Chapter Thirteen
Regulations Regarding Skin Diseases
The subject of the next two chapters is often referred to as leprosy. Most of the text contains instructions for the priests, who are essentially called to be doctors and health inspectors. The primary concern in these chapters is skin disease (Hebrew word ‘ṣā·rǎ’·’ǎṯ’,[1] can refer to several skin diseases, mold, mildew, or fungus),[2] not just leprosy. Even though most English Bible versions use the word ‘leprosy’, many believe the disease described here is what the modern world calls ‘Hansen’s Disease’. However, others point out that it appears that there are many, perhaps as many as 24 different skin diseases listed in these chapters. In addition to skin disease, the Hebrew word also refers to mold, mildew, or fungus, which can be found on garments and in structures, these regulations will cover those issues as well. Since the word can cover several conditions, the reader must keep in mind when reading the word leprosy, it is not always an absolute diagnosis of a fatal disease, as it is often taught, it is simply a generic word referring to some form of skin disease (or other disease that has externally manifested itself, such as measles), a mold, mildew, or fungus.
It is also important to note that one of the Hebrew words that is often translated in this text as ‘disease’, used 61 times in these two chapters, is ‘ně’·ḡǎ’,[3] which refers to a blemish, a mark, or a wound; the word does not necessarily imply a disease, sickness, or illness, it can also be the result of an injury.
13:1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, 3 and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. 4 But if the spot is white in the skin of his body and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days. 5 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up for another seven days. 6 And the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the diseased area has faded and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only an eruption. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 7 But if the eruption spreads in the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest. 8 And the priest shall look, and if the eruption has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous disease.
This paragraph, and each of the following sections regarding potential diseases or other conditions, begins with a brief description of the symptoms followed by an examination by one of the priests. An initial diagnosis is made, if uncertain, an additional period of time may be required before the next examination. When the final diagnosis is determined the priest will then declare the person, or object, clean or unclean.
The examination first attempts to identify the problem as being either chronic (a long-term condition) or acute (a temporary condition). If the person’s hair has turned white (this is not a reference to the gradual process from getting older) and it appears that the disease is below the skin, the priest is to proclaim them as being unclean. If the white does not appear below the skin and the hair has not turned white, the priest is to sequester the person for one week. On the seventh day the priest is to examine the person again. If the disease appears to have stayed the same and not spread, the priest will keep them isolated for another seven days. If at the end of the second week the diseased area had faded and the condition did not spread, the priest would declare the person clean. The person was then required to wash their clothes. The symptoms included swelling (Hebrew word ’śe’ēṯ,[4] skin infection, elevation, enlargement, swelling) and the word translated here as ‘eruption’ is the Hebrew word ‘mis·pǎ’·ḥǎṯ’,[5] referring to a scab or rash. If the diseased area had indeed spread, the priest was to proclaim the person as being unclean. Instructions on how a person is to live being unclean is described later in this chapter (see verses 45-46).
13:9 “When a man is afflicted with a leprous disease, he shall be brought to the priest, 10 and the priest shall look. And if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic leprous disease in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not shut him up, for he is unclean. 12 And if the leprous disease breaks out in the skin, so that the leprous disease covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see, 13 then the priest shall look, and if the leprous disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean. Raw flesh is unclean, for it is a leprous disease. 16 But if the raw flesh recovers and turns white again, then he shall come to the priest, 17 and the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce the diseased person clean; he is clean.
The major difference between this section and the previous section is the addition of swelling and the appearance of raw flesh (open sores) to the list of symptoms. When seen, the condition is to be identified as a chronic skin disease. The person is immediately proclaimed as being ceremonially unclean, however, there is no need to quarantine the person at this time. If the disease breaks out and turns the body completely white, the person would then be considered clean. But if any raw flesh appears, the person would be pronounced as being unclean by the priest. If the raw flesh recovers and turns white again, the priest is to examine them again and if the disease has turned white, the person is clean. Many believe that the reference of the skin becoming white is an indication that the skin has closed and is healing.
13:18 “If there is in the skin of one’s body a boil and it heals, 19 and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest. 20 And the priest shall look, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous disease that has broken out in the boil. 21 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. 22 And if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a disease. 23 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
If someone had a boil on their skin and it healed, and then later, in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white spot appears, the person was to see a priest. If the condition appears deeper than the skin and the hair has turned white, then the person is to be considered unclean. If the boil opens and there is no white hair in it and the condition is not deeper than the skin, the priest is to isolate them for one week. If the skin disease had spread after that time, the priest is to pronounce the person as being unclean. However, if it did not spread, it is just a scar from the boil and the priest can state that the person is clean.
13:24 “Or, when the body has a burn on its skin and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a spot, reddish-white or white, 25 the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the spot has turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, then it is a leprous disease. It has broken out in the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and it is no deeper than the skin, but has faded, the priest shall shut him up seven days, 27 and the priest shall examine him the seventh day. If it is spreading in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 28 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread in the skin, but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar of the burn.
If a person has a burn (two Hebrew words, ‘miḵ·wā(h)’,[6] referring to a burnt spot; and ‘ēš’,[7] meaning fire; the words combined clearly refer to a burn from touching something hot or the skin had contacted fire, not a disease) and the skin has an open sore which becomes reddish-white or white, a priest is to examine the wound. If the hair in the spot has turned white and appears deeper than the skin, it is considered a skin disease and has spread from the burned area (likely an infection). The priest is to proclaim the person unclean. If upon examination the priest finds no white hair in the spot, and the condition does not appear deeper than the skin and is fading, he is to hold the person for seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine the wound again, if the condition spread, he is to pronounce the person unclean. But if the spot did not spread and indeed faded, it is considered just swelling from the burn and should be considered clean.
13:29 “When a man or woman has a disease on the head or the beard, 30 the priest shall examine the disease. And if it appears deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, a leprous disease of the head or the beard. 31 And if the priest examines the itching disease and it appears no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days, 32 and on the seventh day the priest shall examine the disease. If the itch has not spread, and there is in it no yellow hair, and the itch appears to be no deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall shave himself, but the itch he shall not shave; and the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for another seven days. 34 And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch, and if the itch has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall examine him, and if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest need not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if in his eyes the itch is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed and he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
The Hebrew word translated here as ‘beard’ is ‘zā·qān’,[8] meaning beard or mane (as in a tiger’s mane), undoubtedly referring to a man’s beard, however, the word can also be translated as ‘chin’. If a wound or disease appears on a person’s head or chin, it is to be examined by a priest. If he finds that the condition is deeper than the skin and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest is to pronounce them as being unclean. At this time the condition is referred to here as being an ‘itch’, the Hebrew word ‘ně’·ṯěq’,[9] generally refers to a scab or similar skin eruption (which itches). If the condition appears no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in the spot, the person is to be isolated for one week. On the seventh day if the condition did not spread and it has no yellow hair in it, as well as the condition appears no deeper than the skin, the hair on the head or chin is to be shaved around the location. The person is then to be sequestered for another seven days. If, after the seven days the condition has not spread and it appears not to be deeper than the skin, the priest is to proclaim them as being clean. The person is required to wash their clothes to remain clean. However, if the condition had spread, no further examination is necessary, the person is unclean. But, if the priest sees that the condition is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the condition is considered healed, and the person is clean and should be pronounced by the priest as being clean.
13:38 “When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots, 39 the priest shall look, and if the spots on the skin of the body are of a dull white, it is leukoderma that has broken out in the skin; he is clean.
If white spots appear on someone’s skin, a priest is to examine the spots. If the spots are a dull white, it is to be considered leukoderma (Hebrew word ‘bō’·hǎq’,[10] referring to a harmless rash, freckle, or a form of eczema). The English term (leukoderma) refers to a pigment loss causing a white area on the skin to appear, sometimes with no apparent cause. The priest would proclaim the person as being clean.
13:40 “If a man’s hair falls out from his head, he is bald; he is clean. 41 And if a man’s hair falls out from his forehead, he has baldness of the forehead; he is clean. 42 But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased area, it is a leprous disease breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprous disease in the skin of the body, 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head.
If a man was bald on top of their head or forehead, they would be considered clean. If on their head a reddish-white condition appears, a priest is to examine them. If the reddish-white area swells or appears to be a skin disease spreading, the person is to be considered unclean.
13:45 “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.
If a person who has been identified as being unclean in any of the above scenarios, they are to wear torn clothing, let their hair hang loose and cover their upper lip and cry out, “Unclean, unclean,” whenever they are near anyone else. They are to live alone outside the camp and remain unclean until the skin condition has healed.
Considerations
There are many items discussed in Scripture that often raises the question, “Why is this in the Bible?” Several are found in the book of Leviticus, and perhaps high on that list would be the subject of skin diseases, mold, mildew, and fungus. Previously, when we looked at the main theme of the Bible, we noted that it would be possible to summarize with two primary points:
As the result of sin, all things decay[12] and, instead of perfection, life also decays and is subject to illness, including skin diseases. There is nothing mentioned in the text regarding potential remedies or whether a disease is contagious, the primary issue is whether the person that has the condition is clean or unclean. If they are unclean they would not be allowed to participate in any holy event, plus being unclean they would not be allowed to be around or touch someone who was clean, to prevent the other person from becoming unclean.
Regulations Regarding Unclean Garments
13:47 “When there is a case of leprous disease in a garment, whether a woolen or a linen garment, 48 in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin, 49 if the disease is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin or in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, it is a case of leprous disease, and it shall be shown to the priest. 50 And the priest shall examine the disease and shut up that which has the disease for seven days. 51 Then he shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, the disease is a persistent leprous disease; it is unclean. 52 And he shall burn the garment, or the warp or the woof, the wool or the linen, or any article made of skin that is diseased, for it is a persistent leprous disease. It shall be burned in the fire.
Moving from skin diseases found on a person to the breakout of mold, mildew, or fungus on a person’s garment. The text states that these regulations apply to any garment, regardless if made of wool, linen, or animal skin. The terms ‘warp’ and ‘woof’ (Hebrew words ‘šeṯiy’[13] and ‘ē’·rěḇ’),[14] refer to the process of weaving, used here to describe the location of the breakout (being in the fabric or weave). If the breakout is greenish or reddish, it is considered to be a ‘disease’ (Hebrew word ‘ṣā·rā’·’ǎṯ’, see above in opening of this chapter) and should be shown to a priest, who will hold the garment for seven days; if on the seventh day the disease has spread, it is considered a persistent disease (the Hebrew word ‘mǎm·’ě’·rěṯ’,[15] refers to being harmful or destructive) and therefore is considered unclean and should be burned.
13:53 “And if the priest examines, and if the disease has not spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the disease, and he shall shut it up for another seven days. 55 And the priest shall examine the diseased thing after it has been washed. And if the appearance of the diseased area has not changed, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean. You shall burn it in the fire, whether the rot is on the back or on the front.
If the priest examines the garment and sees that the disease did not spread, the priest is to require that the person wash the garment and bring it back to be held for another seven days. Afterwards, if the priest sees that the area on the garment did not change and did not clear up, the garment is to be burned, regardless if the rot (Hebrew word ‘peḥě’·ṯěṯ’,[16] meaning bored out or eaten away) is found in the front or the back of the garment.
13:56 “But if the priest examines, and if the diseased area has faded after it has been washed, he shall tear it out of the garment or the skin or the warp or the woof. 57 Then if it appears again in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire whatever has the disease. 58 But the garment, or the warp or the woof, or any article made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and be clean.”
However, if the priest sees that the diseased area has cleared up or is fading after washing, the diseased area is to be removed from the garment. If it appears again in the garment, it is to be considered to be a spreading disease. All things that have the disease are to be burned. But if the garment remains disease-free after washing, it is to be washed a second time and is to be considered clean
13:59 This is the law for a case of leprous disease in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, to determine whether it is clean or unclean.
This concludes the section regarding the regulations regarding mold, mildew, or fungus on garments (verses 47-59). The next chapter continues the subject of skin diseases with regulations on how to respond to God healing of skin diseases and how to identify and clean houses that may have mold, mildew, or fungus.
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[1] Strong’s Hebrew 6883.
[2] See commentary under Exodus 4:6-8.
[3] Strong’s Hebrew 5061.
[4] Strong’s Hebrew 7613.
[5] Strong’s Hebrew 4556.
[6] Strong’s Hebrew 4348.
[7] Strong’s Hebrew 784.
[8] Strong’s Hebrew 2206.
[9] Strong’s Hebrew 5424.
[10] Strong’s Hebrew 933.
[11] See the Introduction of the Book of Genesis and the Considerations under Genesis 1:3-5.
[12] See Considerations under Genesis 3:17-19.
[13] Strong’s Hebrew 8359.
[14] Strong’s Hebrew 6154.
[15] Strong’s Hebrew 3992.
[16] Strong’s Hebrew 6356.