Leviticus 15:10

Commentary on Leviticus 15:10 (KJV)

Leviticus 15:10 is part of a larger section (Leviticus 15) detailing laws concerning ritual impurity arising from various bodily discharges. This particular verse addresses the consequences for anyone who comes into contact with items previously touched by a man suffering from an "issue" (a chronic or abnormal bodily discharge, often interpreted as a gonorrhea-like condition).

Context

In ancient Israel, the meticulous system of ritual purity was paramount for maintaining the holiness of the community and the sanctity of the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among His people. Bodily discharges, including those related to menstruation, childbirth, and various "issues," were considered sources of ceremonial uncleanness. This uncleanness was not necessarily a judgment of sin or a medical diagnosis, but a state that separated an individual from full participation in the communal worship and daily life, particularly interactions with sacred spaces or objects. The laws ensured a clear distinction between the holy and the common, emphasizing God's absolute purity.

Key Themes

• Ritual Purity and Impurity: The verse underscores the pervasive nature of ritual impurity, which could be transferred by contact. Touching an item "under him" (e.g., a bed, chair, or garment used by the unclean person) immediately rendered the toucher unclean.
• Contagion and Separation: Impurity was highly contagious within the Israelite camp, requiring strict measures to prevent its spread and maintain the community's holiness. This physical separation served as a constant reminder of the spiritual separation required from sin.
• Prescribed Cleansing: The remedy for this temporary impurity was specific: washing clothes and bathing in water. This highlights God's provision for restoration from an unclean state.
• Temporary Nature of Uncleanness: The phrase "unclean until the even" signifies that this state of impurity was not permanent. With the completion of the prescribed cleansing rituals and the passing of the day, the individual could return to a state of ritual cleanness.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "unclean" is tameh (טָמֵא), which denotes a state of ritual defilement or impurity. It's distinct from moral sin, though it often served as a symbolic representation of the separation sin creates between humanity and a holy God. The phrase "until the even" (עַד הָעָרֶב - 'ad ha'erev) literally means "until the evening," marking the end of the day and the point at which the state of impurity concluded, assuming the prescribed cleansing actions had been performed.

Related Scriptures

These laws underscore the importance of ritual purity in ancient Israel, a theme central to the entire book of Leviticus. The requirement to wash clothes and bathe in water as a means of purification is a recurring motif in Old Testament law, seen in various contexts of uncleanness, such as after touching a dead body (Numbers 19:19). The temporary nature of this uncleanness, ending at sunset, symbolically points to the ultimate and permanent cleansing available through Christ's perfect sacrifice, which cleanses us from all sin and makes us truly holy before God, not just until the evening, but forever.

Practical Application

While Christians are no longer bound by these specific ceremonial laws (as Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant's requirements), the principles behind them remain spiritually significant. This passage teaches us about God's absolute holiness and His desire for His people to be separate from defilement. It illustrates the pervasive nature of sin, which, like ritual impurity, can spread and corrupt. More importantly, it highlights the need for cleansing and restoration. For believers today, our cleansing comes not from ritual washing but from faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7). We are called to live a life of spiritual purity, reflecting God's holiness in all we do, as commanded in 1 Peter 1:16: "Be ye holy; for I am holy."