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 details specific regulations concerning ritual purity for the Aaronic priests, stipulating that anyone who touches a "creeping thing" or an unclean person becomes ceremonially defiled. This verse underscores the stringent requirements for priests to maintain a state of ritual cleanness, which was 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 on the laws governing the priests' consumption of holy offerings, building upon the broader themes of holiness and ritual purity established throughout the book of Leviticus. Chapter 21 outlines the personal holiness required of priests, including restrictions on marriage and contact with the dead. Chapter 22 then shifts 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 part of a list (verses 4-6) detailing 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. This meticulous attention to detail highlights the profound reverence required when interacting with anything consecrated to the holy God of Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, ritual purity (or impurity) was a pervasive concept that governed daily life, particularly in relation to worship. The Tabernacle, as the dwelling place of God, was the epicenter of Israel's spiritual life, and its sanctity was paramount. Priests served as 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 detailed in [Leviticus 12-15](/leviticus/12 "Leviticus 12-15 - Laws of Purity")) was considered defiling. This defilement was not necessarily a moral failing but a temporary ritual state that required specific purification rites (e.g., washing, waiting until evening) before one could re-engage in sacred activities. These laws served to impress upon the Israelites the absolute holiness of God and the necessity of approaching Him with utmost reverence and preparation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Creeping thing (Hebrew, _sherets'_):** This term refers to a category of swarming or creeping creatures, often small animals, insects, or reptiles. In the Mosaic Law, particularly in [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals"), many of these creatures are explicitly declared unclean and contact with their carcasses would impart ritual impurity. The inclusion of "creeping thing" here signifies a common, everyday source of defilement that priests would need to be vigilant about avoiding.
* **Unclean (Hebrew, _tameh'_):** This adjective describes a state of ritual impurity. It is crucial to understand that being _tameh_ did not inherently mean one had sinned or was morally corrupt. Rather, 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 _tahor_ (clean/pure).
* **Uncleanness (Hebrew, _tum'ah'_):** This noun refers to the condition or state of ritual impurity itself. The verse emphasizes the contagiousness of this state, noting that one "may take uncleanness" from another person who is already in this defiled condition. This highlights the pervasive nature of ritual defilement and the need for careful separation and purification within the community.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing":** This clause identifies one specific, 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 nature of the purity laws.
* **"whereby he may be made unclean":** This phrase clarifies the consequence of touching the creeping thing: the person becomes ritually defiled (_tameh_). It emphasizes the passive nature of becoming unclean through contact, rather than through a deliberate sinful act.
* **"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.
* **"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, would be transferred upon contact. It reinforces the seriousness of avoiding all sources of defilement for priests.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its message. **Categorization** is evident in its listing of distinct sources of impurity: contact with unclean animals and contact with unclean persons. This method helps to clearly define the boundaries of ritual purity. **Emphasis** is achieved through the repetition of the concept of "uncleanness" (Hebrew _tum'ah_ and _tameh_), underscoring its central role in the priestly regulations and 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.

* [Leviticus 11:41-47](/leviticus/11-41 "Leviticus 11:41-47 - Laws Concerning Creeping Things") - Details the specific laws regarding unclean creeping things, providing the foundational context for why their touch imparts uncleanness.
* [Isaiah 6:3](/isaiah/6-3 "Isaiah 6:3 - God's 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 purity laws.
* [Hebrews 12:14](/hebrews/12-14 "Hebrews 12:14 - Pursuing Holiness") - 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 ritual to spiritual purity.

### 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. We are called to a spiritual purity that transcends external rituals, recognizing that true defilement originates from within the human heart ([Mark 7:21-23](/mark/7-21 "Mark 7:21-23 - Jesus' Teaching on Defilement")). Just as the ancient priests had to be vigilant about physical contamination, believers today are called to exercise spiritual discernment, avoiding anything that would hinder their relationship with God or compromise their witness. This involves conscious choices about our associations, media consumption, attitudes, and 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 love and reverence for the One who has made us clean through Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be unknowingly "touching" spiritual "creeping things" or "unclean persons" that hinder your walk with God?**
* **How does understanding the Old Testament emphasis on external purity deepen your appreciation for the New Testament's emphasis on internal, spiritual purity?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate greater spiritual discernment and separation from worldly influences that might defile your heart or mind?**
* **How does the strictness of these ancient purity laws inform your understanding of God's holiness and the reverence due to Him in your worship and daily life?**

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

Answer: The primary purpose 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, 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 about moral sin, but about ritual fitness for divine presence.

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

Answer: No, in the context of Leviticus, "unclean" (Hebrew _tameh_) 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 purification rites to resolve, allowing the person to re-enter the community's full participation in worship. This distinction 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 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") and [Mark 7:18-23](/mark/7-18 "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 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 inability to achieve true purity through external rituals alone. These temporary, physical purifications pointed to a deeper, spiritual need. 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. He did not become unclean by touching the "unclean," but rather, by His divine power, He made the unclean clean ([Mark 1:40-42](/mark/1-40 "Mark 1:40-42 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper")). His perfect sacrifice on the cross serves as the ultimate purification, cleansing us not merely from ritual impurity but from the defilement of sin itself ([Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13 "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 ([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.