions for inspecting and dealing with skin diseases and contaminated garments reflect a concern for containing potential contagions. This is one of the earliest recorded systems of quarantine and public health management.

3. **Divine Holiness:** The regulations underscore the holiness of God and the need for His people to be holy as well (Leviticus 11:44-45). The removal of impurity from the community was a way to honor God's holiness.

4. **Priestly Role:** The process of inspection and determination of cleanness or uncleanness was carried out by the priests, highlighting their role as religious and community leaders responsible for maintaining the spiritual and physical well-being of the people.

**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The book of Leviticus is set during the time of Moses, specifically during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. The laws and regulations found in Leviticus were given to the Israelites to shape their communal and religious life as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.

- **Cultural Practices:** The ancient Israelites lived in a world where disease was not well understood. The detailed procedures for dealing with skin diseases and contaminated objects reflect a practical approach to managing the unknown, as well as a spiritual understanding that linked physical ailments with concepts of sin and purity.

- **Literary Context:** Leviticus is the third book of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), which is traditionally attributed to Moses. The book is a collection of laws and rituals that were to govern the religious and social life of the Israelites.

In summary, Leviticus 13:51 is part of a broader set of instructions concerning the identification and handling of skin diseases and contaminated fabrics, emphasizing the importance of ritual purity, the role of priests, and the need to separate what is deemed unclean from the community to maintain the holiness of the people before God.

*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: 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Strong's Number: H7637
    There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁבִיעִי
    Transliteration: shᵉbîyʻîy
    Pronunciation: sheb-ee-ee'
    Description: or שְׁבִעִי; ordinal from שִׁבְעִים; seventh; seventh (time).
  4. Strong's Number: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
  5. Strong's Number: H6581
    There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּשָׂה
    Transliteration: pâsâh
    Pronunciation: paw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to spread; spread.
  6. Strong's Number: H899
    There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֶּגֶד
    Transliteration: beged
    Pronunciation: behg'-ed
    Description: from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, [idiom] very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe.
  7. Strong's Number: H8359
    There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁתִי
    Transliteration: shᵉthîy
    Pronunciation: sheth-ee'
    Description: from שִׁית; a fixture, i.e. the warp in weaving; warp.
  8. Strong's Number: H6154
    There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵרֶב
    Transliteration: ʻêreb
    Pronunciation: ay'-reb
    Description: or עֶרֶב; (1 Kings 10:15), (with the article [prefix), from עָרַב; the web (or transverse threads of cloth); also a mixture, (or mongrel race); Arabia, mingled people, mixed (multitude), woof.
  9. 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.
  10. Strong's Number: H4399
    There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מְלָאכָה
    Transliteration: mᵉlâʼkâh
    Pronunciation: mel-aw-kaw'
    Description: from the same as מֲלְאָךְ; properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor); business, [phrase] cattle, [phrase] industrious, occupation, ([phrase] -pied), [phrase] officer, thing (made), use, (manner of) work((-man), -manship).
  11. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  12. Strong's Number: H3992
    There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָאַר
    Transliteration: mâʼar
    Pronunciation: maw-ar'
    Description: a primitive root; to be bitter or (causatively) to embitter, i.e. be painful; fretting, picking.
  13. 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.
  14. Strong's Number: H2931
    There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: טָמֵא
    Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
    Pronunciation: taw-may'
    Description: from טָמֵא; foul in a religious sense; defiled, [phrase] infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean.