Leviticus 15:5
And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even.
And whosoever {H376} toucheth {H5060} his bed {H4904} shall wash {H3526} his clothes {H899}, and bathe {H7364} himself in water {H4325}, and be unclean {H2930} until the even {H6153}.
Whoever touches his bed is to wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; he will be unclean until evening.
Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
Cross-References
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Leviticus 11:25 (4 votes)
And whosoever beareth [ought] of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. -
Leviticus 16:26 (3 votes)
And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. -
Leviticus 17:15 (3 votes)
And every soul that eateth that which died [of itself], or that which was torn [with beasts, whether it be] one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean. -
Leviticus 11:32 (2 votes)
And upon whatsoever [any] of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether [it be] any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel [it be], wherein [any] work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. -
Isaiah 1:16 (2 votes)
ยถ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; -
Ezekiel 36:25 (2 votes)
ยถ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. -
Leviticus 13:34 (2 votes)
And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, [if] the scall be not spread in the skin, nor [be] in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
Commentary
Context
Leviticus 15:5 is part of a larger section (Leviticus 15) detailing laws concerning various bodily discharges that rendered an individual ritually "unclean." These regulations were crucial for ancient Israel, emphasizing the importance of maintaining ritual purity within the community, especially in their approach to a holy God and participation in sacred worship. The specific focus of this verse is on secondary contamination: if someone touched an object (like a bed or garment) that had been touched by a person with an unclean discharge, they too would become ritually unclean.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "unclean" is tameh (ืึธืึตื), which denotes a state of ritual impurity rather than moral defilement. It signifies separation from the sacred, making one unfit for divine presence or participation in holy rites. The phrase "bathe himself in water" implies a full washing or immersion, emphasizing the thoroughness required for purification.
Practical Application
While the specific ceremonial laws of Leviticus are not binding for believers under the New Covenant, the underlying spiritual principles remain profound. This verse teaches us:
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