Leviticus 13

Laws touching Leprosy, and the different kinds of them, ordaining by whom and by what marks they were to be distinguished and judged, v. 1, etc. of the Leprosy of the swelling, 9. of the sores or boils, 18. of the fiery inflammation, 24. of the Scall, 29. of the blisters, 38. of the baldness, or bareness, 40. of the duty of the Leaper, 45. and of the Leprosy in clothes, linen, woolen, and skins 47.

1. Moreover the LORD spoke unto Moseh, and unto Aaron saying:

2. If a man, when there shall be in the skin of his flesh of swelling, [Heb. a rising, or, raising] or sore, (boil) or white blister, which would become a plague of Leprosy, which might well deserve to be called a plague, not only in this Chapter, but likewise below, chapter 14. 3. Deuteronomy 24:8, etc. for this Leprosy was a kind of scabbiness, or manginess, very infectious, and held incurable; different from the Leprosy of our days and Countries, as being far more grievous and insupportable] he shall then be brought unto the Priest Aaron, or unto of his sons, the Priests.

3. And the Priest shall view the plague in the skin of the flesh; if the hair in the plague be changed (into) white, [The particle into is inserted here, and in some following verses, out of verse 16. and 17. below, where it stands expressed] and the aspect of the plague [i.e. the shew and evidence thereof as it presents itself to the view and judgement of the Priest] is deeper than the skin of his flesh: it is the plague of Leprosy: when the Priest shall have viewed him, then shall he declare him unclean: i.e. declare and pronounce him to be such; so below, verse 11, 15, & c. to purify, or, make clean , is as much as to say, declare and pronounce him clean, below verse 6. and 13, & c.]

4. But if the blister be white in the skin of his flesh, [His, viz. that is infected with, or suspected of this disease] and its regard is not deeper than the skin, and the hair is not turned (into) white: then the Priest shall shut him up, that hath the plague. [Heb. shut up that plague; i.e. the person that hath it, or seems infected with it, so below, 25. 12, 13, 17, 31.] seven days.

5. After that, the Priest shall view him upon the seventh day; (and) see if the plague, according as he can discern, [Heb. in his eyes; i.e. according as he is able to discern with his eyes, and judge by his observation, and below verse 37.] remain at a stand, and the plague be not spread further in the skin; the Priest shall shut him up seven other days.

6. And the Priest shall the second time view him on the seventh day; (and) loe, if the plague be retired, [Or, shrunk, or, obscured] and the plague is not spread in the skin; then the Priest shall declare him clean: [Heb. cleanse, or, purify; i.e. declare and pronounce him such; see above on verse 3.] it was a sore; and he shall wash his clothes, so he is clean. [viz. from the plague of Leprosy, as appeareth out of ver. 8.]

7. But if the sore be wholly spread in the skin, [Heb. spreading, spread, i.e. wholly or altogether, or very much; so also below, verse 22, 27, 35.] after that he shall be showed to the Priest for his cleansing: he shall be showed to the Priest a second time.

8. If the Priest shall observe that, loe, the sore is spread in the skin: then the Priest shall declare him unclean; it is Leprosy.

9. When the plague of Leprosy [See above on verse 2.] shall be in a man: then shall he be brought unto the Priest.

10. If the Priest shall observe that, loe, there is a white swelling in the skin, which hath turned the hair into white, and (there) is health [Heb. life, or, liveliness] of living flesh in that swelling; [i.e. the flesh is sensible yet, for by Leprosy it is as it were mortified, and grows past feeling. And observe here, as also below verse 14. a general observation whereby to judge of this Leprosy; viz. that where living or sound flesh was intermixed with that which was unfound and of different colours, the same was the true Leprosy: on the contrary where but one sort of colour was seen, that was a sign of some other sore or accident.]

11. That is an inveterate Leprosy in the skin of his flesh: therefore the Priest shall declare him unclean; he shall not cause him to be shut up: for he is unclean.

12. And if the Leprosy [i.e. the swelling which seemeth to be Leprosy, or the mark of it, and so in the sequel] doth altogether bud forth [Heb. budding, forth, bud forth] and the Leprosy have covered the whole skin of him that hath the plague [Heb. the whole skin of the plague; i.e. of him that hath the plague upon him. See above on verse 4. and on what followeth] from his head to his feet, according to all the sight of the eyes of the Priest: [i.e. according to his best view and judgement.]

13. And the Priest shall observe, that, loe, the Leprosy hath covered his whole flesh; then shall he declare him clean, that hath the plague. [Heb. shall he declare the plague clean; i.e. him that hath it, and so below verse 17. etc.] it is altogether turned into white; [viz. the plague] he is clean. [i.e. he that seemed to have the plague of Leprosy, is free and clear of it]

14. But on what day living flesh shall be seen therein, [viz. intermixed with the flesh that was turned white, the diversity of colours being a token of the true Leprosy, but the uniformity a token of health, or at least of some other and less dangerous accident. See above on verse 10.] he shall be unclean.

15. When the Priest then shall have seen that living flesh, he shall declare him unclean, that living flesh is unclean, it is Leprosy.

16. Or when that living flesh turneth, and shall be changed to white; then he shall come to the Priest.

17. When the Priest shall have viewed him, that, loe, the plague is turned into white; then the Priest shall declare him clean that hath the plague, [Heb. shall purify the plague, [Heb. shall purify the plague. See above on verse 6. and 13.] he is clean.

18. The flesh also, when in the skin thereof, there shall have been a sore, if it be healed.

19. And there shall become (or grows) in the place of that sore, a white swelling, or a white ruddy blister, than it [viz. the flesh whereon that white swelling, & c. appeareth] shall be showed unto the Priest.

20. If the Priest shall observe, that, loe, its [viz. the blisters or swellings as is exprest below, verse 25.] aspect (or, regard) is lower than the skin, and the hair thereof turned into white, then the Priest shall declare him unclean: it is the plague of Leprosy, it is budded forth through the sore.

21. Now when the Priest shall have viewed the same, that, loe, there is no white hair on it, and the same is not lower than the skin, but shrunk in: then shall the Priest shut him up seven days.

22. When afterwards it shall be wholly spread forth in the skin, then the Priest shall declare him unclean; it is the plague. [viz. of Leprosy: see above verse 20]

23. But if the blister shall abide standing in its place, not being spread abroad, it is the boil [i.e. a sign of inflammation. Oth. an inflammation, or, burning; and so below verse 28.] then the Priest shall declare him clean.

24. Or when there shall have been a fiery burning in the flesh, and the sound (part) of that burning [Heb. the life, or, liveliness, or, the health, or healthfulness of the burning: Understand that part of the flesh, which is recovered of the inflammation, and grown whole again] is a white ruddy, or white [Understand altogether white] blister.

25. And the Priest shall have seen the same, that, loe, the hair upon the blister is turned into white, and its regard (or aspect) is deeper than the skin, it is Leprosy, it is budded forth through the inflammation; therefore the Priest shall declare him unclean: it is the plague of Leprosy.

26. But if the Priest shall observe the same, that, loe, there is no white hair upon the blister, and it is no lower than the skin, but shrunk in: then the Priest shall put him up seven days:

27. After that the Priest shall view him on the seventh day: if it be wholly spread in the skin, then the Priest shall declare him unclean: it is the plague of Leprosy.

28. But if the blister shall abide standing in its place, and shall not be spread abroad in the skin, but shrunk in, it is a swelling of the inflammation: therefore the Priest shall declare him clean; for it is the boil of the burning (or inflammation). [Compare above the note on verse 23.]

29. Moreover when in a man or woman, there shall be a plague in the head, or in the beard,

30. And the Priest shall have viewed the plague, that, loe, its aspect is deeper than the skin, and there is yellowish hair upon it: then the Priest shall declare him unclean, it is a scall, it is Leprosy of the head, or of the beard.

31. But when the Priest shall have viewed the plague of the scall, that, loe, its regard is not deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair upon it: [Which was a sign of cleanness and health, below verse 37. like as the yellowishness was a sign of uncleaness and infection, above verse 30.] then the Priest shall shut him up, that hath the plague of the scall, seven days.

32. After that, the Priest shall view that plague on the seventh day; if, loe, the scall be not spread, and there be no yellowish hair on it, nor the regard of the scall deeper than the skin;

33. Then he shall cause himself to be shaved, [Heb. he shall shave himself; i.e. cause himself to be shaved] but the scall he shall not shave, and the Priest shall cause him that hath the scall, to be shut up a second time seven days.

34. After that the Priest shall view the scall on the seventh day; if loe, the scall be not spread abroad in the skin, and its aspect be not deeper than the skin; then the Priest shall declare him clean, [viz. of the plague of Leprosy; and so above verse 6. 13. and below verse 37. 39, 40, 41.] and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

35. But if that scall be wholly spread abroad in the skin, after his cleansing,

36. And the Priest shall have viewed him, that, loe, the scall is spread abroad in the skin: the Priest shall not seek after the yellowish hair; [i.e. not heed or regard it at all] he is unclean.

37. But if the scall, for ought he can see, [Heb. in his eyes; see above on verse 5.] remained standing, and black hair be grown upon it, that scall is healed; he is clean; therefore the Priest shall declare him clean.

38. Moreover when a man or woman shall have blisters on the skin of their flesh, white blisters blisters;

39. And the Priest shall have observed, that, loe, there are shrunk white blisters in the skin of their flesh; it is a white wheal (or spot) budded forth in the skin; he is clean. [viz. of the plague of the Leprosy. See above verse 34. and the two next.]

40. And when a man’s hair of his head shall be fallen off, he is bald, he is clean.

41. And if from the side of his face the hair of his head shall be fallen off: [i.e. from the Crown to the fore-head, and the Temples of the head, which is termed otherwise to be bald before, or baldness of the fore-head] he is bald, he is clean.

42. But if in the baldness (of the head) or in the baldness (of the fore-head) there be a white ruddy plague, that is Leprosy, budding forth in his baldness (of the head) or baldness (of the forehead.) [Hence it appeareth, that the Text here, doth not speak of baldness coming of age, or from any other accident, but only that which is caused by Leprosy, and that this only, and not the other is declared unclean]

43. When the Priest shall have viewed him, that, loe, the swelling of that plague in his baldness of the head or baldness of the fore-head, is white, ruddy, like unto the aspect of the Leprosy of the skin of the flesh. [i.e. having a like shape and hue with the Leprosy spoken of before, which appeareth in the skin of the flesh.]

44. That man is Leprous, he is unclean: the Priest shall declare him utterly unclean, [Heb. declaring unclean, he shall declare him unclean] his plague is upon his head.

45. Moreover the garments of the Leper, in whom that plague is, [those which were found unclean by the Priest in manner aforesaid, were charged, 1. To wear rent or torn garments. 2. To go bare-headed. 3. To wrap their upper lip and so to cover their beard. 4. To proclaim, when they saw any body, their own uncleanness. 5. To dwell apart from the society of men; and all this, partly in regard of themselves, in token of their sad and mournful condition, and partly that others also should take heed of coming near, and being infected by them] shall be rent, [compare Gen. 37. the note on verse 29.] and his head shall be bare, and he shall muffle the uppermost of his lip: [Oth. his mustachoes, compare Ezekiel 24:17. and Mich. 3. 7.] withal he shall cry, unclean, unclean.

46. All the days, wherein this plague shall be upon him, he shall be unclean; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone: [see Numbers 5:2. and 12. 14. 2 Kings 15:5. 2 Chron. 26. 21. Luke 17:12.] his dwelling shall be without the Camp.

47. Further, when the plague of Leprosy shall be on a garment, on a woolen garment, or a linen garment;

48. Either on the warp or on the woof of the linen, or of woolen, or on a skin, or on any skin-work. [i.e. any thing made by Tanners, Skinners, Furriers]

49. And that plague on the garment, or on the skin, or on the warp, or on the woof, or on any skin, stuff, be greenish or ruddy; it is the plague of Leprosy: therefore it shall be showed to the Priest.

50. And the Priest shall view the plague; and he shall cause that which hath the plague to be shut up. [Heb. shut up the plague. Compare above the note on verse 4.]

51. After that, he shall view the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread abroad on the garment, or on the warf, or on the woof, or on the skin, for what work soever that skin may have been made: that plague is a gnawing Leprosy, [Oth. stinging, pricking, or smarting, paining, & c i.e. such a one as will cause smart and pain to him that shall wear or use those garments, & c.] it is unclean. [viz. that garment, stuff, thing, matter, whereon the plague is: and so in the end of the next verse.]

52. Therefore he shall burn that garment, or that warp, or that woof of woolen or of linen, or all skin-stuff, wherein in that plague shall be: for it is gnawing Leprosy: it shall be burnt with fire.

53. Yet if the Priest shall see, that loe, the plague on the garment, or on the warf, or on the woof, or any skinstuff, is not spread abroad.

54. Then the Priest shall command to wash that, whereon that plague is; and he shall cause the same to be shut up other seven days.

55. When the Priest, after that it is washed, shall have viewed the plague, that, loe, the plague hath not altered its hue, [Heb. eyes] and the plague is not spread abroad; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it with fire; it is a fretting [inetching, corroding] on its hindermost (or, backpart) [Heb. in his baldness, (of the head) understand thereby, the back or inward part of the garment or stuff, which we use to call the wrong side, which in the wear is next the body] or its forepart [Heb. in its baldness of the fore-head, whereby is understood the forepart, or out-side of stuffs and garments, which is most seen in the wearing. Others understand by the former sort of baldness here, when a garment hath lost its wool or hair through age, and becoming leprous afterwards; and by the latter when any Leprosy hath bereaved a garment of its wool.]

56. now if the Priest shall observe, that, loe, the same plague, after it is washed, is shrunk: then he shall tear (or, rend) it off from the garment, or from the skin, or from the warf, or from the woof.

57. But if it be seen yet on the garment, or on the warp, or on the woof, or any skin-stuff, it is (a) forth budding (Leprosy): thou shalt burn that whereon the plague is, with fire.

58. But the garment, or the warf, or woof, or all the skin-stuff, which thou shalt have washed; when the plague shall be retired from it; the same shall be washed the second time, and it shall be clean.

59. This is the Law of that Plague of the Leprosy, of a woolen or linen garment, or a warf, or a woof, or any skin-stuff, for to declare the same clean, or to declare (it) unclean.