Leviticus 13:43

Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, [if] the rising of the sore [be] white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;

Then the priest {H3548} shall look {H7200} upon it: and, behold, if the rising {H7613} of the sore {H5061} be white {H3836} reddish {H125} in his bald head {H7146}, or in his bald forehead {H1372}, as the leprosy {H6883} appeareth {H4758} in the skin {H5785} of the flesh {H1320};

Then the cohen is to examine him; if he sees that there is a reddish-white swelling on his bald scalp or forehead, appearing like tzara'at on the rest of the body,

The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,

Then the priest shall look upon him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh;

Commentary

Leviticus 13:43 is part of an extensive section in the Mosaic Law detailing the diagnosis and handling of tzara'at, often translated as "leprosy." This specific verse outlines a particular symptom β€” a "white reddish" sore on a bald head or forehead β€” which the priest must examine as a sign of this severe skin condition.

Context of Leviticus 13

Chapters 13 and 14 of Leviticus are dedicated entirely to the laws concerning tzara'at, which was more broadly defined than modern Hansen's disease. It encompassed various severe skin afflictions and even mildew on garments or in houses (Leviticus 14:34). The primary purpose of these laws was to maintain the ritual purity of the Israelite camp and prevent the spread of contagious diseases. The priest served as the designated public health official and spiritual diagnostician, responsible for identifying the condition and declaring individuals clean or unclean (Leviticus 13:2).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Concern for Purity and Health: These detailed regulations underscore God's meticulous concern for the physical and spiritual well-being of His people. Maintaining ritual purity was essential for the Israelites to dwell in God's holy presence.
  • Priestly Authority and Discernment: The priest's role was crucial. He was not a healer but an authoritative figure whose careful examination determined the status of an individual, leading to either isolation or restoration. This highlights the importance of spiritual discernment in the community.
  • Isolation for Protection: If diagnosed, the affected individual was declared unclean and had to live apart from the camp (Leviticus 13:46). This measure protected the community from contagion and served as a stark visual reminder of the consequences of impurity, both physical and spiritual.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "leprosy" is tzara'at (Χ¦ΦΈΧ¨Φ·Χ’Φ·Χͺ). As noted, it's a broader term than what we typically understand as leprosy today. The specific color description, "white reddish" (lavan adamdam), was a critical diagnostic sign, indicating a severe and active stage of the affliction. The meticulous detail in describing these signs emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis by the priest.

Practical Application and Reflection

While these laws are part of the Old Covenant and are not applied literally to believers today, they offer profound spiritual lessons. Just as physical *tzara'at* separated an individual from the community and God's presence in the tabernacle, so too does sin separate us from God and fellow believers. The comprehensive examination by the priest can be likened to the need for honest self-examination and confession of sin before God.

The ultimate remedy for spiritual "leprosy" (sin) is found in Jesus Christ, who not only healed physical lepers during His earthly ministry (Matthew 8:2-3) but also provided the definitive cleansing for sin through His sacrifice. His work allows us to be made truly clean and restored to fellowship with God, fulfilling the deep longing for purity that these ancient laws foreshadowed. We are called to be holy, for God is holy.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

No cross-references found.

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