Leviticus 13:47

KJV

¶ The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, [whether it be] a woollen garment, or a linen garment;

KJV (with Strong's)

The garment {H899} also that the plague {H5061} of leprosy {H6883} is in, whether it be a woollen {H6785} garment {H899}, or a linen {H6593} garment {H899};

Complete Jewish Bible

"When tzara'at infects an article of clothing, whether it be a woolen or a linen garment,

Berean Standard Bible

If any fabric is contaminated with mildew—any wool or linen garment,

American Standard Version

The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 13:47 introduces a specific set of regulations within the Mosaic Law, detailing the identification and management of a "plague" or defilement manifesting in garments, specifically those made of wool or linen. This verse marks a significant transition in the comprehensive purity laws of Leviticus, extending the concept of *tsara'ath*—a broad term encompassing various severe ritual defilements, often translated as "leprosy"—from conditions affecting human skin to inanimate objects. This expansion underscores the pervasive nature of impurity and God's meticulous concern for holiness, which was to permeate every aspect of the Israelite community's life and environment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 13 is a meticulously detailed chapter dedicated entirely to the laws concerning *tsara'ath*. The preceding verses, [Leviticus 13:1-46](/leviticus/13-1-46 "Leviticus 13:1-46 - Laws Concerning Human Tsara'ath"), provide exhaustive instructions for diagnosing and managing *tsara'ath* when it appears on the human body, outlining various skin conditions and the priestly procedures for examination, quarantine, and pronouncement. Leviticus 13:47 initiates a distinct, yet thematically connected, section that shifts the focus to the manifestation of this "plague" on garments. This progression, which is further extended to include regulations for houses in [Leviticus 14:33-53](/leviticus/14-33-53 "Leviticus 14:33-53 - Laws Concerning Tsara'ath in Houses"), demonstrates the comprehensive and pervasive nature of *tsara'ath* as a ritual defilement. It highlights that impurity was not confined to individuals but could affect their clothing and even their dwellings, thereby emphasizing God's meticulous concern for holiness in every sphere of life within the covenant community. The chapter is an integral part of the larger Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-26), which outlines God's standards for a holy people living in covenant relationship with Him.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel, particularly during their wilderness wanderings and subsequent settlement in the Promised Land, lived in close proximity to the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), the dwelling place of a holy God. The concept of ritual purity was paramount for maintaining the sanctity of the camp and ensuring proper worship and access to God. *Tsara'ath*, while often translated as "leprosy," was not solely a medical diagnosis akin to modern Hansen's disease. Instead, it was a broad term for a divinely ordained affliction that brought ritual impurity, encompassing various severe skin conditions, as well as molds and mildews that could affect textiles and structures. Its appearance on a person, garment, or house signified a state of defilement that rendered the afflicted object or individual ritually unclean and unable to participate fully in community life or worship. The priests, as divinely appointed arbiters of purity, played a crucial role in inspecting and declaring items clean or unclean, thereby safeguarding the community's holiness and its covenant relationship with God. These laws underscored the Israelites' unique status as a people set apart for God, called to reflect His holiness in their daily lives, including their possessions.
* **Key Themes:** Leviticus 13:47 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Primarily, it reinforces the theme of **Holiness and Purity**, demonstrating God's absolute demand for a holy people and environment, free from defilement. The detailed regulations emphasize that holiness is not merely an abstract concept but a practical reality that permeates all aspects of life, from personal hygiene to the cleanliness of one's possessions. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Authority and Order**, as God Himself prescribes these meticulous laws, establishing a clear framework for maintaining order and preventing the spread of impurity within the community. The role of the priest as the designated judge underscores the ordered nature of the theocratic society. Finally, the laws concerning *tsara'ath* on garments contribute to the theme of **Separation and Distinction**, illustrating that God's people are to be distinct from the surrounding nations, set apart by their adherence to His divine standards of purity. This separation was crucial for Israel to fulfill its role as a holy nation and a kingdom of priests, as proclaimed in [Exodus 19:6](/exodus/19-6 "Exodus 19:6 - A Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Plague (Hebrew, _negaʻ'_ H5061):** This term, derived from a root meaning "to touch" or "to strike," signifies a divinely sent affliction or a physical manifestation of defilement. In the context of *tsara'ath*, it suggests something that has been "struck" or "afflicted" by impurity, often implying a divine visitation or a divinely permitted manifestation of ritual uncleanness. It underscores that the defilement is not merely a natural occurrence but carries spiritual weight, necessitating priestly discernment and intervention to address its ritual implications.
* **Leprosy (Hebrew, _tsâraʻath'_ H6883):** While commonly translated "leprosy," this Hebrew term refers to a unique concept of ritual impurity that extends beyond specific medical conditions. In the biblical context, *tsâraʻath* encompasses a range of severe skin ailments, as well as mold or mildew on garments and in houses. Its primary significance is not medical but theological: it denotes a state of profound uncleanness that separates an individual or object from the holy community and its worship, highlighting the pervasive nature of defilement and the necessity of divine cleansing and restoration to purity.
* **Garment (Hebrew, _beged'_ H899):** This word broadly refers to a covering or clothing. In the context of Leviticus 13, it specifically denotes an item of apparel or textile that can become ritually defiled by *tsara'ath*. The inclusion of garments in these purity laws emphasizes that impurity is not limited to the human body but can permeate and corrupt even the most common and intimate objects of daily life. The garment, being an external covering, symbolically represents the outward expressions, habits, and environment of an individual, all of which are subject to God's meticulous standards of holiness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in,"**: This clause introduces the specific focus of this section of the purity laws: clothing that exhibits signs of *tsara'ath*. It establishes that the concept of defilement is not confined to the human body but can manifest in inanimate objects, thereby emphasizing the comprehensive scope of God's holiness standards and the pervasive nature of impurity within the physical world. The use of "also" (from the Hebrew particle *gam*) links this section directly to the preceding laws concerning human *tsara'ath*, indicating a continuity in the nature of the "plague" even as its object changes.
* **"[whether it be] a woollen garment, or a linen garment;"**: This specifies the two primary types of fabric susceptible to this "plague." Wool and linen were the most common materials for clothing and household textiles in ancient Israel, chosen for their durability, warmth (wool), and coolness (linen). By explicitly mentioning these, the law underscores that common, everyday items were subject to these meticulous purity regulations. This reinforces the idea that God's demand for holiness extended to all aspects of the Israelites' daily existence and possessions, leaving no area of life untouched by His divine standards.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 13:47, like much of the Mosaic Law, prominently employs **Legal Language**, characterized by its precise, prescriptive, and declarative style. This formal language emphasizes the divine authority behind these regulations and their mandatory nature for the Israelite community, leaving no ambiguity regarding the required actions or the consequences of non-compliance. The meticulous detail and categorical statements ("whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment") are hallmarks of legal codes designed to cover all foreseeable circumstances. Furthermore, the "plague of leprosy" in a garment functions as powerful **Symbolism**. Just as *tsara'ath* on a person symbolized a deep-seated spiritual impurity or a break in covenant relationship that required isolation and divine intervention, its presence in a garment symbolizes how sin or spiritual corruption can "permeate" and defile even the outward expressions of one's life. The garment, representing one's external presentation, habits, or sphere of influence, becomes a tangible representation of pervasive defilement, necessitating a thorough examination and, if incurable, destruction to prevent the spread of impurity within the holy community.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 13:47 profoundly underscores God's demand for absolute holiness within the community of Israel, extending His meticulous standards of purity even to their clothing. This law reveals that defilement, like sin, is not merely superficial but can permeate and corrupt, necessitating careful discernment and decisive action to maintain the sanctity of the people and their environment. The detailed procedures for isolating and, if necessary, destroying contaminated items highlight God's concern for containing impurity and preventing its spread, thereby protecting the integrity of the covenant relationship. This principle reflects a profound divine truth: God's presence among His people requires a separation from all that is unclean, both physically and spiritually, ensuring that His dwelling place is not defiled by the very people He has called to be holy.

* [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, for I Am Holy")
* [2 Corinthians 6:17](/2_corinthians/6-17 "2 Corinthians 6:17 - Come Out From Among Them")
* [Hebrews 12:14](/hebrews/12-14 "Hebrews 12:14 - Pursue Peace and Holiness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the ceremonial laws of Leviticus are not directly binding on New Covenant believers, the spiritual principles they embody remain profoundly relevant. Leviticus 13:47 prompts us to consider our "spiritual garments"—our habits, attitudes, character, and outward expressions—and whether they harbor any "plagues" of sin or defilement that hinder our walk with God. Just as the priest meticulously examined the physical garment, we are called to engage in honest self-examination, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of impurity that may subtly or overtly corrupt our lives and hinder our witness to the world. Anything that consistently defiles or corrupts us, like a persistent "plague" in a garment, needs to be identified, confessed, and, through God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, "cut out" or removed from our lives. This law illustrates God's comprehensive care for our spiritual well-being, desiring us to be whole and undefiled, reflecting His holy character in every aspect of our existence, so that our lives might be a pure and pleasing offering to Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "garments" (habits, attitudes, relationships, or even entertainment choices) in my life might be harboring spiritual "plagues" or defilement that need to be addressed?**
* **How can I actively participate in the process of spiritual self-examination and purification, trusting God's Spirit to reveal hidden impurities and empower me to overcome them?**
* **In what ways does God's meticulous concern for purity in the Old Testament inform my understanding of His desire for holiness and separation from the world in my life today?**

### FAQ
**Question?**

Answer: In Leviticus, *tsara'ath* on garments (often mold or mildew, but ritually defined) was not a medical condition in the modern sense but a manifestation of ritual impurity. It symbolized the pervasive nature of defilement, indicating that impurity could extend beyond the human body to inanimate objects. This required meticulous attention to maintain the community's holiness before a holy God and to prevent the spread of spiritual contamination throughout the camp. The garment, being an intimate part of daily life, represented how deeply impurity could penetrate and how thoroughly God's holiness demanded its removal.

**Question?**

Answer: The priest was the divinely appointed authority responsible for discerning and managing all forms of *tsara'ath*. For garments, the priest would inspect the "plague," quarantine the item for a period (typically seven days), and then re-examine it. Depending on whether the "plague" spread, remained, or faded, the garment would either be declared clean after washing, or it would be declared unclean and had to be burned. This detailed process, outlined in [Leviticus 13:49-59](/leviticus/13-49-59 "Leviticus 13:49-59 - Laws Concerning Garment Tsara'ath"), highlights the priest's critical role in safeguarding the ritual purity of the community and ensuring proper adherence to God's standards.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 13:47, with its focus on the defilement of garments, points powerfully to Christ as the ultimate cleanser and the fulfillment of all purity laws. The Old Testament laws concerning *tsara'ath* could only identify and quarantine defilement, but they could not truly eradicate the root cause of impurity. Jesus, however, possesses the divine power to truly cleanse and transform. He did not merely avoid the unclean; He actively touched the "leprous" (as seen in [Matthew 8:3](/matthew/8-3 "Matthew 8:3 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper")) and made them clean, demonstrating His supreme authority over sin and impurity. The pervasive "plague" of *tsara'ath* on a garment symbolizes the deep-seated defilement of sin that permeates every aspect of human existence, including our outward actions, character, and even our spiritual "garments." Christ's sacrifice on the cross provides a cleansing that goes far beyond external ritual purity. His blood, as the perfect and once-for-all atonement, purifies not just our "garments" but our very hearts and consciences from dead works to serve the living God ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Blood Purifies Our Conscience")). 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"), removing the ultimate spiritual *tsara'ath* that separates humanity from a holy God. Through Him, we are not merely declared clean, but made new, clothed in His righteousness ([Isaiah 61:10](/isaiah/61-10 "Isaiah 61:10 - Garments of Salvation")), and made fit for eternal fellowship with God, presenting ourselves as a holy and blameless bride ([Ephesians 5:27](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ Presents the Church in Splendor")).

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.

Cross-References

Jude 1:23

And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Isaiah 59:6

Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works [are] works of iniquity, and the act of violence [is] in their hands.

Ezekiel 16:16

And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: [the like things] shall not come, neither shall it be [so].

Ephesians 4:22

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Romans 13:12

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Isaiah 64:6

¶ But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isaiah 3:16

¶ Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing [as] they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: