Leviticus 13:59

This [is] the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

This is the law {H8451} of the plague {H5061} of leprosy {H6883} in a garment {H899} of woollen {H6785} or linen {H6593}, either in the warp {H8359}, or woof {H6154}, or any thing {H3627} of skins {H5785}, to pronounce it clean {H2891}, or to pronounce it unclean {H2930}.

This is the law concerning infections of tzara'at in a garment of wool or linen, or in the threads or the woven-in parts, or in any leather item - when to declare it clean and when to declare it unclean.

This is the law concerning a mildew contamination in wool or linen fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article, for pronouncing it clean or unclean.”

This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

Commentary

Leviticus 13:59 concludes a detailed section within the Mosaic Law concerning the identification and management of a condition referred to as "leprosy" (tsara'at), specifically as it affects garments and household items. This verse summarizes the law's application to articles made of wool or linen, including their warp and woof (the interwoven threads), and any items made of skins, emphasizing the priest's ultimate role in declaring them either ritually clean or unclean.

Context

This verse is the culmination of Leviticus chapter 13, which meticulously outlines the procedures for diagnosing and dealing with various forms of tsara'at, a broad term encompassing not only skin diseases but also mildew or mold that could appear on clothing or within houses. The meticulous instructions underscored God's demand for holiness and purity within the Israelite camp. The priests served as the divine arbiters, responsible for inspecting, quarantining, and ultimately pronouncing judgment on the affected items or individuals, ensuring the community remained ritually pure in the presence of a holy God.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Purity: The laws in Leviticus, including those on tsara'at, highlight God's absolute holiness and His desire for His people to reflect that holiness in every aspect of their lives, even their possessions. This meticulous attention to detail underscored the sanctity of the Israelite community as God's chosen people.
  • Ritual Cleanness: The distinction between clean and unclean was fundamental to Old Testament worship and daily life. Conditions like tsara'at rendered a person or object ritually unclean, meaning they were temporarily unfit for worship or participation in the community until cleansed, symbolizing separation from anything that defiled.
  • Divine Authority and Order: The detailed instructions demonstrate God's sovereign authority over all aspects of life and His meticulous provision for the order and well-being of His covenant people.
  • The Role of the Priesthood: The priests were not merely religious leaders but also public health officials and spiritual guardians, responsible for upholding God's standards of purity and facilitating reconciliation for the defiled.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "leprosy" is tsara'at (Χ¦ΦΈΧ¨Φ·Χ’Φ·Χͺ). As noted, it is a broader term than modern medical leprosy (Hansen's disease). In the context of garments and skins, it refers to a form of mildew, mold, or fungal growth that could spread and contaminate. The terms "warp" and "woof" refer to the longitudinal and transverse threads in woven fabric, emphasizing that the contamination could affect the very structure of the material, requiring thorough inspection by the priest.

Significance and Application

While these laws might seem archaic today, they carry profound spiritual significance. They teach us about God's absolute purity and His intolerance for defilement. The physical laws served as object lessons for spiritual truths:

  • Discernment of Defilement: Just as the priest had to carefully discern the presence of tsara'at, believers are called to discern and remove spiritual "leprosy" – sin and moral impurity – from their lives.
  • The Need for Cleansing: The temporary uncleanness required a cleansing process, pointing forward to the ultimate and perfect cleansing offered through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Unlike the Old Testament rituals that only covered external impurity, Christ's blood cleanses the conscience from dead works (Hebrews 9:14).
  • God's Holiness and Our Call to Purity: These laws underscore the unchanging truth that God is holy, and He calls His people to be holy (1 Peter 1:16). They remind us that our spiritual condition affects our relationship with God and our community.

Leviticus 13:59, though concluding a very specific legal section, ultimately reinforces the enduring biblical principle that God desires a people set apart for Him, free from the defilement of sin, and ever pursuing spiritual purity.

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.