Leviticus 13 17

Leviticus 13:17 kjv

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.

Leviticus 13:17 nkjv

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.

Leviticus 13:17 niv

The priest is to examine them, and if the sores have turned white, the priest shall pronounce the affected person clean; then they will be clean.

Leviticus 13:17 esv

and the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce the diseased person clean; he is clean.

Leviticus 13:17 nlt

for another examination. If the affected areas have indeed turned white, the priest will then pronounce the person ceremonially clean by declaring, 'You are clean!'

Leviticus 13 verses

Leviticus 13 17 Meaning

Leviticus 13:17 describes a specific condition for ritual cleanness regarding tsara'at, a broad term for various skin afflictions. The verse states that if a person's affliction has spread completely over their body and turned entirely white, the officiating priest is to declare them ritually clean. This outcome is significant because, in other instances of tsara'at, spreading usually indicated increasing defilement. Here, complete saturation signifies that the disease has run its full course, likely becoming a benign state, and thus the person is no longer considered a source of ritual impurity.

Leviticus 13 17 Context

Leviticus Chapter 13 is part of a detailed set of laws concerning purity and impurity, specifically focusing on skin diseases, commonly referred to as tsara'at, and its diagnosis by the priest. This chapter provides a meticulous list of signs and symptoms to help the priest discern whether a person is ritually unclean. The purpose of these laws was not merely medical but primarily cultic and societal: to maintain the holiness of the camp of Israel, ensuring proper worship and preventing the spread of impurities that could defile the presence of God. Verse 17 occurs in a distinct sub-section (13:12-17) which describes an unusual, seemingly paradoxical scenario where complete coverage of the body by the affliction results in a declaration of cleanness, unlike partial spread which leads to uncleanness.

Leviticus 13 17 Word analysis

• then the priest: The Hebrew word for priest is kohen (כֹּהֵן). The priest was God's appointed representative, entrusted with the divine knowledge of the law (torah) and the authority to apply it, particularly in matters of purity and impurity. He served as both diagnostician and declarer of ritual status, not a healer.
• shall look: The Hebrew verb is v'ra'ah (וְרָאָה), from the root ra'ah (רָאָה), meaning "to see, look, perceive, inspect." This emphasizes the priest's active and careful examination based on prescribed criteria, not intuition or personal opinion. It highlights his role as a discerning authority guided by divine law.
• and behold: The Hebrew v'hinneh (וְהִנֵּה) is an emphatic interjection often translated as "behold," "look," or "indeed." It draws attention to the following crucial condition, emphasizing its significance and the certainty of observation.
• if the disease: The Hebrew term is hanega (הַנֶּגַע), derived from nega' (נֶגַע), which literally means "a stroke" or "a plague." While often translated as "leprosy," it is a much broader term referring to any divine affliction, be it a skin malady, mold in a house, or mildew on clothing. It points to an affliction potentially sent or allowed by God.
• has turned white: The Hebrew is hafakh lavan (הָפַךְ לָבָן). Hafakh means "to turn, to overthrow, to change," implying a complete transformation. Lavan means "white." This phrase is critical: it refers to the affliction completely covering the body and turning entirely white. This completeness indicates the affliction has fully manifested and potentially run its course, contrasting with isolated patches or raw spots mentioned elsewhere in the chapter which signified active disease and uncleanness.
• then the person is clean: The Hebrew is tahor hu (טָהוֹר הוּא). Tahor signifies ritual cleanness or purity, which meant the person was permissible to enter the Israelite camp, participate in the community, and worship at the sanctuary. This declaration was about ritual status, allowing re-integration, not necessarily a medical cure.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "then the priest shall look": This phrase underlines the established authority and procedural nature of discerning ritual status within Israel. The priest's judgment was authoritative and based on clear, divinely revealed criteria.
• "and behold, if the disease has turned white": This highlights the counter-intuitive and unique condition. Normally, the spreading of disease meant increasing uncleanness, but here, the complete transformation to whiteness signifies the end of the infectious or defiling phase, leading to cleanness. This completion brings clarity for the priestly diagnosis.
• "then the person is clean": This is the authoritative declaration of purity. The priest, as the interpreter and enforcer of God's laws, formally pronounced the individual suitable to re-enter society and worship. This re-integration underscores the community's dependence on maintaining ritual purity for corporate holiness.

Leviticus 13 17 Bonus section

The seemingly paradoxical outcome in Leviticus 13:12-17, where a body completely covered in tsara'at is declared clean, points to several layers of theological and practical meaning. Firstly, it indicates that God's law has distinct and sometimes non-obvious criteria for purity, highlighting divine wisdom beyond human conventional understanding of sickness. This full eruption suggests the affliction had finished its progression and was no longer actively defiling, or had turned benign. The completeness offers no hidden pockets of contagion. Secondly, it subtly teaches that thoroughness and full manifestation can, in specific circumstances, lead to resolution and cleanness. Unlike partial or hidden sin which continues to defile, full exposure and confrontation can be a prerequisite for divine cleansing and restoration, mirroring later themes of confession and purity. The priest's judgment was final and unappealable, serving as God's legal decree for the individual and the community.

Leviticus 13 17 Commentary

Leviticus 13:17 presents a paradox within the meticulous laws of tsara'at: while a spreading or localized skin affliction typically denotes ritual uncleanness, complete coverage of the body by white tsara'at paradoxically signifies cleanness. The priestly assessment here is not medical diagnosis in a modern sense, but a discernment of ritual status for the community's holiness. The completeness of the affliction's manifestation, turning entirely white, indicated that the disease had exhausted its infectious phase or settled into a benign state. This principle removes ambiguity, allowing the priest to make a clear judgment. Spiritually, this can subtly teach that some conditions, once fully exposed and having run their course, are then dealt with and can be made "clean." This contrasts with hiding or partial exposure which prolongs defilement. The full manifestation allows for the complete resolution.