Leviticus15

Leviticus 15 details laws concerning various bodily discharges that cause ritual uncleanness among the Israelites. It outlines regulations for men with a running issue or seminal emission, and for women with menstruation or abnormal blood flow. These conditions render individuals and anything they touch unclean, necessitating specific purification rituals. The chapter emphasizes the importance of these laws to maintain the purity of the community and prevent defilement of the Tabernacle.
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Introduction to Laws of Bodily Discharges

1
And Jehovah spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Uncleanness from Male Chronic Discharge

2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath an issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. ​
3
And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. ​
4
Every bed whereon he that hath the issue lieth shall be unclean; and everything whereon he sitteth shall be unclean. ​
5
And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
6
And he that sitteth on anything whereon he that hath the issue sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
7
And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
8
And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
9
And what saddle soever he that hath the issue rideth upon shall be unclean.
10
And whosoever toucheth anything that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
11
And whomsoever he that hath the issue toucheth, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
12
And the earthen vessel, which he that hath the issue toucheth, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. ​

Purification of the Male with Chronic Discharge

13
And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. ​
14
And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before Jehovah unto the door of the tent of meeting, and give them unto the priest:
15
and the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him before Jehovah for his issue. ​

Uncleanness from Seminal Emission

16
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. ​
17
And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
18
The woman also with whom a man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even. ​

Uncleanness from Menstruation

19
And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. ​
20
And everything that she lieth upon in her impurity shall be unclean: everything also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
21
And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
22
And whosoever toucheth anything that she sitteth upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
23
And if it be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
24
And if any man lie with her, and her impurity be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. ​

Uncleanness from Female Chronic Discharge

25
And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days not in the time of her impurity, or if she have an issue beyond the time of her impurity; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness she shall be as in the days of her impurity: she is unclean. ​
26
Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her impurity: and everything whereon she sitteth shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity.
27
And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Purification of the Woman with Chronic Discharge

28
But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. ​
29
And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting.
30
And the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Jehovah for the issue of her uncleanness. ​

Summary and Purpose of Purity Laws

31
Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is in the midst of them. ​
32
This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed of copulation goeth from him, so that he is unclean thereby;
33
and of her that is sick with her impurity, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.

Study Notes for Leviticus 15

Verse 2

The 'running issue' refers to an abnormal, likely chronic, genital discharge, distinguishing it from normal seminal emission (v. 16). This condition resulted in prolonged ritual impurity.

Verse 3

The law clarifies that the uncleanness applies whether the flow is continuous or intermittent, emphasizing that the underlying pathological condition, rather than just the discharge itself, is the source of impurity.

Verse 4

This verse establishes the concept of transferable uncleanness. Objects touched by the person become unclean and can transmit impurity to others.

Verse 12

Earthenware vessels (pottery) were considered porous and absorbed the impurity permanently, thus requiring destruction. Wooden vessels, being less porous, could be cleansed by rinsing.

Verse 13

The cleansing process required a seven-day waiting period followed by bathing in 'running water' (or 'living water'), typically spring or river water, symbolizing complete purification and renewal.

Verse 15

The required offering included a sin offering (purification) and a burnt offering (dedication). This required atonement highlights the seriousness of such a prolonged state of impurity, which separated the individual from the holy space.

Verse 16

Unlike the chronic issue (v. 2), normal seminal emission results in a temporary impurity lasting only until the evening, requiring only bathing and washing of clothes.

Verse 18

Sexual intercourse, even within marriage, resulted in temporary ritual impurity for both parties, necessitating bathing before they could participate in sacred life.

Verse 19

This section defines the law of *niddah* (separation). The woman is ritually separated for seven days, and anything she touches or sits upon becomes secondarily unclean.

Verse 24

If a man violates the separation period, he inherits the full duration of her impurity (seven days), highlighting the intense, transferable nature of menstrual uncleanness.

Verse 25

This refers to abnormal, prolonged uterine bleeding (metrorrhagia), a condition functionally parallel to the male chronic issue (v. 2). The woman remains unclean for the entire duration of the flow.

Verse 28

The purification process mirrors that of the male (vv. 13-15), requiring a seven-day waiting period after cessation of the flow before sacrifices could be offered.

Verse 30

Atonement was required for the abnormal discharge, restoring the woman to full ritual purity and allowing her to re-engage with the Tabernacle community.

Verse 31

This verse provides the theological rationale for all purity laws: they ensure the holiness of the community and protect the Tabernacle from defilement, preventing the people from facing divine judgment ('that they die not').

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