Leviticus 15 meaning explained in AI Summary
Bodily Discharges
- Maintaining Ritual Purity: This chapter focuses on maintaining ritual purity in cases of bodily discharges, including menstrual bleeding, seminal emissions, and certain skin conditions. These were all considered sources of ritual impurity.
- Washing Procedures and Isolation: The chapter prescribes specific washing procedures for individuals experiencing these discharges. In some cases, isolation from others was required until ritual purity was regained. This emphasis on purity aimed to maintain a sense of holiness within the Israelite camp.
- Offerings for Restoration: To regain ritual purity after experiencing bodily discharges, individuals were required to offer sacrifices at the tabernacle. This act acknowledged their temporary state of impurity and sought restoration to a state fit for worshipping God.
This chapter deals with ritual purity laws concerning bodily discharges, specifically:
1. Male Discharge:
- Verses 1-15: Addresses various scenarios of male genital discharge, both normal (seminal emissions) and abnormal (unspecified).
- Focus on Ritual Impurity: Any discharge renders the man ritually impure, requiring washing and a waiting period until evening.
- Contamination: Anything the man touches (people, objects, furniture) also becomes ritually impure, requiring washing.
- Different Severity: Seminal emissions have a shorter purification period compared to other discharges.
2. Female Discharge:
- Verses 16-18: Addresses normal menstrual flow, rendering the woman ritually impure for seven days.
- Verses 19-24: Focuses on abnormal uterine bleeding, with a longer purification period of seven days after it stops.
- Contamination: Similar to male discharge, anything the woman touches during her impurity becomes impure and requires washing.
- Sexual Intercourse: Sexual intercourse during any discharge is strictly forbidden and incurs ritual impurity for both partners.
3. Purification Offering:
- Verses 25-30: After the period of impurity, both men and women must offer a sacrifice (two turtledoves or two pigeons) to achieve complete ritual purity.
Overall Theme:
Leviticus 15 emphasizes the importance of ritual purity in the life of the Israelites. Bodily discharges, while natural, are treated as sources of temporary impurity requiring specific rituals and sacrifices for purification. This chapter highlights the meticulous attention to cleanliness and separation between the sacred and the profane in the Israelite religious system.
Leviticus 15 bible study ai commentary
Leviticus 15 concerns ritual purity laws related to bodily discharges. These laws are not primarily about hygiene or inherent sinfulness but about the distinction between the holy (representing God's wholeness and life) and the common (representing humanity's brokenness and mortality). Bodily discharges, especially those involving "life fluids" like blood and semen, place a person in a temporary state of ritual impurity (tumah), making them unfit to enter sacred space. The chapter provides a gracious system of washing, waiting, and, for chronic issues, sacrifice, enabling individuals to be restored to ritual purity and safely coexist with the holy presence of God in the Tabernacle.
Leviticus 15 context
These laws are set within the broader holiness code of Leviticus, which instructs Israel on how to be a holy nation set apart for God. In the Ancient Near East, bodily discharges were often associated with omens or demonic influence, requiring magical incantations for cleansing. Israel's laws radically differ by framing these as natural (though ritually significant) conditions managed through prescribed, non-magical rituals. The entire system is predicated on the existence of the Tabernacle in Israel's midst; proximity to God's dwelling place necessitated these clear boundaries between the holy and the common to protect the people from God's consuming holiness.
Leviticus 15:1-2
And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean.”
In-depth-analysis
- A Word from God: The laws are a divine command, not human tradition. They are given to both Moses (the lawgiver) and Aaron (the high priest), indicating both civil and priestly oversight.
- Scope: The law applies to "any man" (ish ish) among the "people of Israel," emphasizing its universal application within the covenant community.
- The Discharge: The Hebrew word for discharge is zuv (זוב), meaning "to flow." In this context, it refers to an abnormal, pathological bodily emission, not a normal one. The source is "from his body" (literally "from his flesh").
- Unclean: The state is tame' (טָמֵא), "unclean" or "impure." This is a ritual state, not a moral one. It temporarily restricts access to the sanctuary and holy things.
Bible references
- Numbers 5:2-3: 'Command the people of Israel to put out of the camp everyone who... has a discharge...' (Direct application of the principle of separating the unclean).
- Leviticus 22:4: 'None of the offspring of Aaron who has... a discharge from his body shall eat of the holy things until he is clean.' (Shows the consequence for priests).
Cross references
Lev 12:2 (impurity from childbirth), 2 Sam 3:29 (a discharge as a curse), Acts 10:14-15 (Peter's vision on clean/unclean).
Leviticus 15:3-12
And this is the law of his uncleanness for a discharge... Every bed on which the one with the discharge lies shall be unclean, and everything on which he sits shall be unclean... And whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening... And if the one with the discharge spits on someone who is clean... he shall be unclean until the evening. ...And any saddle... And whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening... And the earthenware vessel that the one with the discharge touches shall be broken, and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
In-depth-analysis
- Contagion Principle: These verses establish that this type of uncleanness is highly "contagious" in a ritual sense. Impurity is transferred through:
- Direct Contact with the Person: Touching him or being spat on.
- Contact with Objects: Touching his bed, seat, or saddle.
- Levels of Impurity: There is a chain of transmission. The man is the primary source. Objects he touches (bed, chair) become primary carriers of impurity. A person who touches those objects becomes unclean for a shorter duration (until evening after washing).
- Vessels: The law distinguishes between porous earthenware and non-porous wood.
- Earthenware: Must be broken. It absorbs impurity and cannot be fully cleansed.
- Wood: Can be rinsed. It is less porous and can be restored. This principle is consistent throughout Levitical law.
- Ritual, Not Hygienic: The measures (washing clothes, bathing, waiting until evening) are rituals of separation and restoration, not simply acts of hygiene. Evening marks the end of a day and a new beginning.
Bible references
- Mark 5:27-29: 'She... touched his garment. And immediately the flow of blood dried up...' (The woman with a discharge sought healing by contact, an act that according to Leviticus would make Jesus unclean. Instead, His holiness cleanses her impurity, reversing the Levitical flow).
- Haggai 2:13: 'If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean? The priests answered and said, "It does become unclean."' (Priestly confirmation of how ritual impurity spreads).
Cross references
Lev 6:28 (earthen and bronze vessels), Lev 11:32-35 (uncleanness of vessels from dead creatures), Num 19:22 (the law of transmitting impurity), Lam 4:2 (lament over destruction using imagery of earthen vessels).
Polemics
Unlike pagan systems that might see such a condition as a divine or demonic curse requiring appeasement, the Torah presents it as a medical reality with ritual consequences. The remedy is simple, accessible, and non-magical (washing, waiting), removing fear and speculation. Scholars note the system is orderly and demystifies bodily processes.
Leviticus 15:13-15
“And when the one with a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing and wash his clothes and bathe his body in running water and shall be clean. And on the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and come before the LORD to the entrance of the tent of meeting and give them to the priest. And the priest shall offer them, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD for his discharge.”
In-depth-analysis
- "Running Water": The Hebrew is mayim chayyim (מַיִם חַיִּים), "living water." This signifies fresh, flowing water from a spring or river, not stagnant water from a cistern. It symbolizes life and dynamic purity, contrasting with the state of decay represented by the discharge.
- Waiting Period: A seven-day period confirms the healing is genuine and not a temporary remission. Seven is a number of divine completion and perfection.
- Sacrifices: The offerings are required after healing. They are not to achieve healing but to ritually cleanse the person and atone for the impurity he possessed, allowing him to re-enter the sacred community fully.
- Sin Offering (chatat): Atones for the state of impurity itself, which in its potential to defile the sanctuary, bears a likeness to sin.
- Burnt Offering ('olah): Expresses renewed dedication and worship to God.
- Accessibility: Using turtledoves/pigeons makes the atonement accessible to the poor, demonstrating that these laws apply to all economic levels.
Bible references
- John 4:10: 'Jesus answered her, “If you knew... who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”' (Jesus fulfills the symbolism of mayim chayyim, offering spiritual life and cleansing).
- Leviticus 14:4, 50: Leprosy cleansing also requires two birds and "living water," showing a consistent pattern for purification from severe conditions.
- Hebrews 10:4: 'For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.' (This verse places the Levitical sacrifices in perspective, showing they pointed to a greater reality).
Cross references
Gen 26:19 (searching for living water), Lev 12:8 (poor person's offering after childbirth), Jer 2:13 (God as the fountain of living waters), John 7:37-38 (living water flowing from the believer).
Leviticus 15:16-17
“If a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening. And every garment and every skin on which the semen is shall be washed with water and be unclean until the evening.”
In-depth-analysis
- Normal vs. Abnormal: This concerns a normal, non-pathological seminal emission.
- Milder Uncleanness: The consequence is far less severe than the chronic discharge (zav). It only lasts until evening and requires bathing. No sacrifice or seven-day waiting period is needed.
- Loss of Life-Fluid: Semen, like blood, was seen as a potent "life-fluid." Its loss, even in a normal context, temporarily places a person in a state associated with mortality and therefore separates him from the sphere of God's perfect life.
Bible references
- Deuteronomy 23:10-11: 'If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp... when evening comes, he shall bathe himself in water...' (Practical application of this law in a military camp context).
Cross references
Exod 19:15 (abstaining from sex before meeting God at Sinai), 1 Sam 21:4-5 (David confirming his men are "clean" regarding women).
Leviticus 15:18
“If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water and be unclean until the evening.”
In-depth-analysis
- Mutual Uncleanness: In the context of lawful marital relations, both the man and woman become temporarily unclean. This demonstrates that the impurity is ritual, not moral. The act is not sinful, but it involves the loss of a life-fluid and a powerful physical union, placing them in a temporary state of commonness, set apart from the holy.
- Equal Application: The law applies equally to both partners.
Bible references
- 1 Corinthians 7:5: 'Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer...' (Paul advises temporary abstinence for spiritual focus, echoing the Old Testament principle of separating from physical acts to approach God).
Cross references
Exod 19:15, 1 Sam 21:4.
Leviticus 15:19-24
“When a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days... Everyone who touches her shall be unclean until the evening. And everything on which she lies... shall be unclean. And if any man lies with her... her menstrual impurity shall be upon him, and he shall be unclean for seven days...”
In-depth-analysis
- Menstruation (Niddah): This section deals with normal menstruation.
- Parallel to Normal Male Emission: Like the seminal emission, this is a normal bodily function.
- Parallel to Abnormal Male Discharge: However, its contagious properties and duration (seven days) are similar to the chronic male discharge (zav). The flow of blood, the very symbol of life, makes the state of impurity more significant than that from semen.
- Life and Death Symbolism: The loss of blood in menstruation represents the loss of potential life (an unfertilized egg). This symbolic connection to death requires a seven-day period of separation from the holy.
Bible references
- Luke 8:43-44: 'And a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years... touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.' (This woman was in a chronic state of niddah or zavah impurity, making her a constant source of uncleanness).
- Ezekiel 18:6: A characteristic of a righteous man is that he 'does not approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity.'
Cross references
Lev 12:2-5 (impurity after childbirth, which involves blood), Lev 20:18 (prohibition of sex during menstruation), Isa 64:6 (all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment/menstrual cloth).
Leviticus 15:25-30
“If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days... all the days of the discharge she shall be in the same state as in the days of her menstrual impurity... On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and bring them to the priest... And the priest shall make atonement for her before the LORD for her unclean discharge.”
In-depth-analysis
- Abnormal Female Discharge: This parallels the abnormal male discharge (zav). It refers to bleeding that is not part of a normal menstrual cycle (e.g., menorrhagia).
- Equal Ritual: The purification process is identical to that of the man with an abnormal discharge: seven-day wait after healing, bathing in living water, and offering two birds (one for sin, one for burnt offering) for atonement.
- Equity: The system demonstrates an impartial standard. The ritual consequences for chronic, abnormal flows are the same for both men and women.
Bible references
- Matthew 9:20-22: 'And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment... Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”' (This woman was under the law of Lev 15:25-30. Her faith in touching Jesus was an act of desperation that broke ritual law, yet Christ's response was compassion and healing, not condemnation).
Cross references
Mark 5:25, Luke 8:43 (parallel accounts of the same healing).
Leviticus 15:31
“Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.”
In-depth-analysis
- The Theological Heart: This is the key verse of the entire chapter. It provides the "why" behind all these laws.
- Separation for Protection: The goal is to "separate" (nazar) or "keep distant" the children of Israel from their uncleanness. This is a protective measure, not a punitive one.
- Lethal Contamination: The danger is real: coming into God's holy presence while in a state of ritual uncleanness could result in death. Uncleanness (symbolizing death/decay) defiles the Tabernacle (the dwelling of perfect life), and God's holiness will consume that which is profane.
- A Gracious Boundary: The purity laws are a gift of grace. They define a safe path for a mortal, frail people to live in close proximity to a holy and powerful God.
Bible references
- Hebrews 12:28-29: '...let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.' (Explains the nature of God's holiness that requires such boundaries).
- 1 Corinthians 3:17: 'If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.' (Paul applies the principle of defiling God's dwelling to the believer's body).
- Numbers 19:13, 20: 'Whoever touches a dead person... and does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from Israel...' (Codifies the deadly consequence of defiling the sanctuary).
Cross references
Lev 10:1-3 (Nadab and Abihu's death for unauthorized approach), Exod 19:12 (boundaries around Mt. Sinai).
Leviticus 15:32-33
“This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby; also for her who is sick with her menstrual impurity... and for the man who has a discharge, and for the woman, and for the man who lies with a woman who is unclean.”
In-depth-analysis
- Summary Statement: This serves as a concluding summary, reiterating the four main cases covered in the chapter:
- Abnormal male discharge (zav)
- Normal seminal emission
- Normal female menstruation (niddah)
- Intercourse with a menstruating woman (a violation of Lev 20:18). This clause likely summarizes the principles of transmission.
Leviticus chapter 15 analysis
- Theological Symbolism: The overarching theme is the collision of life and death. God is the author of life, perfectly whole and holy. Humanity is subject to decay, sickness, and death. Bodily discharges, especially of blood and semen (life fluids), are powerful physical reminders of human mortality and fallenness. This temporary "death state" renders a person ritually unfit to approach the "life source" in the sanctuary.
- The New Testament Fulfillment: Jesus completely inverts the Levitical system of purity.
- Impurity flowed from people; Power flows from Jesus: In the case of the woman with the issue of blood (Matt 9:20-22), her uncleanness does not transfer to Jesus. Instead, his healing power and perfect holiness flow to her, cleansing her instantly. Jesus does not "catch" impurity; He overcomes it.
- Living Water: The ritual use of mayim chayyim ("living water") finds its fulfillment in Christ, who is the source of eternal life (John 4:10, John 7:38). The cleansing he offers is internal and permanent, not external and temporary.
- The Ultimate Atonement: The small sacrifices for atonement pointed toward the one, perfect sacrifice of Christ on the cross. His blood cleanses from all sin and all impurity, once for all (Hebrews 9:13-14).
- The New Temple: The purpose of the purity laws was to protect the Tabernacle. In the New Covenant, the believer's body and the Church corporate are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19). The call is now for moral and spiritual holiness, not ritual purity.
Leviticus 15 summary
Leviticus 15 details the laws of ritual uncleanness resulting from various male and female bodily discharges. It differentiates between normal, temporary conditions (seminal emission, menstruation) requiring simple washing, and abnormal, chronic discharges requiring a seven-day waiting period and sacrifices for atonement after healing. The fundamental purpose of these laws was not to stigmatize natural processes but to symbolically manage the boundary between human mortality and God's perfect life, thereby protecting the people from fatally defiling the holy Tabernacle in their midst.
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Leviticus chapter 15 kjv
- 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,
- 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.
- 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.
- 4 Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.
- 5 And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 6 And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 7 And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 9 And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.
- 10 And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 11 And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 12 And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
- 13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
- 14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:
- 15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.
- 16 And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
- 18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
- 20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
- 21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 23 And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
- 24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
- 25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
- 26 Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.
- 27 And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
- 28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
- 29 And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
- 30 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.
- 31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
- 32 This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;
- 33 And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.
Leviticus chapter 15 nkjv
- 1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
- 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean.
- 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in regard to his discharge?whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body is stopped up by his discharge, it is his uncleanness.
- 4 Every bed is unclean on which he who has the discharge lies, and everything on which he sits shall be unclean.
- 5 And whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 6 He who sits on anything on which he who has the discharge sat shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 7 And he who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 8 If he who has the discharge spits on him who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 9 Any saddle on which he who has the discharge rides shall be unclean.
- 10 Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until evening. He who carries any of those things shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 11 And whomever the one who has the discharge touches, and has not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 12 The vessel of earth that he who has the discharge touches shall be broken, and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
- 13 'And when he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe his body in running water; then he shall be clean.
- 14 On the eighth day he shall take for himself two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and give them to the priest.
- 15 Then the priest shall offer them, the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD because of his discharge.
- 16 'If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall wash all his body in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 17 And any garment and any leather on which there is semen, it shall be washed with water, and be unclean until evening.
- 18 Also, when a woman lies with a man, and there is an emission of semen, they shall bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 19 'If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be set apart seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening.
- 20 Everything that she lies on during her impurity shall be unclean; also everything that she sits on shall be unclean.
- 21 Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 22 And whoever touches anything that she sat on shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 23 If anything is on her bed or on anything on which she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening.
- 24 And if any man lies with her at all, so that her impurity is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.
- 25 'If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean.
- 26 Every bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity.
- 27 Whoever touches those things shall be unclean; he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
- 28 'But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
- 29 And on the eighth day she shall take for herself two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
- 30 Then the priest shall offer the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for her before the LORD for the discharge of her uncleanness.
- 31 'Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them.
- 32 This is the law for one who has a discharge, and for him who emits semen and is unclean thereby,
- 33 and for her who is indisposed because of her customary impurity, and for one who has a discharge, either man or woman, and for him who lies with her who is unclean.' "
Leviticus chapter 15 niv
- 1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
- 2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When any man has an unusual bodily discharge, such a discharge is unclean.
- 3 Whether it continues flowing from his body or is blocked, it will make him unclean. This is how his discharge will bring about uncleanness:
- 4 "?'Any bed the man with a discharge lies on will be unclean, and anything he sits on will be unclean.
- 5 Anyone who touches his bed must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 6 Whoever sits on anything that the man with a discharge sat on must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 7 "?'Whoever touches the man who has a discharge must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 8 "?'If the man with the discharge spits on anyone who is clean, they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 9 "?'Everything the man sits on when riding will be unclean,
- 10 and whoever touches any of the things that were under him will be unclean till evening; whoever picks up those things must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 11 "?'Anyone the man with a discharge touches without rinsing his hands with water must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 12 "?'A clay pot that the man touches must be broken, and any wooden article is to be rinsed with water.
- 13 "?'When a man is cleansed from his discharge, he is to count off seven days for his ceremonial cleansing; he must wash his clothes and bathe himself with fresh water, and he will be clean.
- 14 On the eighth day he must take two doves or two young pigeons and come before the LORD to the entrance to the tent of meeting and give them to the priest.
- 15 The priest is to sacrifice them, the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement before the LORD for the man because of his discharge.
- 16 "?'When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening.
- 17 Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening.
- 18 When a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 19 "?'When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening.
- 20 "?'Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean.
- 21 Anyone who touches her bed will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 22 Anyone who touches anything she sits on will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 23 Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, they will be unclean till evening.
- 24 "?'If a man has sexual relations with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean.
- 25 "?'When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period.
- 26 Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period.
- 27 Anyone who touches them will be unclean; they must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.
- 28 "?'When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean.
- 29 On the eighth day she must take two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
- 30 The priest is to sacrifice one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement for her before the LORD for the uncleanness of her discharge.
- 31 "?'You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.'?"
- 32 These are the regulations for a man with a discharge, for anyone made unclean by an emission of semen,
- 33 for a woman in her monthly period, for a man or a woman with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations with a woman who is ceremonially unclean.
Leviticus chapter 15 esv
- 1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
- 2 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean.
- 3 And this is the law of his uncleanness for a discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body is blocked up by his discharge, it is his uncleanness.
- 4 Every bed on which the one with the discharge lies shall be unclean, and everything on which he sits shall be unclean.
- 5 And anyone who touches his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 6 And whoever sits on anything on which the one with the discharge has sat shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 7 And whoever touches the body of the one with the discharge shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 8 And if the one with the discharge spits on someone who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 9 And any saddle on which the one with the discharge rides shall be unclean.
- 10 And whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. And whoever carries such things shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 11 Anyone whom the one with the discharge touches without having rinsed his hands in water shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 12 And an earthenware vessel that the one with the discharge touches shall be broken, and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
- 13 "And when the one with a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count for himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes. And he shall bathe his body in fresh water and shall be clean.
- 14 And on the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and come before the LORD to the entrance of the tent of meeting and give them to the priest.
- 15 And the priest shall use them, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD for his discharge.
- 16 "If a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 17 And every garment and every skin on which the semen comes shall be washed with water and be unclean until the evening.
- 18 If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 19 "When a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.
- 20 And everything on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean. Everything also on which she sits shall be unclean.
- 21 And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 22 And whoever touches anything on which she sits shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 23 Whether it is the bed or anything on which she sits, when he touches it he shall be unclean until the evening.
- 24 And if any man lies with her and her menstrual impurity comes upon him, he shall be unclean seven days, and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.
- 25 "If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean.
- 26 Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity. And everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her menstrual impurity.
- 27 And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.
- 28 But if she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
- 29 And on the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and bring them to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting.
- 30 And the priest shall use one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her before the LORD for her unclean discharge.
- 31 "Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst."
- 32 This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby;
- 33 also for her who is unwell with her menstrual impurity, that is, for anyone, male or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a woman who is unclean.
Leviticus chapter 15 nlt
- 1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
- 2 "Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. "Any man who has a bodily discharge is ceremonially unclean.
- 3 This defilement is caused by his discharge, whether the discharge continues or stops. In either case the man is unclean.
- 4 Any bed on which the man with the discharge lies and anything on which he sits will be ceremonially unclean.
- 5 So if you touch the man's bed, you must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.
- 6 If you sit where the man with the discharge has sat, you must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.
- 7 If you touch the man with the discharge, you must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.
- 8 If the man spits on you, you must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.
- 9 Any saddle blanket on which the man rides will be ceremonially unclean.
- 10 If you touch anything that was under the man, you will be unclean until evening. You must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.
- 11 If the man touches you without first rinsing his hands, you must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.
- 12 Any clay pot the man touches must be broken, and any wooden utensil he touches must be rinsed with water.
- 13 "When the man with the discharge is healed, he must count off seven days for the period of purification. Then he must wash his clothes and bathe himself in fresh water, and he will be ceremonially clean.
- 14 On the eighth day he must get two turtledoves or two young pigeons and come before the LORD at the entrance of the Tabernacle and give his offerings to the priest.
- 15 The priest will offer one bird for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. Through this process, the priest will purify the man before the LORD for his discharge.
- 16 "Whenever a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his entire body in water, and he will remain ceremonially unclean until the next evening.
- 17 Any clothing or leather with semen on it must be washed in water, and it will remain unclean until evening.
- 18 After a man and a woman have sexual intercourse, they must each bathe in water, and they will remain unclean until the next evening.
- 19 "Whenever a woman has her menstrual period, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days. Anyone who touches her during that time will be unclean until evening.
- 20 Anything on which the woman lies or sits during the time of her period will be unclean.
- 21 If any of you touch her bed, you must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.
- 22 If you touch any object she has sat on, you must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.
- 23 This includes her bed or any other object she has sat on; you will be unclean until evening if you touch it.
- 24 If a man has sexual intercourse with her and her blood touches him, her menstrual impurity will be transmitted to him. He will remain unclean for seven days, and any bed on which he lies will be unclean.
- 25 "If a woman has a flow of blood for many days that is unrelated to her menstrual period, or if the blood continues beyond the normal period, she is ceremonially unclean. As during her menstrual period, the woman will be unclean as long as the discharge continues.
- 26 Any bed she lies on and any object she sits on during that time will be unclean, just as during her normal menstrual period.
- 27 If any of you touch these things, you will be ceremonially unclean. You must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.
- 28 "When the woman's bleeding stops, she must count off seven days. Then she will be ceremonially clean.
- 29 On the eighth day she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons and present them to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
- 30 The priest will offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. Through this process, the priest will purify her before the LORD for the ceremonial impurity caused by her bleeding.
- 31 "This is how you will guard the people of Israel from ceremonial uncleanness. Otherwise they would die, for their impurity would defile my Tabernacle that stands among them.
- 32 These are the instructions for dealing with anyone who has a bodily discharge ? a man who is unclean because of an emission of semen
- 33 or a woman during her menstrual period. It applies to any man or woman who has a bodily discharge, and to a man who has sexual intercourse with a woman who is ceremonially unclean."
- Bible Book of Leviticus
- 1 Laws for Burnt Offerings
- 2 Laws for Grain Offerings
- 3 Laws for Peace Offerings
- 4 Sacrifies for Sin
- 5 Laws for Guilt Offerings
- 6 The Priests and the Offerings
- 7 Law of the trespass offering
- 8 Consecration of Aaron and His Sons
- 9 The Lord Accepts Aaron's Offering
- 10 The Death of Nadab and Abihu
- 11 Clean and unclean Animals
- 12 Purification After Childbirth
- 13 Laws About Leprosy
- 14 Laws for Cleansing Lepers
- 15 Sperm Discharge and Menstruation cycle
- 16 Day of Atonement
- 17 The Place of Sacrifice
- 18 Unlawful Sexual Relations
- 19 Levitical Laws for Levites
- 20 Punishment for Child Sacrifice
- 21 Holiness and the Priests
- 22 Acceptable Offerings
- 23 The Feasts of the Lord
- 24 The Lamps
- 25 Year of Jubilee
- 26 Blessings for Obedience
- 27 Laws About Vows