Leviticus 13:52

He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it [is] a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.

He shall therefore burn {H8313} that garment {H899}, whether warp {H8359} or woof {H6154}, in woollen {H6785} or in linen {H6593}, or any thing {H3627} of skin {H5785}, wherein the plague {H5061} is: for it is a fretting {H3992} leprosy {H6883}; it shall be burnt {H8313} in the fire {H784}.

He is to burn the garment, threads, woven-in parts of either wool or linen, or item of leather having the infection; for it is a contagious tzara'at; it must be burned up completely.

He is to burn the fabric, weave, or knit, whether the contaminated item is wool or linen or leather. Since the mildew is harmful, the article must be burned up.

And he shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in woollen or in linen, or anything of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.

Commentary

Historical and Cultural Context

Leviticus 13 details the extensive laws concerning various skin conditions, often broadly translated as "leprosy" (see Leviticus 13:2), which also included mold or mildew affecting garments and houses. In ancient Israel, such conditions were not only a medical concern but deeply intertwined with ceremonial purity. The presence of these "plagues" rendered individuals and objects ritually unclean, preventing participation in community worship and requiring strict separation. The priest served as the primary authority in diagnosing and prescribing the necessary actions for purification or condemnation. The burning of the garment, whether made of wool, linen, or skin, was a definitive act to prevent the spread of contamination and restore ritual purity to the community, emphasizing the serious nature of defilement in the eyes of God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Purity and Holiness: This verse underscores the paramount importance of purity in Israelite society, reflecting God's own holy character. Anything that threatened the physical or spiritual well-being of the community, especially contamination that could spread, had to be completely eradicated.
  • Containment of Contamination: The immediate burning of the garment highlights the urgency and severity of containing the "plague." This was a practical measure to prevent further defilement and protect the health of the camp.
  • Thorough Eradication: The command to burn the entire garment, regardless of its material or weave ("warp or woof"), signifies the need for complete and irreversible destruction of the defiled object. There was no partial remedy for a "fretting leprosy" that spread aggressively.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "plague" or "leprosy" here is nega' (נֶגַע), which broadly refers to a "stroke," "blow," or "affliction." While often translated as "leprosy," it encompassed a range of skin diseases, as well as mildew or mold found on garments and houses. The phrase "fretting leprosy" translates the Hebrew tsara'at mam'eret (צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת), implying a malignant, spreading, and destructive condition. This emphasizes the severe, corrosive nature of the contamination that necessitated its complete destruction by fire, symbolizing a thorough purification.

Related Scriptures

  • For the broader context of priestly inspection and laws concerning skin diseases, refer to Leviticus 13:47-49.
  • The principle of destroying contaminated items to prevent spread is also seen in the command to demolish an infected house in Leviticus 14:45.
  • This strict approach to defilement foreshadows the New Testament understanding of dealing with sin; compare how Paul addresses purging sin from the community in 1 Corinthians 5:7, "Purge out therefore the old leaven."

Practical Application

While we no longer operate under the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, the principles behind Leviticus 13:52 offer valuable spiritual lessons. The command to burn the defiled garment speaks to the necessity of completely removing anything that contaminates our lives or the community. This can be interpreted spiritually as identifying and decisively dealing with habits, influences, or sins that are "fretting" or destructive. Just as the physical "plague" spread, unchecked sin or negative influences can corrupt. The radical action of burning signifies a complete break and commitment to holiness, reminding us that we should lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. It emphasizes that true purity often requires decisive, even radical, steps to sever ties with what defiles.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 30:22 (2 votes)

    Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

  • Leviticus 11:33 (2 votes)

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

  • Leviticus 11:35 (2 votes)

    And every [thing] whereupon [any part] of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; [whether it be] oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: [for] they [are] unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.

  • Acts 19:19 (2 votes)

    Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all [men]: and they counted the price of them, and found [it] fifty thousand [pieces] of silver.

  • Acts 19:20 (2 votes)

    So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

  • Leviticus 14:44 (2 votes)

    Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, [if] the plague be spread in the house, it [is] a fretting leprosy in the house: it [is] unclean.

  • Leviticus 14:45 (2 votes)

    And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry [them] forth out of the city into an unclean place.