Leviticus 22:4

What man soever of the seed of Aaron [is] a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing [that is] unclean [by] the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;

What man soever {H376} of the seed {H2233} of Aaron {H175} is a leper {H6879}, or hath a running issue {H2100}; he shall not eat {H398} of the holy things {H6944}, until he be clean {H2891}. And whoso toucheth {H5060} any thing that is unclean {H2931} by the dead {H5315}, or a man {H376} whose seed {H2233}{H7902} goeth {H3318} from him;

"'Any descendant of Aharon with tzara'at or a discharge is not to eat the holy things until he is clean. Anyone who has touched a person made unclean by a dead body, or who has had a seminal emission,

If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen,

What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;

Commentary

Leviticus 22:4 outlines specific conditions under the Mosaic Law that rendered priests (descendants of Aaron) ritually unclean, thereby prohibiting them from partaking of the "holy things" – the sacred portions of offerings designated for their sustenance. This verse underscores the paramount importance of ritual purity for those serving God in the tabernacle or temple.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section (Leviticus 21-22) detailing the laws of holiness for the priesthood. Priests were required to maintain a higher standard of ceremonial purity than the average Israelite because of their close proximity to God's presence and their role in mediating between God and the people. The "holy things" refer to the consecrated food from sacrifices, such as the wave breast and heave thigh, which were the priests' rightful share (Leviticus 7:34). The conditions listed – leprosy, a running issue (bodily discharge), contact with the dead, or seminal emission – were all sources of ritual uncleanness in ancient Israel, often associated with disease, death, or the normal but ritually defiling aspects of human life.

Key Themes

  • Holiness and Purity: The central theme is the absolute necessity of ritual purity for those approaching a holy God. God's nature is holy, and therefore, everything associated with His worship and service must also be consecrated and pure.
  • Separation: Priests were set apart for God's service, and these laws reinforced their unique status and the strict requirements for maintaining it. Their uncleanness would defile the sacred space and offerings.
  • Consequences of Uncleanness: The immediate consequence of impurity was exclusion from sacred meals and duties, highlighting the seriousness of defilement in God's eyes. This was not a moral judgment but a ceremonial one, requiring specific purification rites to restore cleanliness.
  • Symbolism of Life and Death: Many forms of uncleanness (like leprosy or contact with the dead) were associated with decay, disease, and death, which stand in stark opposition to God, who is the source of life and purity.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "unclean" is tameh, and for "clean" is tahor. These terms describe a ritual state rather than a moral one. A person who was tameh was not necessarily sinful, but was ceremonially unfit to participate in sacred activities or enter the tabernacle/temple until they underwent the prescribed purification process, which often involved washing and a waiting period.

Related Scriptures

The laws concerning leprosy are extensively detailed in Leviticus 13, outlining diagnosis and purification. Regulations on bodily discharges are found in Leviticus 15. The concept of uncleanness from contact with the dead is further elaborated in Numbers 19, which describes the purification rites involving the ashes of a red heifer. These laws collectively emphasize God's demand for holiness from His people, especially those in leadership.

Practical Application

While believers today are not under the ceremonial law of the Old Testament, the underlying principles of holiness and purity remain vital. Through Christ, all believers are considered a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), called to spiritual purity. Our "holy things" are not physical sacrifices but our lives, worship, and service, which are to be offered to God. The need for ceremonial cleansing in the Old Testament foreshadows the ultimate purification through Christ's blood, which cleanses us from spiritual defilement. This verse reminds us that approaching God requires reverence and a commitment to holiness, making us mindful of our spiritual state and reliance on Christ for cleansing, as we are called to "be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 15:2

    Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, [because of] his issue he [is] unclean.

  • Leviticus 15:3

    And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it [is] his uncleanness.

  • Leviticus 11:39

    And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.

  • Leviticus 15:13

    And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

  • Leviticus 15:16

    And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.

  • Leviticus 21:1

    ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:

  • Numbers 19:11

    ¶ He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.
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