Deuteronomy 24:8 kjv
Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.
Deuteronomy 24:8 nkjv
"Take heed in an outbreak of leprosy, that you carefully observe and do according to all that the priests, the Levites, shall teach you; just as I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do.
Deuteronomy 24:8 niv
In cases of defiling skin diseases, be very careful to do exactly as the Levitical priests instruct you. You must follow carefully what I have commanded them.
Deuteronomy 24:8 esv
"Take care, in a case of leprous disease, to be very careful to do according to all that the Levitical priests shall direct you. As I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do.
Deuteronomy 24:8 nlt
"In all cases involving serious skin diseases, be careful to follow the instructions of the Levitical priests; obey all the commands I have given them.
Deuteronomy 24 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 13:2 | "When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling... he shall be brought to Aaron the priest..." | Priest's role in diagnosing skin disease |
| Lev 13:45-46 | "The person with such an infectious disease... shall dwell alone..." | Isolation for purification and community safety |
| Lev 14:2 | "This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing..." | Rituals for cleansing after tsara'ath |
| Lev 14:34-35 | "When you come into the land... if I put a mark of leprous disease on a house..." | Tsara'ath can affect houses |
| Num 5:2 | "Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper..." | Requirement for ritual exclusion |
| Num 12:9-10 | "...Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam..." | Miriam afflicted for challenging Moses |
| 2 Kgs 5:7 | "When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said... 'Can I make alive or kill, that this man sends to me to cure a man of his leprosy?'" | Naaman's tsara'ath and the perceived human inability to heal it |
| 2 Kgs 5:10 | "But Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, 'Go and wash in the Jordan seven times...'" | Prophetic instruction for healing |
| 2 Kgs 5:27 | "Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." | Gehazi punished with Naaman's tsara'ath |
| 2 Chr 26:19 | "...anger seized Uzziah. And while he was angry... leprosy broke out on his forehead." | King Uzziah afflicted for unlawful worship |
| Deut 17:9-11 | "You shall come to the Levitical priests... and they shall declare to you the word..." | Priests as authoritative interpreters of the law |
| Deut 33:10 | "They shall teach Jacob your rules and Israel your law..." | Priests' teaching function |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth..." | Priests are custodians of divine knowledge |
| Neh 8:8 | "They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense..." | Priests/Levites explain God's law to the people |
| Ezr 7:10 | "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel." | Emphasizes obedience and teaching of the law |
| Matt 8:4 | "And Jesus said to him, 'See that you tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded...'" | Jesus upholds the Law's requirement for priestly certification |
| Mk 1:44 | "and said to him, 'See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded..." | Jesus' adherence to Mosaic Law protocols |
| Lk 17:14 | "When he saw them, he said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.'" | Jesus' command to lepers after healing |
| Jam 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Call to practical obedience to God's word |
| Deut 4:6 | "Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding..." | Observance of God's laws brings wisdom |
| Deut 6:3 | "Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you..." | Importance of heeding commands for well-being |
| Josh 1:7-8 | "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law... for then you will make your way prosperous..." | Strict observance of Law for success |
Deuteronomy 24 verses
Deuteronomy 24 8 Meaning
Deuteronomy 24:8 instructs the Israelites to be exceedingly diligent and scrupulous in obeying all the regulations concerning outbreaks of tsara'ath (often translated as leprosy), as delivered by the Levitical priests. This command emphasizes strict adherence because these laws were divinely ordained, coming directly from God to the priests for the instruction and welfare of the community.
Deuteronomy 24 8 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 24 details a variety of specific social and humanitarian laws, presented by Moses as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land. These statutes aim to establish a righteous society grounded in divine principles, reflecting God's holiness and compassion. The preceding verses in Chapter 24 deal with matters like divorce, protecting the vulnerable (e.g., newlyweds, borrowers), and prohibiting kidnapping. Verse 8 introduces a seemingly unrelated topic, the tsara'ath, often termed "leprosy."
In the biblical context, tsara'ath refers to a broader category of skin conditions and mildew, far beyond modern Hansen's disease. It was viewed not merely as a medical ailment but primarily as a state of ritual impurity. Affliction with tsara'ath could lead to ceremonial uncleanness, requiring isolation from the community and disqualification from participating in sacred activities. The strictness surrounding tsara'ath highlighted the Israelites' commitment to physical and spiritual purity before God. It served as a visible reminder of sin's isolating effects and God's absolute demand for holiness.
Deuteronomy 24 8 Word analysis
- Take heed (הִשָּׁמֵר - hishamer): This is a strong imperative form of the Hebrew verb shamar, meaning "to watch," "to guard," "to observe," or "to keep." It conveys a sense of utmost vigilance and attentiveness.
- in an outbreak of leprosy (מִנֶּגַע הַצָּרַעַת - minnega ha-tsara'ath):
- outbreak (נֶגַע - nega): Lit. "stroke" or "plague mark." It refers to the physical manifestation or sign of the affliction, specifically given by God.
- leprosy (הַצָּרַעַת - ha-tsara'ath): As discussed, this is a broad term encompassing various serious skin conditions and molds, often carrying profound theological and social implications as a mark of ritual uncleanness and, at times, divine judgment (e.g., Miriam, Uzziah). It represents something highly contagious and polluting, affecting not only individuals but potentially garments and houses.
- to be very careful to observe (שָׁמוֹר תַּעֲשׂוּ - shamor ta'asu): This phrase emphasizes the command through repetition. Shamor is the infinitive absolute of shamar, preceding the imperfect verb ta'asu ("you shall do/observe"), creating a strong emphatic statement: "surely observe" or "you must indeed be careful to observe." This stresses the absolute necessity and diligence required.
- all that the Levitical priests (כְּכָל אֲשֶׁר יֹרוּ אֶתְכֶם הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם - k’khol asher yoru etkhem hakohanim haLeviim):
- Levitical priests (hakohanim haLeviim): Refers to the descendants of Aaron from the tribe of Levi, specifically designated by God to serve in the Tabernacle/Temple, offering sacrifices, mediating between God and man, and interpreting God's law. They possessed a unique authority regarding matters of ritual purity and defilement.
- instruct you (יֹרוּ אֶתְכֶם - yoru etkhem): From the verb yarah, meaning "to teach," "to point the way," or "to guide." It is the root from which the word "Torah" (Law/Instruction) is derived. This highlights the priests' role as teachers and administrators of God's directives.
- as I commanded them (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוֵּיתִי אוֹתָם - ka'asher tsiviti otam): This vital phrase clarifies the source of the priests' authority. Their instructions are not their own ideas or traditions but direct emanations from God's commands (found especially in Lev 13-14). This underlines the divine backing of their rulings and the absolute necessity of obedience for the people.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Take heed... to be very careful to observe": The strong, doubled imperative emphasizes an active, meticulous, and persistent obedience. It is not a suggestion but a solemn charge to vigilantly guard against non-compliance in a grave matter.
- "in an outbreak of leprosy... all that the Levitical priests instruct you": This links a specific and serious condition (tsara'ath, a marker of ritual defilement) directly to the authoritative role of the priesthood. The instruction isn't limited to a simple diagnosis but encompasses the entire protocol of examination, isolation, and purification detailed in the Law.
- "as I commanded them": This phrase serves as the ultimate seal of divine authority. It bypasses any potential human arbitration, establishing God Himself as the ultimate source of these regulations and the priestly role as merely the conduits of His immutable will. Disobeying the priests in this matter is effectively disobeying God.
Deuteronomy 24 8 Bonus section
The emphasis on priestly authority and strict observance regarding tsara'ath points to deeper theological lessons for the people of God. First, it illustrates that God cares about physical health and the well-being of the community. Second, it highlights the Old Testament principle that spiritual purity often manifests through ceremonial observance, and that defilement—whether physical or spiritual—necessitates isolation and purification. Third, the stringent laws of tsara'ath underscored the severity of sin and its capacity to alienate individuals from the community and from God's holy presence, much like tsara'ath separated the afflicted. This sets the stage for a better understanding of Jesus Christ, who uniquely transcended and fulfilled these laws, demonstrating His authority over sickness and sin by both healing lepers and, crucially, making them ceremonially clean (which no priest could do, only pronounce). By commanding healed lepers to show themselves to the priests, Jesus affirmed the divine order of the Law even as He demonstrated His Messianic power to conquer the very impurities the Law addressed.
Deuteronomy 24 8 Commentary
Deuteronomy 24:8 serves as a concise but profound command concerning communal health and ritual purity, deeply rooted in the concept of God's holiness. It places immense authority and responsibility on the Levitical priests as guardians and interpreters of God's laws concerning tsara'ath. The double emphasis on "being very careful" (through repetition of the root shamar) underscores the gravity of this affliction, which was more than just a medical issue; it was a potent symbol of ritual defilement, spiritual estrangement, and sometimes even divine judgment on sin.
The verse makes it clear that the priests are not merely healthcare providers, but divinely appointed agents whose instructions regarding tsara'ath carry the weight of God's own commands. "As I commanded them" establishes the immutable, divine origin of the protocols found in Leviticus 13-14. This divinely mandated obedience was crucial not only for physical containment of disease but, more significantly, for maintaining the spiritual and social integrity of the Israelite community, reflecting God's perfect standard of holiness. Compliance ensured the physical well-being of the camp, preventing literal contagion, while also upholding ritual purity essential for living in God's presence. Failure to obey would lead to ritual contamination of the community, undermining their covenant relationship with God.