Leviticus 15:11

And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even.

And whomsoever he toucheth {H5060} that hath the issue {H2100}, and hath not rinsed {H7857} his hands {H3027} in water {H4325}, he shall wash {H3526} his clothes {H899}, and bathe {H7364} himself in water {H4325}, and be unclean {H2930} until the even {H6153}.

If the person with the discharge fails to rinse his hands in water before touching someone, that person is to wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; he will be unclean until evening.

If the man with the discharge touches anyone without first rinsing his hands with water, the one who was touched must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

And whomsoever he that hath the issue toucheth, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Commentary

Commentary on Leviticus 15:11 (KJV)

Leviticus 15:11 is part of a detailed set of laws concerning ritual purity and uncleanness in ancient Israel, as recorded in the King James Version. This specific verse addresses the secondary defilement incurred by someone who touches a person afflicted with a bodily discharge, known as an "issue," if the afflicted person has not properly cleansed their hands. It prescribes the necessary steps for the touched individual to regain ritual purity.

Context

Chapter 15 of Leviticus outlines various laws pertaining to bodily discharges that rendered an individual ritually unclean (Hebrew: tameh). These included seminal emissions (verses 1-18), menstruation (verses 19-24), and other abnormal discharges (verses 25-30). The "issue" mentioned in this verse (Hebrew: zav) refers to an abnormal, chronic bodily fluid discharge, the initial definition of which is found in Leviticus 15:2. These laws were not primarily about hygiene in a modern medical sense, but about maintaining ritual purity within the Israelite camp, especially in light of God's holy presence among them in the Tabernacle. Uncleanness could spread through touch, and this verse illustrates how even indirect contact could transmit ritual impurity, necessitating specific cleansing rituals.

Key Themes

  • Purity and Holiness: A central theme throughout Leviticus, these laws emphasized God's demand for a holy people set apart for Him. The meticulous nature of these regulations underscored the seriousness of maintaining ritual purity, which was crucial for approaching God and participating in community worship. This aligns with the broader call to holiness found in Leviticus 11:44.
  • Contagion of Uncleanness: The verse highlights the principle that ritual impurity was contagious. Not only was the person with the "issue" unclean, but anything they touched also became unclean, and anyone touching those secondarily defiled objects or persons could also become unclean. This illustrates the pervasive nature of defilement.
  • Ritual Cleansing: The prescribed actionsโ€”washing clothes, bathing in water, and remaining unclean until eveningโ€”were the standard means of purification for minor defilements. These rituals were essential for restoration to full participation in the community and sacred activities.
  • God's Order and Discipline: These laws instilled discipline and reverence for God's presence, teaching the Israelites about the sanctity of life and the importance of ceremonial separation from anything that diminished holiness.

Linguistic Insights

The term "issue" in the KJV text translates the Hebrew word zav (ื–ึธื‘), referring specifically to an abnormal, continuous bodily discharge. The word "unclean" is from the Hebrew tameh (ื˜ึธืžึตื), which denotes a state of ritual impurity or defilement, making one temporarily unfit for sacred activities or direct contact with the holy. It does not inherently imply moral guilt, but a ceremonial state.

Practical Application

While the ceremonial laws of Leviticus are not literally practiced by Christians today, as they find their fulfillment in Christ, the underlying principles offer profound spiritual lessons:

  • The Nature of Sin: Just as physical uncleanness separated an Israelite from the holy community and temple worship, sin creates a spiritual separation from God. Sin is "contagious" in its effects, influencing others and spreading spiritual defilement.
  • The Need for Cleansing: The prescribed washings in Leviticus foreshadow the ultimate spiritual cleansing provided through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood cleanses us from all sin, allowing us to draw near to God with a clean conscience, as reflected in Hebrews 9:14.
  • Pursuit of Holiness: Believers are called to pursue spiritual purity and holiness in all aspects of life. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principle of avoiding spiritual defilement and striving to live in a manner pleasing to God remains paramount, as encouraged in 2 Corinthians 7:1. When we stumble, we are called to confess our sins, trusting in God's faithfulness to cleanse us (1 John 1:9).
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

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