Leviticus 13 19

Leviticus 13:19 kjv

And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be showed to the priest;

Leviticus 13:19 nkjv

and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest;

Leviticus 13:19 niv

and in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white spot appears, they must present themselves to the priest.

Leviticus 13:19 esv

and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest.

Leviticus 13:19 nlt

but a white swelling or a reddish white spot develops in its place, that person must go to the priest to be examined.

Leviticus 13 verses

Leviticus 13 19 Meaning

Leviticus 13:19 describes a specific scenario within the complex laws concerning ritual purity and defilement by skin diseases, often referred to as tzara'at. The verse posits a situation where an individual first develops a "boil" on their skin, which subsequently "heals." The importance lies in the resulting condition of the skin after the healing of this boil, as the priests would then need to examine the healed mark for signs of potential ritual impurity. This detail underscores that even the aftermath of common ailments could carry implications for an individual's cultic status, requiring meticulous discernment by the Aaronic priests to distinguish between what was clean and what was unclean according to God's commandments.

Leviticus 13 19 Context

Leviticus chapter 13 establishes the intricate priestly laws for diagnosing and managing various ritual impurities related to skin afflictions, broadly termed tzara'at. This term encompasses more than just Hansen's disease, referring to a range of dermatological conditions and even mildew on garments and in houses, all considered defiling under the Mosaic Law. The purpose of these laws was not merely medical, but profoundly theological and communal: to safeguard the holiness of the Israelite camp and individual purity before a holy God.

Verse 19 fits within a subsection (Lev 13:18-28) that addresses how to deal with specific manifestations of tzara'at arising from pre-existing injuries or conditions—namely, boils and burns. Before this verse, the chapter deals with fresh eruptions on healthy skin (vv. 1-17). Leviticus 13:19 initiates the protocol for assessing a lesion that has already completed its acute phase and healed, leaving behind a mark. The priestly examination, based on characteristics like color (white, reddish-white, etc.) and depth, was crucial for determining whether this residual mark indicated a new state of ritual impurity, potentially requiring quarantine and purification rites. The process emphasizes God's meticulous concern for distinction, order, and purity within His covenant people, physically manifesting principles of holiness.

Leviticus 13 19 Word analysis

• And if (וְכִי - ve'chi):

  • And (וְ - ve): A simple conjunctive prefix, linking this scenario to previous conditions.
  • if (כִּי - ki): A conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical situation that requires priestly assessment. This indicates that the following case is another specific instance to be governed by the law.
  • Significance: Introduces another permutation of skin condition examination, showing the thoroughness of the purity laws.

• a boil (שְׂאֵת - se'et):

  • Meaning: Literally "a swelling" or "a rising up." It refers to a raised, inflamed lesion on the skin, a pustule, or a carbuncle. The Septuagint translates it as oulē (scar), suggesting a lesion that had already burst or become a wound. In the broader context of Lev 13, it's one of the initial signs of skin issues mentioned (v. 2).
  • Significance: Specifies the origin of the later mark; it was a boil, not a simple rash or birthmark. It's the original cause of the mark under examination.

• breaks out (בְּעֹרוֹ - be'oro):

  • Meaning: From the preposition "in/on" (בְּ - be) and "his skin" (עֹרוֹ - oro). The phrasing "breaks out on his skin" captures the sense of eruption or emergence. The root word for skin (עוֹר - 'or) highlights the visible, outer surface of the body.
  • Significance: Indicates the specific bodily location of the affliction and its visible nature.

• and it is healed (וְנִרְפָּאָה - ve'nirpa'ah):

  • Meaning: The conjunction "and" (ve) followed by "it is healed" (nirpa'ah). The verb רָפָא (rapha, "to heal") is here in the Nifal stem, which typically conveys a passive or reflexive meaning – "it was healed" or "it healed itself." This is critical as the boil is no longer active or festering.
  • Significance: The core emphasis of this verse. It specifies that the initial active disease process has concluded. The priestly concern now shifts from the acute condition to the residual mark or scar left by the healed boil, which may still carry defilement if it exhibits particular characteristics mentioned in subsequent verses. This points to the law's deep insight into dermatological realities, recognizing that what remains after an initial affliction might reveal a more persistent, underlying issue affecting purity.

• Phrase analysis: "a boil breaks out on his skin, and it is healed"

  • This phrase highlights a common occurrence of a past affliction, shifting the diagnostic focus from the active lesion to its post-recovery state. The healing is assumed; the question for the priest is about the consequences of that healing for ritual status. The phrase serves as the prerequisite for the detailed examination outlined in verses 20-23, which concern the mark left behind. It shows the detailed and systematic approach of God's law, covering every conceivable scenario to ensure proper adherence to purity standards.

Leviticus 13 19 Bonus section

The mention of a "healed" boil carries symbolic weight beyond mere physical recovery. In the spiritual realm, sin can be likened to a destructive boil. While forgiveness offers healing from the active wound of sin, there can be "scars"—ingrained habits, emotional residue, or damaged relationships. This verse, by focusing on the examination of the healed mark for residual defilement, subtly points to the need for thorough cleansing that addresses not just the act of sin but also its lasting impacts. It suggests that even after a spiritual "healing," continued vigilance and divine assessment (through God's word and the Holy Spirit) are necessary to ensure complete purification and freedom from the persistent influence of past sin. This demonstrates the Bible's consistent emphasis on not merely avoiding sin but achieving a state of active holiness and genuine purity before God.

Leviticus 13 19 Commentary

Leviticus 13:19 introduces a crucial element in the Israelite purity laws: the examination of a healed lesion. It highlights that the presence of an active boil (a se'et or swelling) was not the primary focus for tzara'at defilement; rather, it was the subsequent appearance and characteristics of the mark left after the boil healed that the priest had to discern. This reflects the deep theological truth that God's people were called to holiness, a state of separation and purity for Him. Even common physical experiences like a boil had implications for communal ritual status if its healed mark indicated a tzara'at-like defilement.

The priests, as divine arbiters, were to look beyond the immediate sickness to the lingering effects, symbolizing how outward conditions could reveal inner states concerning one's standing before God. While not a medical text, these laws ensured a vigilant and communal approach to purity, emphasizing God's meticulous care for order and distinction in His covenant people. In Christ, believers find spiritual healing from the "boils" of sin, and the lingering scars (consequences of sin) are addressed by His purification, leading to genuine spiritual cleanness that goes far beyond external marks.