Leviticus 22:5

KJV

Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

KJV (with Strong's)

Or whosoever {H376} toucheth {H5060} any creeping thing {H8318}, whereby he may be made unclean {H2930}, or a man {H120} of whom he may take uncleanness {H2930}, whatsoever uncleanness {H2932} he hath;

Complete Jewish Bible

or who has touched a reptile or insect that can make him unclean, or a man who is unclean for any reason and who can transmit to him his uncleanness -

Berean Standard Bible

or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be—

American Standard Version

or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 22:5 delineates specific ritual purity regulations for the Aaronic priesthood, stipulating that a priest becomes ceremonially defiled upon touching any "creeping thing" or an individual already in a state of ritual uncleanness. This verse underscores the stringent requirements for priests to maintain a state of ceremonial cleanness, which was absolutely essential for them to partake of the holy offerings and minister effectively within the Tabernacle, thereby preserving the sanctity of God's presence and the integrity of Israel's worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 22 focuses intently on the laws governing the priests' consumption of holy offerings, building directly upon the broader themes of holiness and ritual purity established throughout the book of Leviticus. Chapter 21 meticulously outlines the personal holiness required of priests, including restrictions on marriage and contact with the dead. Chapter 22 then shifts its focus to their conduct regarding sacred food, emphasizing that only those who are ceremonially clean may eat of the Lord's dedicated portions. Verse 5 is an integral part of a detailed list (verses 4-6) specifying various sources of ritual impurity—such as bodily discharges, contact with a dead person, or touching an unclean "creeping thing"—that would temporarily disqualify a priest from partaking of holy food. This meticulous attention to the minutiae of purity highlights the profound reverence and careful preparation required when interacting with anything consecrated to the holy God of Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, the concept of ritual purity (or impurity) was a pervasive and foundational element that governed daily life, especially in relation to worship. The Tabernacle, as the tangible dwelling place of God among His people, served as the epicenter of Israel's spiritual life, and its sanctity was of paramount importance. Priests functioned as crucial intermediaries between God and the people, and their ritual status directly impacted their ability to perform their sacred duties and consume the holy food that sustained them. Contact with "creeping things" (such as rodents, reptiles, or insects, many of which were explicitly declared unclean in [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals")) or with individuals who were ritually unclean (due to various bodily emissions, disease, or contact with death, as exhaustively detailed in [Leviticus 12-15](/leviticus/12 "Leviticus 12-15 - Laws of Purity")) was considered defiling. This defilement was not inherently a moral failing but a temporary ritual state that necessitated specific purification rites (e.g., washing, waiting until evening) before one could re-engage in sacred activities. These laws profoundly impressed upon the Israelites the absolute holiness of God and the non-negotiable necessity of approaching Him with utmost reverence and careful preparation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Leviticus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Holiness**, emphasizing God's absolute purity and His demand for a separated people, particularly those in sacred service. The laws of purity, including those in [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals") and [Leviticus 12-15](/leviticus/12 "Leviticus 12-15 - Laws of Purity"), serve to distinguish Israel from surrounding nations and to impress upon them the gravity of God's presence. Another key theme is **Access to God**, illustrating that proximity to the divine presence requires a specific, ritually clean state. The defilement described in [Leviticus 22:5](/leviticus/22-5 "Leviticus 22:5 - Priestly Purity Regulations") highlights the barriers that uncleanness creates, preventing priests from performing their duties and partaking of holy food. Finally, the verse underscores the **Contagious Nature of Impurity**, showing how defilement can be transmitted through contact, a concept that foreshadows the pervasive and corrupting power of sin in the spiritual realm.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **toucheth (Hebrew, _nâgaʻ'_):** This primitive root signifies not merely a light touch, but often a laying of the hand upon for various purposes, or even to reach, strike, or make contact. In the context of ritual law, it denotes the act of physical contact that results in the transmission of impurity. The verb implies an intentional or unintentional physical interaction that is sufficient to impart defilement, underscoring the sensitivity of the purity laws.
* **creeping thing (Hebrew, _sherets'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to swarm," this term refers to a category of small, swarming, or creeping creatures, encompassing various insects, reptiles, and rodents. As detailed in [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals"), many of these creatures were explicitly declared unclean, and contact with their carcasses was a common source of ritual impurity. The inclusion of "creeping thing" here highlights a mundane, everyday source of defilement that priests needed to diligently avoid.
* **unclean (Hebrew, _ṭâmêʼ'_):** This primitive root signifies being foul or contaminated, particularly in a ceremonial or moral sense. In the context of Leviticus 22:5, it describes the state of ritual impurity. It is crucial to understand that being _ṭâmêʼ_ did not inherently mean one had sinned or was morally corrupt. Instead, it denoted a temporary ceremonial status that rendered a person unfit for participation in sacred activities, such as entering the Tabernacle or eating holy food. This state required specific purification rituals to restore one to a state of _ṭâhôr_ (clean/pure).

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing":** This initial clause identifies one specific and common source of ritual impurity. The act of touching the carcass of a "creeping thing" (as defined in [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals")) was sufficient to render a person, including a priest, ceremonially defiled. This underscores the meticulous and comprehensive nature of the purity laws, covering even seemingly minor contacts.
* **"whereby he may be made unclean":** This phrase clarifies the direct consequence of touching the creeping thing: the individual becomes ritually defiled (_ṭâmêʼ_). It emphasizes the passive nature of becoming unclean through contact, indicating that the impurity is transmitted to the person, rather than being a result of a deliberate sinful act on their part.
* **"or a man of whom he may take uncleanness":** This clause introduces a second, distinct source of impurity: contact with another human being who is already in a state of ritual uncleanness. This highlights the contagious nature of ceremonial defilement, which could be transmitted from person to person, emphasizing the need for separation and careful interaction within the community.
* **"whatsoever uncleanness he hath;":** This concluding phrase serves as a comprehensive catch-all, indicating that any form of ritual uncleanness possessed by the other person, regardless of its specific origin or severity, would be transferred upon contact. It reinforces the seriousness of avoiding all potential sources of defilement for priests, ensuring their constant state of readiness for sacred service.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 22:5 employs several literary devices to convey its precise regulations. **Categorization** is evident in its clear delineation of distinct sources of impurity: contact with unclean animals ("creeping thing") and contact with unclean persons ("a man of whom he may take uncleanness"). This method provides clarity and helps to define the boundaries of ritual purity for the priests. **Emphasis** is achieved through the repetition of the concept of "uncleanness" (using both the verb/adjective _ṭâmêʼ_ and the noun _tumʼâh_), underscoring its central role in the priestly regulations and highlighting the pervasive nature of defilement. Furthermore, there is a subtle use of **Metonymy**, where the "creeping thing" and "a man" stand in for the state of impurity they transmit. They are not merely objects or persons, but conduits of defilement, highlighting the contagious and pervasive nature of ritual uncleanness that must be meticulously avoided by those dedicated to sacred service.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 22:5, like much of the Mosaic Law, profoundly communicates God's absolute holiness and His demand for separation from anything that defiles. While the specific rituals of purity were designed for the Old Covenant Tabernacle system, they served as powerful object lessons about the nature of sin and the necessity of purity to approach a holy God. The contagious nature of uncleanness foreshadows the pervasive and corrupting power of sin, which spreads through humanity and separates us from God. The meticulous requirements for priests underscored their unique role as mediators and the gravity of their access to the divine presence, teaching Israel that God is not to be approached casually or carelessly, but with utmost reverence and preparation. These laws, though ceremonial, pointed to a deeper spiritual reality: God is pure, and to be in His presence, His people must also be pure.

* [Leviticus 11:41-47](/leviticus/11-41-47 "Leviticus 11:41-47 - Laws Concerning Creeping Things and Holiness") - Provides the foundational context for why contact with "creeping things" imparts uncleanness, linking it directly to the call for Israel to be holy as God is holy.
* [Isaiah 6:3](/isaiah/6-3 "Isaiah 6:3 - God's Infinite Holiness") - Declares God's infinite holiness ("Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"), providing the ultimate theological basis for the stringent purity laws and the necessity of separation from defilement.
* [Hebrews 12:14](/hebrews/12-14 "Hebrews 12:14 - Pursuing Holiness for God's Presence") - Exhorts New Testament believers to "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord," shifting the focus from external ritual purity to internal, spiritual purity as the means to approach God.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ritual laws of Leviticus 22:5 are not directly binding on New Covenant believers, the underlying principles of holiness, discernment, and reverence for God remain profoundly relevant for our spiritual walk today. We are called to a spiritual purity that transcends external rituals, recognizing that true defilement originates not from external contact but from within the human heart, as Jesus taught in [Mark 7:21-23](/mark/7-21-23 "Mark 7:21-23 - What Truly Defiles a Person"). Just as the ancient priests had to be vigilant about physical contamination to maintain their fitness for service, believers today are called to exercise spiritual discernment, actively avoiding anything that would hinder their relationship with God or compromise their witness to the world. This involves making conscious choices about our associations, the media we consume, our attitudes, and our actions, ensuring they align with God's holy character. Our lives, as temples of the Holy Spirit, are to reflect the purity and separation that God desires from His people, not out of fear of ritual defilement, but out of profound love and reverence for the One who has made us clean through Christ. This spiritual vigilance is our continuous act of worship and dedication.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be unknowingly "touching" spiritual "creeping things" (e.g., harmful influences, ungodly entertainment) or "unclean persons" (e.g., unhealthy relationships, negative thought patterns) that hinder your walk with God?**
* **How does understanding the Old Testament emphasis on external ritual purity deepen your appreciation for the New Testament's emphasis on internal, spiritual purity and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate greater spiritual discernment and intentional separation from worldly influences that might defile your heart or mind, or compromise your witness?**
* **How does the strictness of these ancient purity laws inform your understanding of God's absolute holiness and the reverence due to Him in your personal worship and daily life?**

### FAQ
**What was the primary purpose of these purity laws for priests?**

Answer: The primary purpose of these purity laws for priests was to maintain the sanctity of the Tabernacle and the holy things dedicated to the Lord, and to ensure that priests, who served as mediators between God and Israel, approached God in a state of ceremonial readiness. These laws underscored God's absolute holiness and the necessity of His people, especially those in sacred service, to reflect that holiness in their conduct and interactions. They were not primarily about moral sin, but about ritual fitness for divine presence and participation in sacred rites.

**Does being "unclean" in Leviticus 22:5 mean a person had sinned?**

Answer: No, in the context of Leviticus, "unclean" (Hebrew _ṭâmêʼ_) refers to a state of ritual impurity, not necessarily moral sin. Touching a "creeping thing" or an unclean person was not a sin in itself, but it rendered one temporarily unfit for sacred activities or contact with holy things. It was a ceremonial status that required specific purification rites to resolve, allowing the person to re-enter the community's full participation in worship. This distinction between ritual impurity and moral sin is crucial for understanding the Mosaic Law.

**Are these specific purity laws from Leviticus still binding on Christians today?**

Answer: No, the specific ritual purity laws regarding "creeping things" and other external defilements from the Old Covenant are not binding on Christians today. The New Testament teaches that Christ's perfect sacrifice has fulfilled these ceremonial laws, shifting the focus from external ritual purity to internal spiritual purity. As [Acts 10:15](/acts/10-15 "Acts 10:15 - Peter's Vision of Clean and Unclean") and [Mark 7:18-23](/mark/7-18-23 "Mark 7:18-23 - What Truly Defiles a Person") illustrate, what truly defiles a person is not external contact but the sin that originates from within the heart. However, the underlying principles of God's holiness, the pervasive nature of sin, and the call to live a life separated unto Him remain eternally relevant for believers.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 22:5, with its stringent demands for ritual purity, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect cleansing found in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament laws concerning "creeping things" and "unclean persons" highlighted the pervasive nature of defilement and humanity's inherent inability to achieve true, lasting purity through external rituals alone. These temporary, physical purifications pointed to a deeper, spiritual need for a radical transformation. Christ, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), entered our defiled world, yet remained perfectly pure and undefiled by sin. He did not become unclean by touching the "unclean," but rather, by His divine power and holiness, He made the unclean clean, as seen when He touched a leper and instantly healed him ([Mark 1:40-42](/mark/1-40-42 "Mark 1:40-42 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper")). His perfect, once-for-all sacrifice on the cross serves as the ultimate purification, cleansing us not merely from ritual impurity but from the defilement of sin itself, purifying our consciences from dead works to serve the living God ([Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13-14 "Hebrews 9:13-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). Through faith in Him, believers are declared righteous and made spiritually clean, enabling us to approach God's holy presence with boldness and confidence, not based on our own efforts to avoid defilement, but on the finished work of our great High Priest ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace Boldly")). He is the true source of purity, making us a holy priesthood, fit to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Him ([1_peter/2-9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Holy Priesthood")).

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.

Cross-References

Leviticus 11:43

¶ Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

Leviticus 11:44

For I [am] the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I [am] holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Leviticus 15:7

And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:19

¶ And if a woman have an issue, [and] her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 11:24

And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 11:28

And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they [are] unclean unto you.