King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"'If a man has a seminal emission, he is to bathe his entire body in water; he will be unclean until evening.
Berean Standard Bible:
When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
American Standard Version:
And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And if any man's{H376} seed{H2233} of copulation{H7902} go out{H3318} from him, then he shall wash{H7364} all his flesh{H1320} in water{H4325}, and be unclean{H2930} until the even{H6153}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 22:4
- What man soever of the seed of Aaron [is] a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing [that is] unclean [by] the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
Deuteronomy 23:10
- If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:
Deuteronomy 23:11
- But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash [himself] with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp [again].
Leviticus 15:5
- And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even.
1 John 1:7
- But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 Peter 2:11
- Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
2 Corinthians 7:1
- ¶ Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 15:16
Leviticus 15:16 is part of a broader section of the book that deals with ritual purity and impurity within the Israelite community. The verse specifically addresses the issue of male genital discharge, which in the context of Levitical law, renders a man ritually impure. The text indicates that if a man experiences a seminal emission, he must wash his entire body with water and remain in a state of ritual impurity until the evening. This directive is consistent with the ancient Israelite understanding of cleanliness and holiness, where various bodily fluids, including semen, were considered to temporarily compromise one's ritual purity.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the religious and cultural practices of the Israelites during the time of Moses, as presented in the Pentateuch. The laws outlined in Leviticus were designed to set the Israelites apart from other nations and to maintain a sense of sacred order in their relationship with God. Ritual impurity was not seen as a moral failing but rather as a natural condition that required specific purification rituals to restore one's ceremonial cleanliness. This allowed individuals to once again participate in the religious and community life of Israel, which often involved access to the sanctuary and the offering of sacrifices.
In summary, Leviticus 15:16 reflects the ancient Israelite preoccupation with ritual purity, detailing the temporary impurity resulting from male genital discharge and the necessary steps for purification. This law is part of a larger system of purity laws that aimed to instill a sense of the sacred and to regulate the participation of individuals in the religious activities of their community. These laws were integral to the identity and daily life of the Israelites, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining holiness 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)
- Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H2233
There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זֶרַע
Transliteration: zeraʻ
Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time. - Strong's Number: H7902
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁכָבָה
Transliteration: shᵉkâbâh
Pronunciation: shek-aw-baw'
Description: from שָׁכַב; a lying down (of dew, or for the sexual act); [idiom] carnally, copulation, [idiom] lay, seed. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H7364
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָחַץ
Transliteration: râchats
Pronunciation: raw-khats'
Description: a primitive root; to lave (the whole or a part of a thing); bathe (self), wash (self). - 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: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). - 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: H6153
There are 130 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶרֶב
Transliteration: ʻereb
Pronunciation: eh'-reb
Description: from עָרַב; dusk; [phrase] day, even(-ing, tide), night.