Leviticus 13:9

KJV

When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;

KJV (with Strong's)

When the plague {H5061} of leprosy {H6883} is in a man {H120}, then he shall be brought {H935} unto the priest {H3548};

Complete Jewish Bible

"If a person has tzara'at, he is to be brought to the cohen.

Berean Standard Bible

When anyone develops a skin disease, he must be brought to the priest.

American Standard Version

When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 13:9 establishes a foundational directive within the Mosaic Law concerning *tzara'at*, a severe and defiling skin condition. This verse mandates that any individual suspected of having this affliction must be immediately presented to the priest. This command highlights the indispensable role of the Aaronic priesthood in maintaining the ritual purity, public health, and spiritual integrity of the Israelite community, serving as God's appointed authorities in matters of defilement, diagnosis, and potential restoration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 13:9 is deeply embedded within a comprehensive legal framework (Leviticus 13-14) meticulously detailing the diagnosis, management, and purification rites for *tzara'at*. This extensive section follows earlier chapters that delineate foundational laws of ritual purity, including dietary restrictions and purification after childbirth (e.g., [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals") and [Leviticus 12](/leviticus/12 "Leviticus 12 - Purification After Childbirth")). The precise instructions regarding *tzara'at* underscore its profound impact on an individual's ritual status, effectively determining their ability to participate in communal life and worship. The subsequent chapter, [Leviticus 14](/leviticus/14 "Leviticus 14 - Laws for Cleansing Lepers"), provides the elaborate purification rituals required once a person was declared clean, emphasizing the journey from profound defilement back to full communion with God and His people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, *tzara'at* (צָרַעַת) was a broad term that encompassed a spectrum of severe, chronic skin conditions, not exclusively modern Hansen's disease. It also included mold or mildew affecting garments and houses, as meticulously described in [Leviticus 13:47-59](/leviticus/13-47-59 "Leviticus 13:47-59 - Laws for Leprosy in Garments") and [Leviticus 14:33-53](/leviticus/14-33-53 "Leviticus 14:33-53 - Laws for Leprosy in Houses"). The laws concerning *tzara'at* served a dual, interconnected purpose: ritual and practical. Spiritually, they reinforced the paramount concept of holiness and purity, essential for a people in covenant with a holy God. Practically, they functioned as a vital public health measure, preventing the spread of contagious diseases within the densely populated Israelite camp. The priest (*kohen*) was uniquely positioned as the designated authority, acting not only as a spiritual guide and intercessor but also as a public health official responsible for diagnosis, quarantine, and declaring individuals clean or unclean, thereby regulating their access to the community and the Tabernacle.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. The most prominent is the theme of **Holiness and Purity**, emphasizing God's absolute standard for His covenant people and the necessity of maintaining ritual cleanness to approach Him. It also highlights the theme of **Divine Authority and Mediation**, as God establishes the priesthood as the sole arbiters in matters of defilement, underscoring that reconciliation from impurity requires divinely appointed channels. Furthermore, the laws surrounding *tzara'at* contribute to the theme of **Community and Exclusion/Inclusion**, demonstrating how ritual status directly impacted one's participation in the life of the camp and the worship of God, a concept seen throughout the laws governing Israel's life (e.g., [Numbers 5:1-4](/numbers/5-1 "Numbers 5:1-4 - Expulsion of the Unclean")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Plague (Hebrew, _negaʻ'_):** This term (H5061, נֶגַע) signifies a "blow," "stroke," or "infliction," often implying a divine visitation or a severe physical manifestation. In the context of Leviticus 13, it specifically refers to the visible lesion or outbreak on the skin, signifying a condition that renders one ritually unclean. It carries the connotation of something that has "struck" or "afflicted" a person, marking them as set apart for immediate examination and assessment.
* **Leprosy (Hebrew, _tsâraʻath'_):** The Hebrew word (H6883, צָרַעַת) is crucial, as it is a broader term than modern "leprosy" (Hansen's disease). It describes a range of skin afflictions characterized by discoloration, swelling, or scabs, whose appearance and behavior (e.g., spreading, healing) determined the ritual status of the afflicted. This condition was considered profoundly defiling, necessitating separation from the community and the Tabernacle, symbolizing a deep spiritual uncleanness that impacted one's standing before God.
* **Priest (Hebrew, _kôhên'_):** The term (H3548, כֹּהֵן) designates a member of the Aaronic lineage, set apart by God to mediate between the people and God. In this context, the priest's role was not to medically heal the *tzara'at* but to authoritatively diagnose it and declare the individual's ritual status (clean or unclean). This highlights the priest's unique position as the guardian of ritual purity and the interpreter of God's laws concerning defilement, underscoring the divine authority vested in their office as principal officers in Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When the plague of leprosy is in a man":** This opening clause establishes the precise condition that triggers the subsequent mandatory action. It refers to the visible manifestation of *tzara'at* on an individual's skin, indicating that the affliction has become apparent and requires immediate attention. The emphasis is on the *presence* of the "plague," signaling a state of potential ritual impurity that demands prompt assessment according to God's prescribed laws for the community's well-being and holiness.
* **"then he shall be brought unto the priest;":** This is the mandatory directive, forming the core command of the verse. Upon discovery of the *tzara'at*, the afflicted individual (or someone on their behalf) was under divine obligation to present themselves to the priest. This act was not optional but a divine command, emphasizing the priest's exclusive authority in diagnosing and managing these conditions. It underscores the communal responsibility to uphold God's standards of purity and the necessity of divine mediation through the appointed channels for dealing with defilement.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 13:9 employs several significant literary devices to convey its profound message. The overarching device is **Prescriptive Law**, as the verse functions as a direct, imperative command from God, establishing a clear and non-negotiable protocol for dealing with *tzara'at*. The meticulous detail found throughout chapters 13-14 reinforces this legalistic and authoritative framework, emphasizing divine order. **Symbolism** is profoundly at play, as *tzara'at* itself serves as a powerful and multifaceted symbol. While a physical ailment, it universally represents the defiling nature of sin, which separates individuals from God and community, much like *tzara'at* separated the afflicted from the Israelite camp. The very act of being "brought unto the priest" also carries significant **Symbolism**, representing the necessity of divine intervention and mediation for cleansing and restoration from defilement. The fact that diagnosis is performed by the priest, rather than a physician, highlights the spiritual dimension of the affliction, emphasizing that ritual impurity, like sin, is ultimately a matter for God's appointed representatives and His divine judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 13:9 powerfully articulates God's unwavering demand for holiness and purity within His covenant people. The detailed laws concerning *tzara'at* underscore that defilement, whether physical or spiritual, cannot be ignored or self-managed; it requires divine intervention and prescribed protocols. The priest's role as the sole arbiter highlights God's established order and the necessity of mediation for reconciliation and restoration. The separation mandated for the afflicted emphasizes the seriousness of impurity in the presence of a holy God, foreshadowing the ultimate separation sin causes. Yet, the provision for examination and potential cleansing also speaks to God's merciful provision for restoration, even from the most severe forms of defilement, demonstrating His desire for His people to be whole and in communion with Him.

* [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")
* [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without the Shedding of Blood There is No Forgiveness")
* [1 Peter 1:15-16](/1_peter/1-15-16 "1 Peter 1:15-16 - Be Holy in All Your Conduct")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This ancient ceremonial law, though specific to Old Testament Israel, offers profound spiritual lessons for believers today. Just as physical *tzara'at* had to be immediately recognized and brought before the priest for authoritative diagnosis, so too must we acknowledge and address the spiritual defilement of sin in our lives. There is no possibility of self-cleansing from sin; it requires honest self-examination, humble confession, and seeking the cleansing that God alone provides. The meticulous scrutiny by the priest can serve as an analogy for the need for transparency and humility in confronting our spiritual condition before God. This passage reminds us that God is deeply concerned with our purity, not just for our individual well-being but for the health and holiness of the entire community of faith. It calls us to respond promptly and decisively to the conviction of sin, seeking the cleansing and restoration that God alone provides through His appointed means, ultimately through Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "plagues" or defilements in my life do I tend to ignore or try to hide, rather than bringing them before God in confession?**
* **In what ways does this passage highlight the seriousness with which God views sin and impurity, both individually and communally?**
* **How does the priest's role in diagnosing *tzara'at* inform my understanding of the need for spiritual accountability and confession within the Christian life?**

### FAQ

**What exactly was *tzara'at* (often translated as leprosy) in ancient Israel?**

Answer: *Tzara'at* (צָרַעַת) was a broad and unique term in ancient Israel that encompassed a variety of severe, chronic skin conditions, which were not exclusively modern Hansen's disease. It could manifest as white patches, scabs, or swellings on the skin, and its diagnosis depended on specific characteristics like its depth, color, and whether it spread or healed. Importantly, *tzara'at* also referred to mold or mildew on garments and within houses, as meticulously detailed in [Leviticus 13:47-59](/leviticus/13-47-59 "Leviticus 13:47-59 - Laws for Leprosy in Garments") and [Leviticus 14:33-53](/leviticus/14-33-53 "Leviticus 14:33-53 - Laws for Leprosy in Houses"). Its primary significance was ritual; it rendered an individual or object ritually unclean, requiring immediate separation from the community and the Tabernacle, impacting their ability to participate in worship and communal life.

**Why was it mandatory to bring someone with *tzara'at* to the priest, rather than a physician?**

Answer: The priest (*kohen*) was the divinely appointed authority for matters of ritual purity and defilement in Israel, as established throughout [the book of Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus - The Book of Holiness"). Their role was not primarily medical but theological and ceremonial. They were responsible for interpreting God's laws, declaring ritual status (clean or unclean), and overseeing the prescribed purification rites. Bringing the afflicted to the priest underscored that *tzara'at* was not just a physical ailment but a condition with profound spiritual implications, affecting one's standing before a holy God and within the covenant community. This highlights God's established order and the necessity of His chosen mediators for dealing with defilement, emphasizing that purity was fundamentally a spiritual matter under divine jurisdiction.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 13:9, with its mandate to bring the defiled to the priest for diagnosis and assessment, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament priest, a mere human, could only declare a person unclean and then, if the *tzara'at* healed, declare them clean, overseeing a ritual cleansing that was a shadow of true purification. However, Jesus, our [Great High Priest](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14 - Jesus Our Great High Priest"), possesses the divine power not merely to diagnose but to truly cleanse, forgive, and restore. When lepers approached Him, He did not send them to the earthly priest for diagnosis; instead, He touched them and healed them, demonstrating His sovereign authority over sin and sickness (e.g., [Matthew 8:1-4](/matthew/8-1-4 "Matthew 8:1-4 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper"), [Mark 1:40-45](/mark/1-40-45 "Mark 1:40-45 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper"), [Luke 5:12-16](/luke/5-12-16 "Luke 5:12-16 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper")). *Tzara'at* powerfully symbolized the defiling nature of sin, which separates humanity from a holy God. Just as the afflicted person in Leviticus had to be brought to the priest, we, in our spiritual defilement and sin, must be brought to Christ. He is the one who, through His perfect, once-for-all sacrifice ([Hebrews 7:26-28](/hebrews/7-26-28 "Hebrews 7:26-28 - A High Priest Holy, Blameless, Pure")) and ongoing priestly intercession ([Hebrews 9:24](/hebrews/9-24 "Hebrews 9:24 - Christ's Heavenly Intercession")), cleanses us from all unrighteousness ([1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")) and restores us to full, unhindered communion with God and His people, thereby fulfilling and surpassing the very purpose of the Levitical priesthood.

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.