Leviticus 15:32

This [is] the law of him that hath an issue, and [of him] whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;

This is the law {H8451} of him that hath an issue {H2100}, and of him whose seed {H2233}{H7902} goeth {H3318} from him, and is defiled {H2930} therewith;

"'Such is the law for the person who has a discharge; for the man who has a seminal emission that makes him unclean;

This is the law of him who has a discharge, of the man who has an emission of semen whereby he is unclean,

This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed of copulation goeth from him, so that he is unclean thereby;

Commentary

Leviticus 15:32 concludes the detailed regulations concerning various bodily discharges that caused ritual impurity in ancient Israel. This verse acts as a summary statement, pointing back to the specific conditions and individuals discussed earlier in the chapter.

Context

This verse, Leviticus 15:32, serves as a concluding summary for the detailed regulations found throughout Leviticus Chapter 15. The chapter outlines laws concerning various bodily emissions—such as chronic discharges (often referred to as "issues" in the KJV, Leviticus 15:2-15 for men and Leviticus 15:25-30 for women) and seminal emissions (Leviticus 15:16-18). These laws were part of the Mosaic Law given by God to the Israelites, designed to teach them about holiness and separation, distinguishing them from the surrounding pagan nations whose practices often disregarded bodily sanctity and ritual purity.

Key Themes

  • Ritual Purity and Impurity: The primary theme is the distinction between clean and unclean states. Bodily discharges, while natural, rendered an individual ritually impure (defiled) and temporarily unable to participate in sacred activities or enter the Tabernacle. This impurity was not necessarily sinful, but a state requiring specific purification rites.
  • Holiness of God and His People: These laws underscore God's absolute holiness. The meticulous attention to purity in daily life, even in natural bodily functions, reflected the need for a holy people to dwell in the presence of a holy God. It taught Israel that defilement, whether moral or ritual, created a barrier between them and the divine.
  • Sanctity of Life and Body: The laws emphasize a reverence for life and the body, even in its most vulnerable or mundane aspects. Bodily fluids were often associated with life and its processes, and their unregulated presence could signify a disruption in the ideal state of creation.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses precise terms that reflect the original Hebrew:

  • "Issue" (Hebrew: zôb): This term refers to a "flow" or "discharge," specifically abnormal or prolonged bodily fluids beyond normal menstruation or seminal emission. It highlights the continuous or persistent nature of the impurity.
  • "Seed" (Hebrew: zera'): This directly translates to "semen" or "seed," referring to male seminal emission. The law covered both involuntary nocturnal emissions and emissions from sexual intercourse.
  • "Defiled therewith" (Hebrew: ṭāmē'): This signifies being "ritually unclean" or "impure." It's crucial to understand that ṭāmē' does not necessarily mean "sinful" in this context, but rather a state of ritual unfitness for sacred communion or participation in the community's worship life until purification rituals were completed.

Practical Application

While Christians are no longer bound by the literal observance of these ceremonial purity laws, they carry profound spiritual lessons:

  • God's Holiness: These laws powerfully illustrate God's absolute holiness and His demand for purity in those who approach Him. Just as physical defilement prevented access to the Tabernacle, spiritual defilement (sin) separates us from God's presence.
  • Need for Cleansing: The elaborate purification rituals point to humanity's inherent need for cleansing. In the New Covenant, this cleansing is provided not by ritual baths or animal sacrifices, but by the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood cleanses us from all sin and spiritual defilement (Hebrews 9:14, 1 John 1:7).
  • Respect for the Body: These laws implicitly teach a reverence for the human body as God's creation. Even though certain functions caused temporary ritual impurity, they were part of God's design, and the laws provided a structured way to return to purity. For believers today, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), calling us to honor God with our bodies in all aspects of life.
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Cross-References

  • Leviticus 11:46 (2 votes)

    This [is] the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

  • Leviticus 14:54 (2 votes)

    ¶ This [is] the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall,

  • Leviticus 15:18 (2 votes)

    The woman also with whom man shall lie [with] seed of copulation, they shall [both] bathe [themselves] in water, and be unclean until the even.

  • Numbers 19:14 (2 votes)

    This [is] the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that [is] in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.

  • Leviticus 13:59 (2 votes)

    This [is] the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

  • Leviticus 14:2 (2 votes)

    This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:

  • Leviticus 14:32 (2 votes)

    This [is] the law [of him] in whom [is] the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get [that which pertaineth] to his cleansing.