Leviticus 13:38
Leviticus 13:38 in Multiple Translations
When a man or a woman has white spots on the skin,
¶ If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;
And when a man or a woman hath in the skin of the flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;
And if a man or a woman has bright marks on the skin of their flesh, that is, bright white marks,
If someone, man or woman, has white spots on the skin,
Furthermore if there bee many white spots in the skin of the flesh of man or woman,
'And when a man or woman hath in the skin of their flesh bright spots, white bright spots,
“When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots,
If a man also or a woman shall have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;
If a whiteness appear in the skin of a man or a woman,
‘Then a man or a woman has white spots on the skin,
Berean Amplified Bible — Leviticus 13:38
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Leviticus 13:38 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/אִישׁ֙
אֽוֹ
אִשָּׁ֔ה
כִּֽי
יִהְיֶ֥ה
בְ/עוֹר
בְּשָׂרָ֖/ם
בֶּהָרֹ֑ת
בֶּהָרֹ֖ת
לְבָנֹֽת
וְ/אִישׁ֙
ʼîysh
H376
man
Conj | N-ms
אֽוֹ
ʼôw
H176
or
Conj
אִשָּׁ֔ה
ʼishshâh
H802
woman
N-fs
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
יִהְיֶ֥ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
בְ/עוֹר
ʻôwr
H5785
skin
Prep | N-ms
בְּשָׂרָ֖/ם
bâsâr
H1320
flesh
N-ms | Suff
בֶּהָרֹ֑ת
bôhereth
H934
bright spot
N-fp
בֶּהָרֹ֖ת
bôhereth
H934
bright spot
N-fp
לְבָנֹֽת
lâbân
H3836
white
Adj
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Leviticus 13:38
וְ/אִישׁ֙
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
Conj | N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
אֽוֹ
ʼôw
H176
"or"
Conj
Desire can also mean or, and, or if, showing a choice between options, as seen in Proverbs 31:4. It is used to express alternatives or possibilities.
Definition: 1) or, rather 1a) implying that the latter choice is preferred 1b) or if, introducing an example to be seen under a particular principle 1c) (in series) either...or, whether...or 1d) if perchance 1e) except, or else 2) whether, not the least, if, otherwise, also, and, then
Usage: Occurs in 218 OT verses. KJV: also, and, either, if, at the least, [idiom] nor, or, otherwise, then, whether. See also: Genesis 24:49; Leviticus 25:49; Proverbs 30:31.
אִשָּׁ֔ה
ʼishshâh
H802
"woman"
N-fs
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Definition: : woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun)
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. See also: Genesis 2:22; Genesis 34:4; Numbers 5:12.
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
יִהְיֶ֥ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
בְ/עוֹר
ʻôwr
H5785
"skin"
Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word means skin, like human skin or animal hide, and is used in the Bible to describe leather. It appears in Exodus 25:5 to describe the materials used to build the tabernacle. The word is also used in Genesis 3:21 to describe the clothing God made for Adam and Eve.
Definition: 1) skin, hide 1a) skin (of men) 1b) hide (of animals)
Usage: Occurs in 82 OT verses. KJV: hide, leather, skin. See also: Genesis 3:21; Leviticus 13:35; Jeremiah 13:23.
בְּשָׂרָ֖/ם
bâsâr
H1320
"flesh"
N-ms | Suff
The Hebrew word for flesh refers to the body or a person, and can also describe living things or animals. In the Bible, it is used to describe humans and animals, as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: 1) flesh 1a) of the body 1a1) of humans 1a2) of animals 1b) the body itself 1c) male organ of generation (euphemism) 1d) kindred, blood-relations 1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God) 1f) all living things 1g) animals 1h) mankind Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)
Usage: Occurs in 241 OT verses. KJV: body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. See also: Genesis 2:21; Numbers 11:21; Psalms 16:9.
בֶּהָרֹ֑ת
bôhereth
H934
"bright spot"
N-fp
This Hebrew word refers to a bright spot on the skin, possibly a scar, blister, or boil, and is used in Leviticus to describe a sign of leprosy. It is translated as a whitish spot in the KJV Bible. This term appears in discussions of skin conditions.
Definition: 1) white patch of skin, brightness, bright spot (on skin) 2) (CLBL) bright spot, scar, blister, boil 2a) resulting from fire 2b) resulting from inflammation of the skin 2c) possible sign of leprosy
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: bright spot. See also: Leviticus 13:2; Leviticus 13:25; Leviticus 14:56.
בֶּהָרֹ֖ת
bôhereth
H934
"bright spot"
N-fp
This Hebrew word refers to a bright spot on the skin, possibly a scar, blister, or boil, and is used in Leviticus to describe a sign of leprosy. It is translated as a whitish spot in the KJV Bible. This term appears in discussions of skin conditions.
Definition: 1) white patch of skin, brightness, bright spot (on skin) 2) (CLBL) bright spot, scar, blister, boil 2a) resulting from fire 2b) resulting from inflammation of the skin 2c) possible sign of leprosy
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: bright spot. See also: Leviticus 13:2; Leviticus 13:25; Leviticus 14:56.
לְבָנֹֽת
lâbân
H3836
"white"
Adj
Means white in Hebrew, used to describe something pure or clean, like freshly fallen snow.
Definition: white
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: white. See also: Genesis 30:35; Leviticus 13:21; Zechariah 6:6.
Study Notes — Leviticus 13:38
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Laws about Skin Diseases
36the priest is to examine him, and if the scaly outbreak has spread on the skin, the priest need not look for yellow hair; the person is unclean.
37If, however, in his sight the scaly outbreak is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed. He is clean, and the priest is to pronounce him clean.
38When a man or a woman has white spots on the skin,
39the priest shall examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; the person is clean. 40Now if a man loses his hair and is bald, he is still clean.Leviticus 13:38 Summary
This verse is talking about a specific skin condition where a person has white spots on their skin, and the priest is to examine them to determine if they are clean or unclean. This is part of a bigger section in Leviticus 13 that deals with different skin conditions and how to determine cleanliness. Just like the priest had to examine the skin to determine cleanliness, we should examine our own hearts and lives to see if there are any 'spots' or areas that need to be cleaned up, as seen in 1 John 1:9 and 2 Corinthians 7:1. By doing so, we can become more like Jesus, who is our ultimate example of purity and holiness, as seen in Hebrews 7:26.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the white spots on the skin being referred to in Leviticus 13:38?
The white spots are likely a type of skin condition, possibly a rash or discoloration, that the priest is to examine to determine if the person is clean or unclean, as seen in Leviticus 13:39.
Is this verse only referring to men or does it include women as well?
According to Leviticus 13:38, both men and women can have these white spots on their skin, and the priest is to examine them to determine their cleanliness, as also seen in Leviticus 13:29-37 where both men and women are included in the examination for other skin conditions.
How does this relate to other skin conditions mentioned in Leviticus 13?
This verse is part of a larger section in Leviticus 13 that deals with various skin conditions and how the priest is to examine and determine the cleanliness of individuals, such as in Leviticus 13:1-46, which provides guidelines for the priests to follow.
What is the spiritual significance of these skin conditions in the Bible?
In the Bible, skin conditions and uncleanness are often used to illustrate spiritual conditions, such as sin and separation from God, as seen in Leviticus 11:44-45 and Numbers 5:2-3, which highlight the importance of purity and holiness in the lives of God's people.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can apply the principle of examination and discernment in my own life, just as the priest was to examine the skin conditions in Leviticus 13?
- How can I balance the need for physical cleanliness with the importance of spiritual cleanliness, as taught in Scripture, such as in Matthew 23:25-26?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be trying to 'cover up' or hide my own 'skin conditions', rather than allowing God to examine and heal me, as seen in Psalm 51:7 and Isaiah 1:18?
- How can I show compassion and care to those who may be struggling with physical or spiritual 'uncleanness', just as Jesus showed compassion to those who were sick and afflicted, as seen in Matthew 9:35-36 and Mark 1:40-42?
Gill's Exposition on Leviticus 13:38
If a man also, or a woman,.... One or the other, for the law concerning leprosy respecteth both: have in the skin of their flesh bright spots; and them only; not any rising or swelling, nor scab, nor
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 13:38
If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots; If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots.
Ellicott's Commentary on Leviticus 13:38
(38) If a man also or a woman.—The fifth case, discussed in Leviticus 13:38-39, is the harmless leprosy, which does not render the patient unclean. Bright spots, even white bright spots.—These white spots, which are of unequal size, and a little higher than the skin, generally appeared on the neck and face, and did not change the colour of the hair.
Cambridge Bible on Leviticus 13:38
White spots in the skin (38, 39) These, if they are dull, and not of the character described in Leviticus 13:3, are a ‘tetter’ (freckled spot A.V.), a skin disease which is not of a leprous character. The Heb. word bohaḳ ? (only in Leviticus 13:39) is still used by the Arabs to denote this kind of eruption.