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Regulations About Defiling Skin Diseases

13 Then[a] Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “When a person[b] has on his body’s skin a swelling or an epidermal eruption or a spot and it becomes[c] an infectious skin disease on his body’s skin, then[d] he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. And the priest shall examine the infection on his body’s skin, and if the hair in the infection turns white and the appearance of the infection is deeper than his body’s skin, it is an infectious skin disease, and the priest shall examine it, and he shall declare him unclean. But[e] if a spot is white on his body’s skin and its appearance is not deeper than the skin and its hair does not turn white, then[f] the priest shall confine the afflicted person for seven days. And the priest shall examine it on the seventh day, and if,[g] in his eyes, the infection has stayed unchanged, the infection has not spread on the skin, then[h] the priest shall confine him for seven days a second time. And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day for a second time, and if[i] the infection has faded and the infection has not spread on the skin, then[j] the priest shall declare him clean—it is an epidermal eruption; and he shall wash his garments, and so he shall be clean. But[k] if the epidermal eruption spreads further on the skin after showing himself to the priest for his cleansing, then[l] he shall appear a second time to the priest. And the priest shall examine it,[m] and if[n] the epidermal eruption has spread on the skin, then[o] the priest shall declare him unclean—it is an infectious skin disease.

“When an infectious skin disease is on a person and he is brought to the priest, 10 the priest shall examine it,[p] and if[q] a white swelling is on the skin and it turns the hair white and raw flesh[r] is in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic infectious skin disease on his body’s skin, and the priest shall declare him unclean; he shall not confine him, because he is unclean. 12 And if the infectious skin disease breaks out all over on the skin and the infectious skin disease covers all of the afflicted person’s skin from his head to his feed, so far as the priest can see,[s] 13 then[t] the priest shall examine it,[u] and if[v] the infectious skin disease covers his whole body, then[w] he shall pronounce the afflicted person clean—all of it has turned white; he is clean. 14 But[x] whenever[y] raw flesh[z] appears on him, he shall become unclean. 15 And the priest shall examine the raw flesh,[aa] and he shall pronounce him unclean—the raw flesh[ab] is unclean; it is an infectious skin disease. 16 Or, when the raw flesh[ac] returns and it has changed to white, then[ad] he shall come to the priest, 17 and the priest shall examine him, and if[ae] the infection has changed to white, then[af] the priest shall pronounce the afflicted person clean—he is clean.

18 “And when someone’s body has[ag] a skin sore on his skin and it is healed 19 and a white swelling or a pinkish[ah] spot appears in the skin sore’s place, then[ai] he shall show himself to the priest. 20 And the priest shall examine it,[aj] and if[ak] its appearance is deeper than the skin and its hair has changed to white, then[al] the priest shall declare him unclean—it is an infectious skin disease; it has broken out in the skin sore. 21 And if the priest examines it and if[am] there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin and it is faded, then[an] the priest shall confine him for seven days. 22 But[ao] if it has spread further on the skin, then[ap] the priest shall declare him unclean—it is an infection. 23 But[aq] if the spot has stayed unchanged, it has not spread, it is the skin sore’s scar, so[ar] the priest shall declare him clean.

24 “Or when a body has[as] a burn-spot from[at] fire on its skin and the raw flesh[au] of the burn-spot is pinkish[av] or white, 25 then[aw] the priest shall examine it, and if[ax] the hair turns white in the spot and its appearance is deeper than the skin, it is an infectious skin disease—it has broken out in the burn-spot; so[ay] the priest shall declare him unclean—it is an infectious skin disease. 26 But[az] if the priest examines it and if[ba] there is not white hair in the spot and it is not deeper than the skin and it is faded, then[bb] the priest shall confine him for seven days. 27 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day; if it has spread further on the skin, then[bc] the priest shall declare him unclean—it is an infectious skin disease. 28 But[bd] if it the spot has stayed unchanged in its place, it has not spread on the skin and it is faded, then it is the burn-spot’s swelling, so[be] the priest shall declare him clean, because it is the burn-spot’s scar.

29 “And when a man or a woman has[bf] an infection on the head or in the beard, 30 then[bg] the priest shall examine the infection, and if[bh] its appearance is deeper than the skin and in it is thin bright red hair, then[bi] the priest shall declare it unclean—it is a diseased area of skin; it is an infectious skin disease of the head or the beard. 31 But[bj] if the priest examines the diseased area of the skin’s infection and if[bk] its appearance is not deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then[bl] the priest shall confine the afflicted person with the diseased area of skin for seven days. 32 And the priest shall examine the infection on the seventh day, and if[bm] the diseased area of skin has not spread and it does not have bright red hair in it and the diseased area of the skin’s appearance is not deeper than the skin, 33 then[bn] he shall shave himself, but[bo] he shall not shave the diseased area of skin, and the priest shall confine the person with[bp] the diseased area of skin a second time for seven days. 34 And the priest shall examine the diseased area of skin on the seventh day, and if[bq] the diseased area has not spread on the skin and its appearance is not deeper than the skin, then[br] the priest shall pronounce him clean, and he shall wash his garments, and he shall be clean. 35 But[bs] if the diseased area of skin has not spread further on the skin after his cleansing, 36 then[bt] the priest shall examine him, and if[bu] the diseased area of skin has spread on the skin, the priest shall not inspect for bright[bv] red hair—he is unclean. 37 But[bw] if, in his eyes, the diseased area of skin has stayed unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the diseased area of skin is healed—he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

38 “And when a man or a woman has[bx] spots on their body’s skin, white spots, 39 then[by] the priest shall examine them,[bz] and if[ca] the spots on their body’s skin are a faded white, it is a skin rash; it has broken out on the skin—it is clean.

40 “And if a man becomes bald, his head is bald, he is clean. 41 And if he becomes bald from his forehead,[cb] his head is bald, he is clean. 42 But[cc] if a pinkish[cd] infection occurs[ce] on the bald spot or on the bald forehead, it is an infectious skin disease that sprouts on his bald spot or on his bald forehead. 43 So[cf] the priest shall examine him, and if[cg] the infection’s swelling is pinkish[ch] on his bald spot or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of an infectious skin disease on[ci] the body, 44 he is a man afflicted with a skin disease—he is unclean; the priest certainly shall declare him unclean—his infection is on his head.

45 “As for[cj] the person who is afflicted with a skin disease, his garments must be torn and his hair[ck] must be allowed to hang loosely, and he must cover his upper lip, and he must call out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 For all the days during which the infection is on him, he shall be unclean; he must live alone; his dwelling must be outside the camp.”[cl]

Regulations About Contaminated Fabrics

47 “And when the garment has[cm] an infectious skin disease[cn] on it, on a wool garment[co] or on a linen garment,[cp] 48 or on woven material or on a linen fabric, or[cq] on wool or on leather or on any work of leather, 49 and if the infection is yellowish green or reddish on the garment or on the leather or on the woven material or on the fabric or on any leather object,[cr] it is an infectious skin disease[cs] and it shall be shown to the priest. 50 And the priest shall examine the infection, and he shall confine the infected article for seven days. 51 And he shall examine the infection on the seventh day; if the infection has spread on the garment or on the woven material or on the fabric or on the leather, for any work for which the leather is used, the infection is a destructive skin disease[ct]—it is unclean. 52 And he shall burn the garment or the woven material or the fabric, whether wool or linen,[cu] or any leather object that has[cv] the infection, because it is an infectious skin disease,[cw] which is destructive—it must be burned in the fire.

53 “But[cx] if the priest examines it[cy] and if[cz] the infection has not spread on the garment or on the woven material or on the fabric or on any leather object, 54 then[da] the priest shall command, and someone[db] shall wash that on which the infection is, and he shall confine it a second time for seven days. 55 And the priest shall examine it[dc] after the infection has been washed off, and if[dd] the infection has not changed its outward appearance and the infection has not spread, it is unclean; he must burn it in the fire; it is a fungus on its back or on its front. 56 But[de] if the priest examines it[df] and if[dg] the infection is faded after it has been washed off, then[dh] he shall tear it from the garment or from the leather or from the woven material or from the fabric. 57 And if it appears again on the garment or on the woven material or on the fabric or on any leather object, it is spreading; you[di] must burn in the fire that which has the infection in it. 58 And the garment or the woven material or the fabric or any leather object that he might wash and the infection is removed from them then[dj] shall be washed a second time, and it shall be clean.”

59 This is the regulation of the infectious skin disease[dk] in[dl] the wool garment or the linen or the woven material or the fabric or any leather object to declare it clean or to declare it unclean.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 13:1 Or “And”
  2. Leviticus 13:2 Literally “man”
  3. Leviticus 13:2 Perfect of הָיָה followed by לְ; see HALOT 244 s.v. 7.c
  4. Leviticus 13:2 Or “and”
  5. Leviticus 13:4 Or “And”
  6. Leviticus 13:4 Or “and”
  7. Leviticus 13:5 Literally “look” or “behold”
  8. Leviticus 13:5 Or “and”
  9. Leviticus 13:6 Literally “look” or “behold”
  10. Leviticus 13:6 Or “and”
  11. Leviticus 13:7 Or “And”
  12. Leviticus 13:7 Or “and”
  13. Leviticus 13:8 The direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  14. Leviticus 13:8 Literally “look” or “behold”
  15. Leviticus 13:8 Or “and”
  16. Leviticus 13:10 The direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  17. Leviticus 13:10 Literally “look” or “behold”
  18. Leviticus 13:10 Literally “living of living flesh”
  19. Leviticus 13:12 Literally “for all the sight of the eyes of the priest”
  20. Leviticus 13:13 Or “and”
  21. Leviticus 13:13 The direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  22. Leviticus 13:13 Literally “look” or “behold”
  23. Leviticus 13:13 Or “and”
  24. Leviticus 13:14 Or “And”
  25. Leviticus 13:14 Literally “on a day”
  26. Leviticus 13:14 Literally “living flesh”
  27. Leviticus 13:15 Literally “living flesh”
  28. Leviticus 13:15 Literally “living flesh”
  29. Leviticus 13:16 Literally “living flesh”
  30. Leviticus 13:16 Or “and”
  31. Leviticus 13:17 Literally “look” or “behold”
  32. Leviticus 13:17 Or “and”
  33. Leviticus 13:18 Literally “becomes on it”
  34. Leviticus 13:19 Literally “white red”
  35. Leviticus 13:19 Or “and”
  36. Leviticus 13:20 The direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  37. Leviticus 13:20 Literally “look” or “behold”
  38. Leviticus 13:20 Or “and”
  39. Leviticus 13:21 Literally “look” or “behold”
  40. Leviticus 13:21 Or “and”
  41. Leviticus 13:22 Or “And”
  42. Leviticus 13:22 Or “and”
  43. Leviticus 13:23 Or “And”
  44. Leviticus 13:23 Or “and”
  45. Leviticus 13:24 Literally “it becomes”
  46. Leviticus 13:24 Literally “of”
  47. Leviticus 13:24 Literally “living”
  48. Leviticus 13:24 Literally “white red”
  49. Leviticus 13:25 Or “and”
  50. Leviticus 13:25 Literally “look” or “behold”
  51. Leviticus 13:25 Or “and”
  52. Leviticus 13:26 Or “And”
  53. Leviticus 13:26 Literally “look” or “behold”
  54. Leviticus 13:26 Or “and”
  55. Leviticus 13:27 Or “and”
  56. Leviticus 13:28 Or “And”
  57. Leviticus 13:28 Or “and”
  58. Leviticus 13:29 Literally “becomes on him”
  59. Leviticus 13:30 Or “and”
  60. Leviticus 13:30 Literally “look” or “behold”
  61. Leviticus 13:30 Or “and”
  62. Leviticus 13:31 Or “And”
  63. Leviticus 13:31 Literally “look” or “behold”
  64. Leviticus 13:31 Or “and”
  65. Leviticus 13:32 Literally “look” or “behold”
  66. Leviticus 13:33 Or “and”
  67. Leviticus 13:33 Or “and”
  68. Leviticus 13:33 The direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  69. Leviticus 13:34 Literally “look” or “behold”
  70. Leviticus 13:34 Or “and”
  71. Leviticus 13:35 Or “And”
  72. Leviticus 13:36 Or “and”
  73. Leviticus 13:36 Literally “look” or “behold”
  74. Leviticus 13:36 Hebrew “the bright”
  75. Leviticus 13:37 Or “And”
  76. Leviticus 13:38 Literally “becomes”
  77. Leviticus 13:39 Or “and”
  78. Leviticus 13:39 The direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  79. Leviticus 13:39 Literally “look” or “behold”
  80. Leviticus 13:41 Literally “from the forehead of his face”
  81. Leviticus 13:42 Or “And”
  82. Leviticus 13:42 Literally “white red”
  83. Leviticus 13:42 Or “becomes” or “happens”
  84. Leviticus 13:43 Or “And”
  85. Leviticus 13:43 Literally “look” or “behold”
  86. Leviticus 13:43 Literally “white red”
  87. Leviticus 13:43 Literally “of”
  88. Leviticus 13:45 Or “And”
  89. Leviticus 13:45 Literally “head”
  90. Leviticus 13:46 Literally “from an outside place of the camp”
  91. Leviticus 13:47 Literally “becomes”
  92. Leviticus 13:47 Perhaps better translated “mold” rather than “skin disease”
  93. Leviticus 13:47 Literally “a garment of wool”
  94. Leviticus 13:47 Literally “a garment of linen”
  95. Leviticus 13:48 Or “and”
  96. Leviticus 13:49 Literally “an object of leather”
  97. Leviticus 13:49 Perhaps better translated “mold” rather than “skin disease”
  98. Leviticus 13:51 Perhaps better translated “mold” rather than “skin disease”
  99. Leviticus 13:52 Literally “in/on the wool or in/on the linen”
  100. Leviticus 13:52 Literally “becomes on/in it”
  101. Leviticus 13:52 Perhaps better translated “mold” rather than “skin disease”
  102. Leviticus 13:53 Or “And”
  103. Leviticus 13:53 The direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  104. Leviticus 13:53 Literally “look” or “behold”
  105. Leviticus 13:54 Or “and”
  106. Leviticus 13:54 Literally “he”
  107. Leviticus 13:55 The direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  108. Leviticus 13:55 Literally “look” or “behold”
  109. Leviticus 13:56 Or “And”
  110. Leviticus 13:56 The direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  111. Leviticus 13:56 Literally “look” or “behold”
  112. Leviticus 13:56 Or “and”
  113. Leviticus 13:57 Singular
  114. Leviticus 13:58 Or “and”
  115. Leviticus 13:59 Perhaps better translated “mold” rather than “skin disease”
  116. Leviticus 13:59 Hebrew “of”

13 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,

When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:

And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:

And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:

And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again.

And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy.

When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;

10 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;

11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.

12 And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;

13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.

14 But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.

15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy.

16 Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;

17 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.

18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,

19 And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest;

20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.

21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

22 And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.

23 But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

24 Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;

25 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

26 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

28 And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.

29 If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;

30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.

31 And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:

32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;

33 He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more:

34 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.

35 But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;

36 Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean.

37 But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

38 If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;

39 Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.

40 And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.

41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.

42 And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

43 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;

44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.

45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

46 All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;

48 Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;

49 And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:

50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days:

51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.

52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.

53 And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin;

54 Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:

55 And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without.

56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:

57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire.

58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.

59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

The Law Concerning Leprosy

13 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, (A)a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a [a]leprous sore, (B)then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. The priest shall examine the sore on the skin of the body; and if the hair on the sore has turned white, and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous sore. Then the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him [b]unclean. But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and its hair has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate the one who has the sore (C)seven days. And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day; and indeed if the sore appears to be as it was, and the sore has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall isolate him another seven days. Then the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day; and indeed if the sore has faded, and the sore has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a scab, and he (D)shall wash his clothes and be clean. But if the scab should at all spread over the skin, after he has been seen by the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen by the priest again. And if the priest sees that the scab has indeed spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him [c]unclean. It is leprosy.

“When the leprous sore is on a person, then he shall be brought to the priest. 10 (E)And the priest shall examine him; and indeed if the swelling on the skin is white, and it has turned the hair white, and there is a spot of raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is an old leprosy on the skin of his body. The priest shall pronounce him [d]unclean, and shall not isolate him, for he is unclean.

12 “And if leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of the one who has the sore, from his head to his foot, wherever the priest looks, 13 then the priest shall consider; and indeed if the leprosy has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean who has the sore. It has all turned (F)white. 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 to be unclean; for the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh changes and turns white again, he shall come to the priest. 17 And the priest shall examine him; and indeed if the sore has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean who has the sore. He is clean.

18 “If the body develops a (G)boil in the skin, and it is healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest; 20 and if, when the priest sees it, it indeed appears deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous sore which has broken out of the boil. 21 But if the priest examines it, and indeed there are no white hairs in it, and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall isolate him seven days; 22 and if it should at all spread over the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a [e]leprous sore. 23 But if the bright spot stays in one place, and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

24 “Or if the body receives a (H)burn on its skin by fire, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white or white, 25 then the priest shall examine it; and indeed if the hair of the bright spot has turned white, and it appears deeper than the skin, it is leprosy broken out in the burn. Therefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous sore. 26 But if the priest examines it, and indeed there are no white hairs in the bright spot, and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall isolate him seven days. 27 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has at all spread over the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous sore. 28 But if the bright spot stays in one place, and has not spread on the skin, but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn. The priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn.

29 “If a man or woman has a sore on the head or the beard, 30 then the priest shall examine the sore; and indeed if it appears deeper than the skin, and there is in it thin yellow hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a scaly leprosy of the head or beard. 31 But if the priest examines the scaly sore, and indeed it does not appear deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the one who has the scale seven days. 32 And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the sore; and indeed if the scale has not spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the scale does not appear deeper than the skin, 33 he shall shave himself, but the scale he shall not shave. And the priest shall isolate the one who has the scale another seven days. 34 On the seventh day the priest shall examine the scale; and indeed if the scale has not spread over the skin, and does not appear deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the scale should at all spread over the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall examine him; and indeed if the scale has spread over the skin, the priest need not seek for yellow hair. He is unclean. 37 But if the scale appears to be at a standstill, and there is black hair grown up in it, the scale has healed. He is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

38 “If a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body, specifically white bright spots, 39 then the priest shall look; and indeed if the bright spots on the skin of the body are dull white, it is a white spot that grows on the skin. He is clean.

40 “As for the man whose hair has fallen from his head, he is bald, but he is clean. 41 He whose hair has fallen from his forehead, he is bald on the forehead, but he is clean. 42 And if there is on the bald head or bald (I)forehead a reddish-white sore, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall examine it; and indeed if the swelling of the sore is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy on the skin of the body, 44 he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him [f]unclean; his sore is on his (J)head.

45 “Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head (K)bare; and he shall (L)cover his mustache, and cry, (M)‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall [g]dwell alone; his dwelling shall be (N)outside the camp.

The Law Concerning Leprous Garments

47 “Also, if a garment has a [h]leprous plague in it, whether it is a woolen garment or a linen garment, 48 whether it is in the warp or woof of linen or wool, whether in leather or in anything made of leather, 49 and if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather, whether in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, it is a leprous [i]plague and shall be shown to the priest. 50 The priest shall examine the plague and isolate that which has the plague seven days. 51 And he shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, in the leather or in anything made of leather, the plague is (O)an active leprosy. It is unclean. 52 He shall therefore burn that garment in which is the plague, whether warp or woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of leather, for it is an active leprosy; the garment shall be burned in the fire.

53 “But if the priest examines it, and indeed the plague has not spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the plague; and he shall isolate it another seven days. 55 Then the priest shall examine the plague after it has been washed; and indeed if the plague has not changed its color, though the plague has not spread, it is unclean, and you shall burn it in the fire; it continues eating away, whether the damage is outside or inside. 56 If the priest examines it, and indeed the plague has faded after washing it, then he shall tear it out of the garment, whether out of the warp or out of the woof, or out of the leather. 57 But if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, it is a spreading plague; you shall burn with fire that in which is the plague. 58 And if you wash the garment, either warp or woof, or whatever is made of leather, if the plague has disappeared from it, then it shall be washed a second time, and shall be clean.

59 “This is the law of the leprous plague in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or woof, or in anything made of leather, to pronounce it clean or to pronounce it unclean.”

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 13:2 Heb. saraath, disfiguring skin diseases, including leprosy, and so in vv. 2–46 and 14:2–32
  2. Leviticus 13:3 defiled
  3. Leviticus 13:8 defiled
  4. Leviticus 13:11 defiled
  5. Leviticus 13:22 infection
  6. Leviticus 13:44 altogether defiled
  7. Leviticus 13:46 live alone
  8. Leviticus 13:47 A mold, fungus, or similar infestation, and so in vv. 47–59
  9. Leviticus 13:49 mark