Leviticus 15:17

KJV

And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

KJV (with Strong's)

And every garment {H899}, and every skin {H5785}, whereon is the seed {H2233} of copulation {H7902}, shall be washed {H3526} with water {H4325}, and be unclean {H2930} until the even {H6153}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Any clothing or leather on which there is any semen is to be washed with water; it will be unclean until evening.

Berean Standard Bible

Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.

American Standard Version

And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 15:17 is an integral part of the Mosaic Law, specifically detailing regulations concerning ritual purity. This verse mandates that any garment or skin which comes into contact with seminal emission must be washed with water and remains ritually unclean until the evening. It underscores the pervasive nature of ritual impurity within the Israelite camp and the divine requirement for meticulous adherence to cleansing protocols to maintain the sanctity necessary for God's holy presence among His people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 15:17 is situated within a broader section of Leviticus (chapters 11-15) that meticulously outlines laws concerning various forms of ritual impurity. Chapter 15 itself focuses on bodily discharges, distinguishing between normal and abnormal flows for both men and women. Verses 1-15 address male discharges, particularly gonorrhea, and their associated uncleanness. Verses 16-18 specifically deal with seminal emissions, whether voluntary or involuntary. Verse 16 states that a man who has an emission becomes unclean and must wash his entire body. Leviticus 15:17 extends this uncleanness to objects—garments and skins—that come into contact with the emission, requiring their washing and a period of uncleanness until evening. This demonstrates a cascading effect of impurity, where the defilement of a person can transfer to objects, necessitating comprehensive cleansing. The subsequent verse, [Leviticus 15:18](/leviticus/15-18 "Leviticus 15:18 - Sexual Intercourse and Uncleanness"), addresses the uncleanness resulting from sexual intercourse, applying a similar principle of washing and uncleanness until evening for both parties involved. This immediate context highlights the meticulousness of the purity laws, ensuring that all aspects of life, even natural bodily functions, were brought under the divine standard of holiness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Israelite society, as depicted in the Pentateuch, lived in close proximity to the Tabernacle, the dwelling place of God. This unique relationship necessitated a profound emphasis on holiness and purity, as God's presence could not tolerate defilement. The concept of "unclean" (Hebrew: *ṭameh*) in this context did not signify moral sin or inherent evil, but rather a ritual state that temporarily prevented participation in sacred activities or entry into the Tabernacle precincts. Many ancient Near Eastern cultures had their own purity codes, often related to cultic practices or health, but Israel's laws were distinct in their direct connection to the absolute holiness of Yahweh and the maintenance of the covenant community's sacred space. Bodily fluids, including seminal emissions, were often associated with life and death, and thus, in many ancient cultures, were viewed as potent or potentially defiling. For Israel, these regulations served multiple purposes: they distinguished Israel from surrounding nations, instilled a deep reverence for God's holiness, and provided a structured system for maintaining order and health within the camp. The requirement to wash with water and be unclean "until the even" (sunset) signifies a temporary state, emphasizing that ritual impurity was not permanent and could be remedied through prescribed actions, allowing for re-entry into the community's full ritual life. This meticulousness ensured that the people were always prepared to approach a holy God, even in their daily routines, as detailed throughout [the book of Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus - The Book of Holiness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Garment (Hebrew, _beged_):** Refers to any piece of clothing worn by a person. In the context of ancient Israel, garments were often made of linen or wool. The inclusion of "garment" here indicates that the uncleanness from seminal emission was transferable by contact, emphasizing the pervasive nature of ritual defilement.
* **Skin (Hebrew, _`ôr_):** This term can refer to animal skins used for various purposes, such as bedding, coverings, or even leather goods. Its inclusion alongside "garment" suggests that any material that could absorb or retain the seminal fluid would become ritually unclean, requiring purification. This highlights the comprehensive scope of the purity laws.
* **Unclean (Hebrew, _ṭameh_):** This is a crucial theological term in Leviticus. As noted, it does not denote moral sin but a state of ritual impurity that renders a person or object unsuitable for participation in sacred activities or presence in the Tabernacle. The state is temporary ("until the even") and remedied by prescribed actions, in this case, washing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And every garment, and every skin":** This phrase specifies the objects that become ritually unclean. It broadens the scope of the uncleanness beyond the person themselves (as in [Leviticus 15:16](/leviticus/15-16 "Leviticus 15:16 - Uncleanness from Seminal Emission")) to include items that come into contact with the emission. This indicates the contagious nature of ritual impurity.
* **"whereon is the seed of copulation":** This clause precisely identifies the source of the uncleanness: seminal fluid. The KJV's "seed of copulation" is a direct and literal translation of the Hebrew, clearly referring to semen. Its presence on a garment or skin is the specific trigger for the impurity.
* **"shall be washed with water":** This prescribes the required action for purification. Washing with water was the standard method for cleansing objects from ritual impurity throughout the Mosaic Law. It signifies a physical act of removal that corresponds to the spiritual removal of the state of uncleanness.
* **"and be unclean until the even":** This specifies the duration of the uncleanness. Even after washing, the garment or skin remained ritually impure until sunset of the same day. This temporal element emphasizes that the cleansing process was not instantaneous but involved a period of waiting, signifying the completion of the purification cycle.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Metonymy** by using "seed of copulation" to refer to seminal emission, where a characteristic or outcome (seed) stands in for the entire substance. This direct and unvarnished language reflects the practical and explicit nature of the purity laws. Furthermore, the passage utilizes **Prescriptive Language**, characteristic of legal texts, issuing direct commands ("shall be washed," "shall be unclean") that leave no room for ambiguity regarding the required actions and states of being. The repetitive structure of similar purity laws throughout Leviticus, including the phrase "unclean until the even," functions as a **Formulaic Expression**, reinforcing the consistent nature of the cleansing process and the temporary status of ritual impurity, thereby imprinting these principles deeply into the Israelite consciousness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 15:17, alongside other purity laws, profoundly communicates God's absolute holiness and His demand for a holy people. These regulations, though ceremonial, were designed to instill a deep reverence for God's presence in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. They taught Israel that even natural bodily functions, when they intersected with the sacred space or the community's readiness for worship, required divine protocol. The temporary nature of the uncleanness and the provision for cleansing through water foreshadowed a greater spiritual reality: that defilement, whether ritual or moral, is not permanent and God provides a way for restoration and purification. This system underscored the constant need for vigilance and intentional living in the presence of a holy God, preparing the people for a deeper understanding of spiritual purity.

* [Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13 "The Superiority of Christ's Blood")
* [Numbers 19:11-13](/numbers/19-11 "Uncleanness from a Corpse")
* [Isaiah 1:16](/isaiah/1-16 "Call to Wash and Be Clean")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Christians are not bound by the specific ceremonial laws of Leviticus, the underlying principles of purity, holiness, and the need for cleansing remain profoundly relevant. Leviticus 15:17 reminds us that God is meticulous in His holiness and desires purity not just in our spiritual lives, but in all aspects of our being. The temporary nature of the uncleanness and the prescribed washing with water serve as a powerful metaphor for our own spiritual condition. We are all, by nature, spiritually unclean due to sin, unable to stand in God's holy presence. Yet, God has provided a means of cleansing, not through ritual washing, but through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This passage calls us to consider how we approach God, not with a sense of self-righteousness, but with humility and a recognition of our constant need for His grace and cleansing. It also encourages us to live intentionally, recognizing that even the seemingly mundane aspects of our lives have implications for our walk with God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulousness of the Levitical purity laws, like the one in Leviticus 15:17, deepen your understanding of God's holiness?**
* **In what ways do you recognize your own need for spiritual cleansing, and how do you seek that cleansing in your daily life?**
* **What "garments" or "skins" in your life (habits, attitudes, relationships) might need to be "washed with water" metaphorically, to align more closely with God's purity?**

### FAQ

**What was the purpose of these detailed purity laws in ancient Israel?**

Answer: The detailed purity laws in ancient Israel, including Leviticus 15:17, served multiple critical purposes. Primarily, they were designed to maintain the holiness of the Israelite camp and its people, specifically because God's holy presence dwelt among them in the Tabernacle. These laws distinguished Israel from surrounding pagan nations, who often had different or less stringent purity codes. They instilled a deep reverence for God's absolute holiness, teaching the people that even natural bodily functions required divine regulation to ensure a proper relationship with a holy God. Furthermore, these laws provided a structured system for managing public health in a pre-scientific era and served as pedagogical tools, teaching the Israelites about the pervasive nature of defilement and the necessity of God's provision for cleansing and restoration, ultimately pointing to a greater spiritual need for purification from sin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 15:17, with its emphasis on ritual uncleanness and the need for washing with water to achieve temporary purity, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transcendence in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament purity laws, including those concerning seminal emissions, were "a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ" ([Colossians 2:17](/colossians/2-17 "Colossians 2:17 - Shadow and Substance")). Where the washing of garments and skins provided only a temporary, external cleansing, Jesus offers a complete and internal purification from the defilement of sin. His sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate "washing with water," but of a far greater kind—the shedding of His precious blood, which "cleanses us from all sin" ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood")). The state of being "unclean until the even" points to the temporary nature of the Old Covenant's provisions, whereas Christ's work provides a permanent and eternal cleansing, making believers perpetually clean in God's sight. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), rendering all who believe in Him perfectly pure and fit to stand in the presence of a holy God, not just until evening, but for all eternity ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Sacrifice")).

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.