Leviticus 15:12

And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

And the vessel {H3627} of earth {H2789}, that he toucheth {H5060} which hath the issue {H2100}, shall be broken {H7665}: and every vessel {H3627} of wood {H6086} shall be rinsed {H7857} in water {H4325}.

If the person with the discharge touches a clay pot, it must be broken; if he touches a wooden utensil, it must be rinsed in water.

Any clay pot that the man with the discharge touches must be broken, and any wooden utensil must be rinsed with water.

And the earthen vessel, which he that hath the issue toucheth, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

Commentary

Leviticus 15:12 is part of a larger section (Leviticus 15) detailing the laws of ritual purity concerning bodily discharges in ancient Israel. This verse specifically addresses what happens to household items touched by a person suffering from a chronic discharge, known as an "issue" (Hebrew: zav).

Context

In the Mosaic Law, strict rules governed ceremonial cleanliness and uncleanness. These laws were crucial for maintaining the holiness of the Israelite camp and preventing the spread of impurity, especially given the presence of God's Tabernacle in their midst. A person with an "issue" (such as a chronic discharge, distinct from normal bodily functions like menstruation, also addressed in this chapter, e.g., Leviticus 15:25-30) was considered ceremonially unclean. Anyone or anything they touched also became unclean, necessitating specific purification rituals or destruction.

Key Themes

  • Purity and Holiness: The primary theme is the absolute necessity of maintaining ritual purity. God is holy, and His people must also be holy, reflecting His character (Leviticus 19:2). These laws created a constant awareness of impurity and the need for cleansing.
  • Thorough Cleansing: The distinction between earthenware and wooden vessels highlights the thoroughness required for purification. Porous earthenware was deemed impossible to truly cleanse of impurity and therefore had to be destroyed, signifying that some forms of defilement required complete removal.
  • Contagion of Impurity: The laws demonstrate how ritual uncleanness was "contagious." Contact with an unclean person or object rendered others unclean, emphasizing the pervasive nature of sin and its defiling effects.

Linguistic Insights

The term "issue" translates the Hebrew word zav (ื–ึธื‘), referring to a persistent, abnormal bodily discharge. The "vessel of earth" is keli-cheres (ื›ึฐึผืœึดื™ึพื—ึถืจึถืก), denoting a pottery or earthenware container, which was typically porous and relatively inexpensive. The "vessel of wood" is keli-etz (ื›ึฐึผืœึดื™ึพืขึตืฅ), referring to wooden utensils or containers, which were less porous and could be effectively cleansed by washing.

Practical Application

While the specific ritual laws of Leviticus are no longer observed by Christians, having been fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 9:14), the underlying principles remain highly relevant:

  • God Desires Holiness: This passage underscores God's unwavering demand for purity and separation from defilement. Spiritually, this translates to a call for believers to pursue holiness in their lives, striving to be free from sin and its corrupting influence.
  • Sin's Defiling Nature: Just as physical impurities rendered objects unusable, sin defiles our lives and our relationship with God. It cannot simply be "rinsed off" but often requires a radical break or "breaking" of habits and desires.
  • Christ, Our Purification: The inability to cleanse certain vessels points to the inadequacy of human efforts or rituals to truly purify from sin. Only the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ provides the ultimate and complete cleansing for our sins (1 John 1:7). He is the ultimate solution to our spiritual "issue."
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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

  • Leviticus 6:28

    But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.

  • Leviticus 11:32

    And upon whatsoever [any] of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether [it be] any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel [it be], wherein [any] work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.

  • Leviticus 11:33

    And every earthen vessel, whereinto [any] of them falleth, whatsoever [is] in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1

    ยถ For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

  • Proverbs 1:23

    Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

  • Psalms 2:9

    Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

  • Philippians 3:21

    Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
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