Leviticus 14:54

¶ This [is] the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall,

This is the law {H8451} for all manner of plague {H5061} of leprosy {H6883}, and scall {H5424},

"Such is the law for all kinds of tzara'at sores, for a crusted area,

This is the law for any infectious skin disease, for a scaly outbreak,

This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and for a scall,

Commentary

Context

Leviticus 14:54 serves as a concluding summary to the detailed regulations concerning various forms of ritual impurity related to skin diseases, primarily those categorized under what the King James Version calls "leprosy" (Hebrew: tsara'at) and "scall." The preceding chapters, Leviticus 13 and Leviticus 14, lay out extensive instructions for priests to diagnose, isolate, and, if healing occurred, perform purification rites for individuals afflicted with these conditions. This verse emphasizes that the complex set of laws just described applies comprehensively to all such cases, ensuring the purity of the Israelite camp in accordance with God's commands.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Purity: Central to the book of Leviticus, these laws underscore God's demand for a ritually clean and holy people. Physical impurities were seen as barriers to full participation in the community and worship, reflecting a deeper spiritual truth about sin's defiling nature.
  • Divine Authority and Law: The meticulous detail of these laws highlights God's sovereignty over every aspect of Israelite life, from spiritual worship to public health and personal hygiene. He provided the specific "law" for dealing with these conditions.
  • Exclusion and Reintegration: The system outlined for "leprosy" involved temporary exclusion from the camp, followed by a prescribed purification process upon healing, allowing for reintegration into the community. This provided a framework for managing contagious diseases while maintaining social order and spiritual purity.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV term "leprosy" translates the Hebrew word tsara'at (צָרַעַת). It's crucial to understand that tsara'at in the Bible is a broader category than modern Hansen's disease. It encompassed a range of severe, often chronic, skin afflictions (including boils, burns, and rashes that failed to heal), and even mildew or mold on garments and houses. The focus was less on medical diagnosis and more on ritual impurity. The term "scall" (Hebrew: neteḳ, נֶתֶק) refers to a specific type of persistent skin eruption, possibly a fungal infection like favus or ringworm, which was also considered a form of tsara'at for the purpose of these purity laws. This verse summarily states that all the preceding regulations apply to this comprehensive range of skin conditions.

Practical Application

While we no longer observe these specific Levitical laws, the principles behind them offer valuable insights:

  • God's Attention to Detail: This passage reminds us that God cares about the well-being of His people in every facet of life, including physical health and community hygiene. His laws were designed for the flourishing of Israel.
  • The Nature of Sin: The ritual impurity caused by tsara'at often serves as a powerful Old Testament symbol for sin. Just as tsara'at separated an individual from the community and God's presence, so sin defiles and separates us from a holy God and can isolate us from others.
  • The Need for Cleansing: The elaborate purification rituals point to the universal human need for cleansing from defilement. For believers today, true cleansing comes not through animal sacrifices, but through the atoning work of Jesus Christ, who healed lepers and offers spiritual purification (see 1 John 1:9).
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Cross-References

  • Leviticus 15:32

    This [is] the law of him that hath an issue, and [of him] whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;

  • Leviticus 14:32

    This [is] the law [of him] in whom [is] the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get [that which pertaineth] to his cleansing.

  • Numbers 6:13

    And this [is] the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:

  • Leviticus 7:1

    ¶ Likewise this [is] the law of the trespass offering: it [is] most holy.

  • Leviticus 6:9

    Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This [is] the law of the burnt offering: It [is] the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.

  • Leviticus 11:46

    This [is] the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

  • Numbers 19:14

    This [is] the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that [is] in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.
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