AI-generated illustration: a snow-dusted mountain peak glowing orange at first light under a deep blue sky. — AI-generated

Leviticus

Bible text

Edition Compare with

SpeedVoiceSleep timer Continue to next chapter

Synthetic voice (AI)

The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “When a man shall have a swelling in his body’s skin, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes in the skin of his body the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests. See also: Deuteronomy 24:8 Leviticus 14:56 Leviticus 14:3The priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the body. If the hair in the plague has turned white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body’s skin, it is the plague of leprosy; so the priest shall examine him and pronounce him unclean. See also: Romans 3:19-20 Haggai 2:11 John 20:23If the bright spot is white in the skin of his body, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and its hair hasn’t turned white, then the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days. See also: Numbers 12:15 Ezekiel 44:10 1 Corinthians 4:5The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. Behold, if in his eyes the plague is arrested and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days. The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day. Behold, if the plague has faded and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean. See also: Leviticus 11:25 Leviticus 14:8 1 Kings 8:38But if the scab spreads on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again. See also: Leviticus 13:35-36 Romans 6:12-14 Psalms 38:3The priest shall examine him; and behold, if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy. See also: Philippians 3:18-19 Acts 8:21 2 Peter 2:19“When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought to the priest; and the priest shall examine him. Behold, if there is a white swelling in the skin, and it has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, See also: 2 Kings 5:27 2 Chronicles 26:19-20 John 7:7it is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not isolate him, for he is already unclean. “If the leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of the infected person from his head even to his feet, as far as it appears to the priest, See also: 1 John 1:8-10 Romans 7:14 Job 42:6then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the leprosy has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean of the plague. It has all turned white: he is clean. See also: John 9:41 Isaiah 64:6But whenever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean. The priest shall examine the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean: the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy. Or if the raw flesh turns again, and is changed to white, then he shall come to the priest. See also: Philippians 3:6-8 Galatians 1:14-16 Romans 7:14-24The priest shall examine him. Behold, if the plague has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean of the plague. He is clean. “When the body has a boil on its skin, and it has healed, See also: Exodus 9:9 Isaiah 38:21 Job 2:7and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest. See also: Leviticus 13:24The priest shall examine it. Behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. It has broken out in the boil. See also: John 5:14 Matthew 12:45 2 Peter 2:20But if the priest examines it, and behold, there are no white hairs in it, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest shall isolate him seven days. See also: 1 Corinthians 5:5If it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague. But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. See also: Galatians 6:1 Job 34:31-32 Genesis 38:26“Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white, or white, See also: Isaiah 3:24then the priest shall examine it; and behold, if the hair in the bright spot has turned white, and its appearance is deeper than the skin, it is leprosy. It has broken out in the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. See also: Leviticus 13:18-20 Leviticus 13:4But if the priest examines it, and behold, there is no white hair in the bright spot, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall isolate him seven days. See also: Leviticus 13:4-5 Leviticus 13:23The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread in the skin, but is faded, it is the swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn. “When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the beard, See also: 1 Kings 8:38 1 Kings 12:28 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12then the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch. It is leprosy of the head or of the beard. See also: Leviticus 14:54 Leviticus 13:34-37If the priest examines the plague of itching, and behold, its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person infected with itching seven days. On the seventh day the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the appearance of the itch isn’t deeper than the skin, See also: Romans 2:23 Luke 18:9-12 Leviticus 13:30then he shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the itch. Then the priest shall isolate the one who has the itch seven more days. On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the itch; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread in the skin, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean. See also: Jude 1:22 1 John 4:1 Revelation 2:2But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, See also: 2 Timothy 3:13 Leviticus 13:27 2 Timothy 2:16-17then the priest shall examine him; and behold, if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest shall not look for the yellow hair; he is unclean. But if in his eyes the itch is arrested and black hair has grown in it, then the itch is healed. He is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean. “When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots, then the priest shall examine them. Behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless rash. It has broken out in the skin. He is clean. See also: James 3:2 Ecclesiastes 7:20 Romans 7:22-25“If a man’s hair has fallen from his head, he is bald. He is clean. See also: Galatians 4:13 Romans 6:12 Romans 8:10If his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, his forehead is bald. He is clean. But if a reddish-white plague is in the bald head or the bald forehead, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head or his bald forehead. Then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body, he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean. His plague is on his head. See also: Job 36:14 Isaiah 1:5 2 Peter 2:1-2“The leper in whom the plague is shall wear torn clothes, and the hair of his head shall hang loose. He shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ See also: Micah 3:7 Leviticus 10:6 Ezekiel 24:17All the days in which the plague is in him he shall be unclean. He is unclean. He shall dwell alone. His dwelling shall be outside of the camp. See also: 2 Kings 7:3 2 Kings 15:5 Numbers 12:14-15“The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it is a woolen garment, or a linen garment; See also: Jude 1:23 Isaiah 59:6 Ephesians 4:22whether it is in warp or woof; of linen or of wool; whether in leather, or in anything made of leather; See also: Leviticus 13:51 Revelation 3:4 Deuteronomy 8:11if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the leather, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of leather; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest. The priest shall examine the plague, and isolate the plague seven days. See also: Ezekiel 44:23He shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever use the skin is used for, the plague is a destructive mildew. It is unclean. See also: Leviticus 14:44He shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of leather, in which the plague is, for it is a destructive mildew. It shall be burned in the fire. See also: Leviticus 11:35 Isaiah 30:22 Leviticus 11:33“If the priest examines it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin; then the priest shall command that they wash the thing that the plague is in, and he shall isolate it seven more days. Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn’t changed its color, and the plague hasn’t spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside. See also: Hebrews 6:4-8 2 Peter 1:9 Ezekiel 24:13If the priest looks, and behold, the plague has faded after it is washed, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof; and if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn what the plague is in with fire. See also: Matthew 3:12 Revelation 21:27 Matthew 25:41The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean.” See also: 2 Corinthians 7:1 2 Corinthians 12:8 2 Kings 5:10This is the law of the plague of mildew in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

See also: Cross references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), derived in part from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)27 notes

Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.

These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity

Leviticus 13:2

Ver. 2. Colour, &c. Heb. "a tumour, abscess, or white spot," which are the three marks of leprosy. C. --- Leprosy. The leprosy was a figure of sin: and the observances prescribed in this and the following chapter, intimate what ought spiritually to be done, in order to be delivered from so great an evil, or preserved from it. Ch. --- The authority of the priests in the new law to bind or loose sins, was hereby prefigured. S. Chrys. de Sacerd. 3. W.

↑ 2

Leviticus 13:3

Ver. 3. Flesh. These two signs indicated the species of leprosy called volatile, or impetigo, (M.) resembling a scab, which did not penetrate the flesh or bones, as our leprosy or elephantiasis does. Vales. C. xix. --- Separated from society. Heb. he shall contaminate him. See v. 11. H. ---

Some assert, that the physician was first to be consulted. But none but the priests could declare them unclean, or set them at liberty. After they had pronounced sentence, the lepers might apply for medicines to others.

↑ 3

Leviticus 13:6

Ver. 6. Obscure. Some translate the Heb. "retired," with the Syr. and Arab.

versions. --- Scab,

"an ebullition," or pustule. Theod. S. Jer. in Nah. ii. --- Clothes, and himself.

See C. xi. 40.

↑ 6

Leviticus 13:8

Ver. 8. Uncleanness, or permanent leprosy.

↑ 8

Leviticus 13:10

This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.

Ver. 10. Living flesh. The leprosy is caused by immense numbers of worms, which crawl between the skin and the flesh, and sometimes infect the latter, and they very bones, garments,

&c. Hence the flesh seems all in motion, and living. H. --- The different spots in the skin represent heretical opinions obscuring the true faith, of which priests are the judges. Deut. xvii.

S. Aug. q. Evang. ii. 40. W.

↑ 10

Leviticus 13:11

Ver. 11. Inveterate. Celsus says, this sort of leprosy is hardly ever cured. --- Up.

But, as the Rom. Sept. reads, "shall separate him," from the people.

↑ 11

Leviticus 13:13

This 19th-century note uses polemical language; read it in the light of the note at the top of this panel.

Ver. 13. Clean. The white leprosy causeth no itching. Gorrheus. Cels. v. 28.

Theodoret (q. 16,) says, it is incurable; and therefore, the person infected is not shut up, out of pity. So S. Paul (1

Cor. v. 11,) forbids us to eat with a dissolute Christian, while he allows us to have commerce with infidels, though they be wholly corrupt. But others assert, it is not so difficult to cure as that which is partial, v. 14. The hand of Moses was stricken with this white leprosy. Ex. iv. 6. C. ---

This species is not so contagious. M.

↑ 13

Leviticus 13:14

Ver. 14. Live flesh, raw, the skin being consumed in various parts.

↑ 14

Leviticus 13:16

Ver. 16. Whiteness, after the red flesh is covered with skin as usual.

↑ 16

Leviticus 13:20

Ver. 20. Ulcer, as before, v. 3.

↑ 20

Leviticus 13:23

Ver. 23. Place, which is contrary to the nature of leprosy.

↑ 23

Leviticus 13:24

Ver. 24. Scar. If it had proceeded from burning it would have been black. M.

↑ 24

Leviticus 13:26

Ver. 26. Obscure. Heb. may be, "stopped," as it is opposed to v. 22, if it spread.

See v. 55-6.

↑ 26

Leviticus 13:27

Ver. 27. Unclean. Heb. adds, "it is the stroke of leprosy," and the Sept. "it has spread in the ulcer."

↑ 27

Leviticus 13:30

Ver. 30. Leprosy, or scurf. C. --- This species causes the hair to be yellow, and not white. M.

↑ 30

Leviticus 13:31

Ver. 31. Black. The Heb. Sam. &c. prefix "not," which ought probably to be away, as the natural colour of the hair, in that country, is black; while yellow, or white hair, give reason to suspect leprosy; and (v. 32,) the Heb. says, "if there be no yellow hair in it," which insinuates that it was black before. The Sept.

have explained both verses in the same sense, as they found the negation also. If we admit it, we may distinguish black hair from that which approaches to brown, or light-coloured hair. When therefore a person, who had before black hair, has experienced some change, he must be shut up seven days; after which, if his hair be not become yellow or reddish, he must be shaved,

&c. C.

↑ 31

Leviticus 13:39

Ver. 39. Blemish, or scab, of which Celsus speaks, B. 5.

↑ 39

Leviticus 13:42

Ver. 42. Colour, indicating some bad humours, which had caused the hair to fall off.

↑ 42

Leviticus 13:45

Ver. 45. Loose, both for the benefit of the leper, and that others may beware of him. M. --- Bare, letting the hair grow, (C. xxi. 5. 10,) in testimony of mourning.

The leper behaved like one in mourning, tearing his garments, neglecting his hair and beard, or cutting them, and, through shame, covering his face. Ezec.

xxiv. 22. The Persians would not allow any lepers to enter their cities. Herod. ii.

138. C.

↑ 45

Leviticus 13:46

Ver. 46. Camp, or city, unless some great man, like king Ozias, might be permitted to dwell there in a house, secluded from all society. 4 K. xv. 5. --- 2

Par. xxvi. 21.

↑ 46

Leviticus 13:47

Ver. 47. Garment that shall have the leprosy. These prescriptions, with relation to garments and houses infected with the leprosy, are to teach us to fly all such company and places as are apt to be the occasion of sin.

↑ 47

Leviticus 13:49

Ver. 49. White. Heb. and Sept. "greenish."

↑ 49

Leviticus 13:51

Ver. 51. Grown. Heb. adds here, (and v. 53-6-7-9,) "in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of a skin."

↑ 51

Leviticus 13:55

Ver. 55. Returned, which it had before it was infected, and, consequently, as the Heb. reads,

"behold the plague has not changed its colour." H.

↑ 55

Leviticus 13:56

Ver. 56. Dark, or "at a stand." See v. 6. Heb. keha, means to sink, like the eyes of an old man,

&c.

↑ 56

Leviticus 13:57

Ver. 57. Flying, as that in man, v. 12. Heb. it is a leprosy, which returns and is rooted. Chal. "it spreads." C. See Calmet's Diss. on the Leprosy. --- This dreadful disorder is very common in Arabia and Palestine. During the holy wars many of the Europeans were infected with it. The Jews believe, that the leprosy of garments and of houses was restrained to Judea, and attacked them only when the people rebelled against God. Oleaster. --- The providence of God often visited those, who would not obey his ministers, with this disorder. Deut. xxiv. 8. Num. xii.

Theod. q. 18. T.

↑ 57

Leviticus 13:59

Ver. 59. Pronounced. This word should refer to both; mundari vel contaminari, how it ought to be pronounced clean or unclean; as the law regards the declaration of the priests, and not the medicines to be used for the leprosy. H.

↑ 59

License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses

Reflections

No reviewed reflections for this passage yet.