Leviticus 13 15

Leviticus 13:15 kjv

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

Leviticus 13:15 nkjv

And the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him to be unclean; for the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy.

Leviticus 13:15 niv

When the priest sees the raw flesh, he shall pronounce them unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; they have a defiling disease.

Leviticus 13:15 esv

And the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean. Raw flesh is unclean, for it is a leprous disease.

Leviticus 13:15 nlt

The priest must make this pronouncement as soon as he sees an open sore, since open sores indicate the presence of a skin disease.

Leviticus 13 verses

Leviticus 13 15 Meaning

This verse details a crucial diagnostic criterion within the Levitical laws concerning tzara'at, a severe skin condition often translated as "leprosy." It specifies that if, after an individual has been examined and potentially declared clean (likely because the affliction had completely covered their skin, turning it white, indicating a non-spreading, resolved, or static state), active raw flesh reappears within the affected area, then that person is again to be considered ritually unclean. The presence of living, exposed tissue signifies a re-activation or recurrence of the virulent and contagious phase of the affliction, necessitating renewed separation from the community and the divine sanctuary.

Leviticus 13 15 Context

Leviticus Chapter 13 is a meticulously detailed instructional manual concerning the diagnosis, isolation, and eventual reintegration of individuals afflicted with tzara'at. The chapter empowers the priests as divine arbiters to inspect, quarantine, and pronounce individuals clean or unclean according to specific visible signs. This role underscores the sacred purity required for communal living within the covenant people, particularly regarding access to the holy presence of God.

Historically, these laws functioned to protect the public health of ancient Israel within their specific climatic and social context, as well as to vividly teach profound spiritual lessons about the defilement of sin. The rigorous isolation and the requirement for priestly oversight highlighted God's demand for holiness within His chosen people, separating them from the idolatrous and often morally lax practices of surrounding nations. The detailed protocol for tzara'at, a condition often without clear modern medical equivalent, served as a stark polemic against the arbitrary and often superstitious health practices or deifications of nature prevalent in ancient pagan cultures, establishing YHWH alone as the source of health, cleansing, and moral order.

Leviticus 13 15 Word analysis

• But when: (וּבְיוֹם - u'v'yom) "And in the day of" or "But on the day that." The "But" functions as a strong contrast or reversal of the preceding regulations, particularly Lev 13:12-13 where full whiteness led to cleansing. It emphasizes the condition's volatile nature.

• raw flesh: (בָּשָׂר חַי - basar chay)

  • flesh (basar): Refers to the physical tissue or body.
  • raw/living (chai): This word signifies "living" or "alive." In the context of skin lesions, it refers to exposed, red, bleeding, or unhealed tissue. It contrasts sharply with the "white" or "scab" descriptions found elsewhere in the chapter, which indicate a more quiescent state of the skin. The presence of chai tissue signified an active, vibrant, and likely spreading aspect of the affliction, hence its designation as impure.

• reappears: (הֵרָאוֹת - hera'ot) A Niphal infinitive construct from the root רא"ה (ra'ah), meaning "to see" or "to appear." In the Niphal stem, it signifies "to cause oneself to be seen" or "to appear." The term "reappears" aptly captures the sense that this "raw flesh" was previously seen (Lev 13:10), then disappeared (perhaps due to being completely covered by white skin in Lev 13:12-13), and now surfaces again. Its re-emergence signals a change for the worse in the patient's ritual status.

• he shall be unclean: (יִטְמָא - yitma') From the root טמ"א (tameh), meaning "to be unclean" or "to defile." The yitma' (Qal imperfect, third person masculine singular) is a declarative statement by the priest, marking the individual as ritually polluted and thereby separated from the sacred assembly and access to divine blessings. This state of uncleanness requires strict isolation to prevent the spread of defilement throughout the camp. It underscores the severity of tzara'at and the meticulousness required in managing ritual purity.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "raw flesh reappears": This phrase describes the dynamic nature of tzara'at as observed by the priest. It means the disease is not dormant or resolved but is active again. This "living" aspect of the disease signified its contagiousness and its potential to defile the community. From a spiritual perspective, it might illustrate the resurgence of unaddressed sin in one's life after a period of presumed purity, revealing a deeper, unresolved issue.
  • "he shall be unclean": This is the authoritative declaration of the priest, which had profound social, religious, and psychological consequences for the afflicted individual. This statement of uncleanness mandated the individual's removal from the Israelite camp, preventing potential defilement of the sacred space and others within it. Spiritually, it emphasizes that unchecked or recurring sin leads to separation from the fellowship of the faithful and the presence of God.

Leviticus 13 15 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on the priest's careful examination throughout Leviticus 13-14 highlights the meticulousness required for discernment regarding spiritual health as well. The priest, not the afflicted individual, holds the authority to declare cleanness or uncleanness, pointing to the need for objective spiritual assessment guided by God's Word, and ultimately to Christ, our High Priest, who alone can truly declare us clean. This nuanced approach in the law demonstrates God's profound attention to detail concerning the separation between the holy and the profane, revealing His unchanging nature as a holy God who demands holiness from His people for intimate fellowship.

Leviticus 13 15 Commentary

Leviticus 13:15 provides a crucial caveat to the cleansing declaration outlined in 13:12-13. While a complete covering of tzara'at (turning white, suggesting a resolution) allowed for a declaration of cleanness, the re-emergence of active, raw flesh signaled a dangerous and defiling recurrence. This underscores the volatile and potentially deceptive nature of physical defilement and, by extension, spiritual defilement. The raw flesh signified a living, active infection, indicating an ongoing threat to purity, whereas the all-white condition represented a completed process or even a death of the disease itself.

This verse teaches us the critical importance of continuous vigilance, both physically and spiritually. Just as a physical condition can appear to be resolved only to recur in a more active state, so too can spiritual struggles or sins resurface if not fully dealt with or confessed. True cleansing involves the complete eradication or full coverage (as Christ's righteousness covers us), not just a superficial improvement. If the "raw flesh" of unmortified sin or unconfessed transgression reappears, it immediately breaks our fellowship with God, demonstrating a lack of genuine, internal transformation. The priest's pronouncement reflects God's clear standard: His people are called to holiness, and compromise with "active" impurity is unacceptable for maintaining their walk with Him.