Leviticus 13:1 kjv
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,
Leviticus 13:1 nkjv
And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
Leviticus 13:1 niv
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
Leviticus 13:1 esv
The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
Leviticus 13:1 nlt
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
Leviticus 13 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 1:1 | "And the Lord called to Moses, and spoke to him out of the tabernacle..." | Standard introductory formula for laws |
| Lev 4:1 | "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying," | Reinforces divine source of all commands |
| Num 1:1 | "The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai..." | God's direct revelation to Moses |
| Ex 25:1 | "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying," | God provides specific instructions |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "God... at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son..." | God's consistent mode of revelation |
| Ex 4:15-16 | "You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you what you shall do." | Moses and Aaron as God's spokesmen |
| Lev 8:36 | "So Aaron and his sons did all the things the Lord commanded by Moses." | Confirmation of obedience to divine command |
| Num 3:38 | "Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise." | Indicates their joint leadership and priestly role |
| Heb 5:1 | "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." | Highlights Aaron's priestly function |
| Lev 11:44-45 | "For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy." | Calls for general holiness, key to purity laws |
| Lev 15:31 | "Thus you shall keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die by their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them." | Explains purpose of purity laws (separation) |
| Num 5:2-4 | "Command the children of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever is defiled by a corpse." | Practical application of isolation for purity |
| Deut 23:14 | "For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp... therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you." | God's presence requires a clean camp |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" | New Covenant emphasis on holy living |
| Lev 10:10-11 | "and that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses." | Priestly role in distinguishing and teaching laws |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth..." | Priests are to be sources of instruction |
| Matt 8:4 | "Then Jesus said to him, 'See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'" | Christ acknowledging Levitical laws/priesthood |
| Mark 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 directing adherence to the Mosaic Law |
| Luke 5:14 | "Then He commanded him to tell no one, 'But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded...' " | Jesus honors priestly role in cleansing process |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." | Spiritualizing Old Testament concepts of sacrifice and holiness |
| 2 Cor 6:16-18 | "For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them And walk among them; I will be their God, And they shall be My people.' " | Believers as God's temple requires holiness |
| Col 2:16-17 | "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." | Old Covenant rituals are shadows, fulfilled in Christ |
| Eph 5:25-27 | "Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word..." | Christ cleanses His church (spiritual parallel) |
Leviticus 13 verses
Leviticus 13 1 Meaning
This verse serves as the direct divine mandate introducing the extensive laws regarding various forms of defilement, particularly infectious skin conditions and mold, demonstrating God's direct and authoritative communication to Israel through His appointed leaders. It signifies that the comprehensive regulations detailed in the subsequent chapters are not human invention but sacred instructions for maintaining holiness within the Israelite community and establishing their distinction before God.
Leviticus 13 1 Context
Leviticus 13:1 initiates a crucial legal section within the book of Leviticus, spanning chapters 13 and 14, which exclusively deals with detailed regulations concerning tzara'at. This term refers not merely to leprosy as understood today but to a broader category of skin conditions, and even molds in garments or houses, that render a person or object ritually unclean. The preceding chapters established the sacrificial system, the ordination of the priesthood, and general laws concerning clean and unclean animals, making this next section a specific application of purity principles. Historically and culturally, such detailed laws were essential for a nomadic people living in close quarters, serving practical purposes of hygiene and public health, while primarily functioning as a rigorous theological object lesson about sin, separation, and the sanctity of God's presence among His people. It distinguishes Israel from surrounding cultures that did not have such explicit divine mandates for ritual purity or communal health.
Leviticus 13 1 Word analysis
- And: Hebrew: וְ (waw). Functions as a conjunction, connecting these new instructions to the previous divine laws. It highlights the continuous flow of God's revealed will.
- the Lord: Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH). This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel, His absolute authority, and His eternal, unchanging nature. Its use underscores the divine origin of the forthcoming laws.
- spoke: Hebrew: וַיְדַבֵּר (vaydabber). From the verb דָּבַר (dabar), meaning "to speak, to arrange, to declare." It denotes a purposeful, direct, and authoritative communication, signifying an unfolding of divine revelation, not mere suggestion.
- to Moses and Aaron: Identifies the precise recipients and conduits of God's revelation.
- Moses: The primary prophet and lawgiver (Ex 19:3), acting as the mediator of the Sinai Covenant. His role is to receive and transmit God's word to the people.
- Aaron: The high priest and head of the Aaronic priesthood (Lev 8), whose office is to administer and teach the laws, especially those pertaining to purity and cultic practice (Lev 10:11). This joint address emphasizes both the prophetic promulgation and the priestly application of the law.
- saying: Hebrew: לֵאמֹר (lemor). A common formula indicating that the direct speech or verbatim command of the Lord immediately follows. It signifies that what follows are God's exact words and precise instructions, to be adhered to without alteration.
Words-group analysis:
- "And the Lord spoke": This opening phrase underscores the divine authorship and absolute authority of the instructions to follow. All laws in Leviticus originate directly from God, highlighting their non-negotiable nature and their spiritual weight. It frames the entire subsequent discourse as divine command, not human tradition.
- "to Moses and Aaron": This pairing defines the divinely appointed leadership responsible for receiving and implementing God's commands. Moses as the prophet mediates the law to Aaron as the priest, who then ensures its practical application within the Tabernacle and among the community. This dual address highlights the intertwining roles of revelation and its execution, critical for maintaining Israel's holy status.
- "saying": This word reinforces the direct nature of the communication, implying that the detailed regulations in chapters 13-14 are precisely what God intends for Israel. It signifies clarity and purpose in God's lawgiving, leaving no room for misinterpretation of the following commandments regarding diagnosis and isolation.
Leviticus 13 1 Bonus section
- This introductory formula, with slight variations, is found over 70 times in Leviticus, constantly reinforcing the divine origin of every command and statute within the book. It serves as a persistent reminder that all the intricate laws, from sacrifices to cleanliness, are not human conventions but specific directives from YHWH, the covenant God of Israel.
- The meticulous detail of these purity laws (e.g., concerning tzara'at) underscores the profound concept of the clean and unclean in the Old Testament. While having practical health benefits, their primary theological purpose was to create a visual and tangible separation, teaching Israel the concept of holiness (separation to God) and uncleanness (anything contrary to God's pure nature).
- The contrast between the Old and New Covenants is subtle yet present in this foundational verse. Under the Old Covenant, a priest like Aaron examined uncleanness to pronounce defilement and isolation. In the New Covenant, Jesus, the Great High Priest, instead touches the unclean (like those with tzara'at), pronounces them clean, and incorporates them into His community, demonstrating His power over all forms of defilement and the advent of a new, internal purity.
Leviticus 13 1 Commentary
Leviticus 13:1 is a critical heading that imbues the subsequent two chapters on tzara'at with supreme divine authority. The opening formula "And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying" firmly roots these intricate purity laws in God's direct revelation. It communicates that God is meticulously involved in every detail of His people's lives, extending His concern beyond ritual sacrifice to matters of health, community, and physical cleanness, which all serve a higher spiritual purpose of holiness. The dual recipients, Moses (the lawgiver/prophet) and Aaron (the high priest/administrator), signify that these instructions are not merely moral exhortations but codified laws to be mediated, understood, and practically enforced by the designated spiritual leaders. This sets the stage for God's comprehensive blueprint for a holy people consecrated to Himself, demonstrating that physical well-being and ritual purity are inseparable components of walking blamelessly before Him. It shows God's commitment to maintaining a holy environment for His dwelling presence, thereby distinguishing Israel from other nations.