Leviticus 13:28

KJV

And if the bright spot stay in his place, [and] spread not in the skin, but it [be] somewhat dark; it [is] a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it [is] an inflammation of the burning.

KJV (with Strong's)

And if the bright {H934} spot {H934} stay {H5975} in his place, and spread {H6581} not in the skin {H5785}, but it be somewhat dark {H3544}; it is a rising {H7613} of the burning {H4348}, and the priest {H3548} shall pronounce him clean {H2891}: for it is an inflammation {H6867} of the burning {H4348}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But if the bright spot stays where it was and has not spread on the skin but appears faded, it is a swelling due to the burn; and the cohen is to declare him clean; because it is only a scar from the burn.

Berean Standard Bible

But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread on the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest is to pronounce him clean; for it is only the scar from the burn.

American Standard Version

And if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread in the skin, but be dim; it is the rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is the scar of the burning.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 13:28 describes a specific diagnostic scenario within the Mosaic Law concerning skin conditions, particularly focusing on a burn mark. This verse provides detailed instructions for the priest to discern whether a persistent, slightly discolored spot resulting from a burn is a benign inflammation or a more serious, ritually defiling skin disease. The priest's careful examination and subsequent declaration of cleanness highlight God's meticulous concern for the health and ritual purity of the Israelite community, ensuring that individuals were not unnecessarily excluded due to a non-contagious condition.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 13-14 forms a comprehensive legal section dedicated to the diagnosis, management, and purification rites for various skin diseases, often broadly referred to as "leprosy" (though encompassing a range of conditions, not just Hansen's disease), and mildew in houses and garments. This extensive treatment underscores the gravity with which these conditions were viewed in ancient Israel, not only for public health but primarily for ritual purity. Leviticus 13:28 specifically follows a series of instructions regarding burns (Leviticus 13:24-27), providing a crucial distinction for a particular outcome of a burn injury. The preceding verses detail how a burn that develops a bright spot or white spot should be examined, with the priest isolating the individual for seven days. If the spot spreads, it is declared unclean. Verse 28 offers a counter-scenario, providing a pathway to cleanness when the burn mark is stable and darkens, distinguishing it from a more serious affliction. This careful differentiation is consistent with the detailed diagnostic processes outlined throughout [Leviticus 13](/leviticus/13 "Leviticus 13 - Laws Concerning Skin Diseases").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, physical ailments, especially skin conditions, carried significant social and religious implications. While modern medicine understands the physiological causes of disease, the Israelites understood such conditions through a theological lens, often associating them with ritual impurity and, at times, divine judgment. The priest's role, as mandated by God, was not merely medical but primarily cultic. Priests were the designated authorities for discerning ritual cleanness and uncleanness, which directly impacted an individual's ability to participate in communal worship and social life. A person declared "unclean" was temporarily separated from the camp, a severe social and spiritual consequence, as seen in [Leviticus 13:46](/leviticus/13-46 "Leviticus 13:46 - The Separation of the Unclean"). Therefore, the meticulous instructions in Leviticus 13, including the nuanced distinction in verse 28, reflect God's concern for both the physical well-being of the community (preventing the spread of contagious diseases) and the spiritual well-being of the individual (avoiding unnecessary isolation and facilitating restoration to the community). The precision required of the priest highlights the importance of righteous judgment and careful observation in their sacred duties, as also emphasized for leaders in [Deuteronomy 1:16-17](/deuteronomy/1-16 "Deuteronomy 1:16-17 - Judges to Judge Righteously").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bright spot (Hebrew, _baheret'_):** This term refers to a specific type of white, shiny spot on the skin. In the context of Leviticus 13, a *baheret* was often a key indicator of a serious, ritually defiling skin condition. Its presence, especially if it spread or had white hair, typically led to a declaration of uncleanness. The nuance in verse 28 is that even if a *baheret* initially formed on a burn, its subsequent behavior (staying in place and darkening) distinguished it from the more severe cases.
* **Somewhat dark (Hebrew, _kehah'_):** This word signifies a dull, faded, or dim appearance. It stands in direct contrast to the "bright" or "white" characteristics that typically indicated a spreading, infectious disease. The darkening of the spot, rather than its becoming brighter or whiter, was a crucial diagnostic sign, indicating a healing process or a benign scar rather than an active, contagious condition.
* **Rising of the burning / Inflammation of the burning (Hebrew, _mikvat hammikvah'_):** This phrase is a construct state that literally means "a burning of the burn" or "a scar of the burn." It precisely identifies the mark as a residual effect of a previous burn injury. This repetition emphasizes that the mark is simply a scar or an inflammatory reaction to the initial burn, confirming its non-contagious and non-defiling nature. It distinguishes it from other skin afflictions that were not burn-related.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin":** This clause sets the initial condition. It acknowledges that a "bright spot" (a potentially alarming sign) may have appeared on the burn. However, the critical factor for cleanness is its stability—it does not enlarge or spread beyond its initial boundaries on the skin. This indicates a non-progressive condition.
* **"but it be somewhat dark":** This is the second crucial diagnostic sign. Instead of becoming brighter, whiter, or more inflamed (signs of a defiling disease), the spot has begun to fade or darken. This change in pigmentation signals a benign, healing process rather than an active, infectious one.
* **"it is a rising of the burning":** This declaration identifies the nature of the spot. It is explicitly stated to be a scar or an inflammatory reaction *from* the burn itself, not a new, independent skin disease. This clarifies its origin and benign character.
* **"and the priest shall pronounce him clean":** Based on the preceding observations—stability and darkening—the priest, acting as God's representative, is commanded to declare the individual ritually clean. This declaration immediately restores the person to full participation in the community and worship.
* **"for it is an inflammation of the burning":** This final clause reiterates and confirms the reason for the declaration of cleanness. The spot is definitively identified as a benign, non-contagious inflammation or scar resulting from the burn, thus posing no threat to the community's health or ritual purity.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 13:28 employs several literary devices to convey its precise legal and theological message. **Repetition** is evident in the phrase "rising of the burning" and "inflammation of the burning" (*mikvat hammikvah*), which serves to emphasize and confirm the benign nature and origin of the skin condition. This repetition leaves no ambiguity about the diagnosis. **Contrast** is also central, particularly between the "bright spot" (*baheret*), which is often associated with uncleanness, and its subsequent state of being "somewhat dark" (*kehah*) and not spreading. This contrast highlights the careful discernment required of the priest. The entire chapter, including this verse, is an example of **Legalistic Language**, characterized by precise, conditional clauses ("And if...") and definitive pronouncements ("the priest shall pronounce him clean"). This structure underscores the authoritative and binding nature of God's law. Furthermore, the detailed instructions demonstrate **Divine Providence** and **Compassion**, as God provides meticulous guidelines that protect the community while also ensuring that individuals are not unnecessarily ostracized for conditions that are not truly defiling.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 13:28 beautifully illustrates God's meticulous care for His people, extending to their physical health and social inclusion. It underscores the divine value placed on discernment, ensuring that judgment is based on careful observation and truth, preventing unnecessary ostracization. The passage reveals a God who is not arbitrary but just and merciful, providing clear pathways to restoration when a condition is benign. This highlights the balance between upholding holiness and extending grace, a foundational principle throughout Scripture.

* [Deuteronomy 17:8-9](/deuteronomy/17-8 "Deuteronomy 17:8-9 - Difficult Cases and Priestly Judgment")
* [Proverbs 18:13](/proverbs/18-13 "Proverbs 18:13 - The Folly of Hasty Judgment")
* [Romans 14:13](/romans/14-13 "Romans 14:13 - Do Not Judge Your Brother")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The ancient laws concerning skin conditions in Leviticus, while no longer literally binding for New Covenant believers, offer profound principles for our lives today. Leviticus 13:28 calls us to cultivate a spirit of careful discernment, resisting the urge to make hasty judgments about others or situations. Just as the priest meticulously examined the burn, we are called to look beyond initial appearances, seeking to understand the full context before drawing conclusions. This applies to our interactions within the church and society: are we quick to label or condemn, or do we seek to understand, extend grace, and facilitate restoration? God's desire for the clean person to be fully re-integrated into the community reminds us of our call to be agents of reconciliation, not division. We are to be people who, like the priest in this verse, are ready to declare "clean" and welcome back, rather than perpetuate isolation, whenever truth and grace allow.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I prone to making hasty judgments or assumptions without careful discernment?**
* **How can I cultivate a more discerning spirit in my interactions with others, especially when initial appearances might be misleading?**
* **What opportunities do I have to extend grace and facilitate restoration for someone who might feel ostracized or misunderstood?**
* **How does God's concern for both physical health and spiritual purity in this passage inform my understanding of holistic well-being?**

### FAQ

**Why are these laws so detailed and seemingly focused on minor skin conditions?**

Answer: The meticulous detail in Leviticus 13, including verse 28, underscores several critical aspects of God's covenant with Israel. First, it highlights God's absolute holiness and the necessity of purity for His people to dwell in His presence. Any blemish or disease that could symbolize sin or defilement needed to be carefully managed to maintain the sanctity of the camp and the tabernacle. Second, these laws served as a practical public health measure in an era without modern medicine, preventing the spread of contagious diseases within a densely populated community. Third, they emphasized the unique role of the priesthood as mediators and diagnosticians, entrusted with the sacred duty of discerning between clean and unclean, thereby upholding the divine order. Finally, the precision, especially in cases like the burn mark in [Leviticus 13:28](/leviticus/13-28 "Leviticus 13:28 - Cleanness of a Burn Mark"), demonstrates God's mercy, ensuring that individuals were not unnecessarily excluded from the community for benign conditions.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 13:28, with its emphasis on the priest's declaration of cleanness for a benign burn mark, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate work of Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest. Just as the Old Testament priest had the authority to examine and pronounce a person clean, thereby restoring them to community, Jesus possesses the ultimate authority to declare us clean from the defilement of sin. The "bright spot" that might initially appear alarming, yet proves benign, can be seen as a metaphor for the human condition. We are all marred by the "burn" of sin, bearing its scars and effects. However, through Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross, He takes away our sin, not merely covering it, but truly cleansing us. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Unlike the Old Testament priest who could only declare ritual cleanness based on physical signs, Jesus, by His own divine power, actually *makes* us clean, transforming our spiritual condition. He fulfills the law's demand for purity, offering a complete and eternal cleansing that no ritual could achieve (Hebrews 9:11-14). When we come to Him in faith, He pronounces us righteous and holy, not based on our own merits or the benign nature of our "spots," but on His perfect work, enabling our full and eternal fellowship with God and His people, as described in [Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Confidence to Enter the Holy Places").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.