Leviticus 13:42

KJV

And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it [is] a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

KJV (with Strong's)

And if there be in the bald head {H7146}, or bald forehead {H1372}, a white {H3836} reddish {H125} sore {H5061}; it is a leprosy {H6883} sprung {H6524} up in his bald head {H7146}, or his bald forehead {H1372}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But if on the bald scalp or forehead there is a reddish-white sore, it is tzara'at breaking out on his bald scalp or forehead.

Berean Standard Bible

But if there is a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on it.

American Standard Version

But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 13:42 provides a specific diagnostic criterion within the elaborate priestly code for identifying *tsara'at*, a severe skin affliction, particularly when it appears on the bald areas of the head or forehead. This verse details that a "white reddish sore" in these regions definitively indicates the presence of *tsara'at*, leading to the declaration of ritual uncleanness and subsequent separation of the afflicted individual from the community, underscoring the meticulous nature of God's laws concerning purity and health within ancient Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 13 is a comprehensive chapter dedicated to the diagnosis and management of *tsara'at*, a term often translated as "leprosy" but encompassing a broader range of severe skin conditions, and even mildew on garments or houses. The chapter meticulously outlines the symptoms for various manifestations of *tsara'at* on the skin, hair, and even bald spots, providing the priests with detailed instructions for examination, quarantine, and final pronouncement of clean or unclean. Verses 40-44 specifically focus on *tsara'at* affecting the head, distinguishing between benign baldness and the onset of the disease in these areas. Verse 42 pinpoints a critical symptom—a "white reddish sore"—on a bald head or forehead as an unequivocal sign of the disease, necessitating the priest's declaration of uncleanness, thereby setting the stage for the isolation measures described later in [Leviticus 13:45-46](/leviticus/13-45 "Leviticus 13:45-46 - Isolation of the Unclean").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the concept of ritual purity was paramount, deeply intertwined with the nation's covenant relationship with a holy God. The tabernacle, God's dwelling place, was at the center of the camp, requiring the highest standards of purity to be maintained by the people. Skin diseases like *tsara'at* were not merely medical conditions but carried profound ritual implications, rendering an individual "unclean" and thus unable to participate in communal worship or even live within the camp. The priests served as God's appointed diagnosticians, their role extending beyond spiritual guidance to include public health and ritual policing. Their pronouncements were final and carried divine authority, ensuring the physical and spiritual well-being of the community. The detailed nature of these laws, including the specific mention of baldness in [Leviticus 13:42](/leviticus/13-42 "Leviticus 13:42 - Diagnosis of Tsara'at on Baldness"), highlights the comprehensive care God had for His people, addressing even seemingly minor distinctions to safeguard their holiness and health.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bald Head / Bald Forehead (Hebrew, _qaraḥat_ / _gabbaḥat_):** These terms refer to the specific areas of the scalp that are devoid of hair. The mention of these areas is crucial because the presence of *tsara'at* on hair-bearing skin (where it might affect the color of the hair) had different diagnostic criteria than its appearance on bald spots. This distinction underscores the meticulousness of the priestly instructions, ensuring accurate diagnosis irrespective of the patient's hair status.
* **White Reddish Sore (Hebrew, _baheret ləvānāh ʾădamdemet_):** This precise description of the lesion's appearance is a key diagnostic marker. The combination of "white" and "reddish" indicates a specific discoloration and inflammation that distinguished *tsara'at* from other benign skin conditions. This detailed visual cue empowered the priests to make a definitive diagnosis, preventing false positives and ensuring that only genuinely afflicted individuals were declared unclean.
* **Leprosy (Hebrew, _tsaraʿat_):** While often translated as "leprosy," the Hebrew term *tsaraʿat* encompasses a broader category of severe, chronic, and often contagious skin diseases, and even mildew on fabrics or walls. It is distinct from modern Hansen's disease. In the biblical context, *tsaraʿat* primarily signifies a state of ritual impurity rather than solely a medical condition. Its presence rendered an individual "unclean," necessitating separation from the community and requiring specific purification rituals upon healing, as detailed in [Leviticus 14](/leviticus/14 "Leviticus 14 - Cleansing Rituals for Tsara'at").

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead":** This clause sets the specific anatomical location for the diagnostic observation. It acknowledges that *tsara'at* could manifest even on areas typically free of hair, requiring careful examination of the scalp and forehead.
* **"a white reddish sore;":** This is the precise symptom the priest must identify. The "sore" (or "bright spot") with its characteristic "white reddish" hue is the definitive visual sign that confirms the presence of *tsara'at* in these particular areas. The combination of colors implies a specific pathological process.
* **"it [is] a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.":** This final clause is the priestly verdict. Upon observing the specified sore in the designated areas, the priest is to declare it *tsara'at*. The phrase "sprung up" (נֹגַע, _nogaʿ_) implies an eruption or outbreak, indicating the active presence of the disease. This declaration initiates the process of ritual separation and, if applicable, the subsequent cleansing rituals.

#### Literary Devices
The passage primarily functions as a segment of a **Legal Code**, characterized by its prescriptive and highly detailed nature. It employs **Casuistic Law**, presenting a specific case ("if there be...") and then stating the consequence ("it is a leprosy..."). The language is precise and unambiguous, designed to leave no room for misinterpretation by the priestly diagnosticians. Furthermore, there is extensive use of **Detailed Description**, particularly in the exact visual characteristics of the "white reddish sore," which is crucial for accurate diagnosis. This meticulousness reflects the divine authorship of the law, emphasizing God's comprehensive concern for the purity and well-being of His covenant people. The condition of *tsara'at* itself functions as a powerful **Symbolism** for sin and impurity, visually representing the defiling and isolating effects of spiritual brokenness within the community.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 13:42, like the broader *tsara'at* laws, profoundly illustrates God's meticulous concern for holiness and purity within His covenant community. These regulations were not merely about physical health but served as tangible reminders of the absolute necessity of ritual and moral cleanness in the presence of a holy God. The detailed diagnostic process, overseen by the priests, underscored the seriousness of defilement and the divine authority required to declare one clean or unclean. The isolation of those with *tsara'at* symbolized the separation that sin brings between humanity and God, and between individuals and their community.

* [Leviticus 11:44-45](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44-45 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")
* [Numbers 5:1-4](/numbers/5-1 "Numbers 5:1-4 - Expulsion of the Unclean")
* [Hebrews 12:14](/hebrews/12-14 "Hebrews 12:14 - Pursue Peace and Holiness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific diagnostic laws of Leviticus 13 are part of the Old Covenant and do not apply literally to believers today, the underlying principles offer profound spiritual insights. This passage calls us to reflect on God's meticulous nature and His unwavering commitment to holiness. Just as *tsara'at* visibly manifested an internal condition that rendered one unclean and separated from the community, so too does sin defile our spiritual being and create a chasm between us and a holy God. The need for a divinely appointed "priest" to diagnose and declare clean points us to our ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who alone has the authority and power to cleanse us from the spiritual "leprosy" of sin. This passage encourages us to examine our own lives for areas of spiritual defilement, to seek God's cleansing, and to appreciate the profound grace that makes us pure and brings us into fellowship with Him and His people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's meticulous attention to detail in these ancient laws speak to His character and His concern for His people?**
* **In what ways does sin function like *tsara'at*, separating us from God and others, and what is our "white reddish sore" that needs to be brought to the Great Physician?**
* **How do these Old Testament laws foreshadow the New Testament understanding of spiritual cleansing and the role of Christ?**

### FAQ
**What was the primary purpose of the *tsara'at* laws in Leviticus?**

Answer: The primary purpose of the *tsara'at* laws was twofold: to maintain ritual purity within the Israelite camp in the presence of a holy God, and to protect the community from the spread of contagious diseases. While the term *tsara'at* encompassed various severe skin conditions, its designation as "unclean" was primarily ritualistic, signifying a state of defilement that separated an individual from the community and the tabernacle. The detailed diagnostic criteria, such as those in [Leviticus 13:42](/leviticus/13-42 "Leviticus 13:42 - Diagnosis of Tsara'at on Baldness"), ensured that only genuinely afflicted individuals were isolated, thereby preserving the sanctity of the camp and the health of its inhabitants.

**Why is baldness specifically mentioned in relation to *tsara'at*?**

Answer: Baldness is specifically mentioned in [Leviticus 13:40-44](/leviticus/13-40 "Leviticus 13:40-44 - Tsara'at on the Head or Forehead") because the diagnostic criteria for *tsara'at* varied depending on whether the lesion appeared on hair-bearing skin or on a bald area. On areas with hair, the priest would look for changes in hair color (e.g., yellow hair) as a symptom. However, on a bald head (qaraḥat) or bald forehead (gabbaḥat), such hair changes were not possible. Therefore, specific visual cues like the "white reddish sore" described in [Leviticus 13:42](/leviticus/13-42 "Leviticus 13:42 - Diagnosis of Tsara'at on Baldness") were provided for these particular anatomical locations, demonstrating the comprehensive and precise nature of God's instructions to the priests.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous laws concerning *tsara'at* in Leviticus, including the specific diagnosis in [Leviticus 13:42](/leviticus/13-42 "Leviticus 13:42 - Diagnosis of Tsara'at on Baldness"), find their profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Old Testament *tsara'at* rendered one ritually unclean and an outcast, Jesus, the Great Physician, demonstrates His divine authority over all forms of defilement, both physical and spiritual. Unlike the Levitical priests who could only diagnose and declare, Jesus actively cleanses. He frequently touched and healed those afflicted with *tsara'at*, a radical act that would have made Him ritually unclean under the Old Covenant, yet His touch imparted purity, as seen in the healing of the leper in [Mark 1:40-42](/mark/1-40 "Mark 1:40-42 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper"). This act foreshadows His ultimate work on the cross, where He took upon Himself the defilement of humanity's sin, becoming "sin for us" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")) so that we might be declared righteous and cleansed. Just as *tsara'at* separated, sin separates; but Christ's sacrifice provides the ultimate cleansing, restoring us to fellowship with God and His people, fulfilling the longing for purity that these Old Testament laws so powerfully expressed ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood")).

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.