Leviticus 13 23

Leviticus 13:23 kjv

But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Leviticus 13:23 nkjv

But if the bright spot stays in one place, and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Leviticus 13:23 niv

But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.

Leviticus 13:23 esv

But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Leviticus 13:23 nlt

But if the area grows no larger and does not spread, it is merely the scar from the boil, and the priest will pronounce the person ceremonially clean.

Leviticus 13 verses

Leviticus 13 23 Meaning

Leviticus 13:23 describes a specific scenario in the diagnosis of skin conditions following a boil. If a bright spot remains stable after a boil has healed, without spreading or showing signs of active disease, it is determined to be merely the dried or scarred remnant of the burn or boil. In such a case, the priest, acting as the designated arbiter of ceremonial cleanness, is to pronounce the individual ritually clean, allowing them to fully reintegrate into the community and temple worship.

Leviticus 13 23 Context

Leviticus 13-14 contains detailed laws regarding tzara'at (often translated as "leprosy"), a term that encompassed a range of infectious or ritually defiling skin conditions, affecting not just people but also clothing and houses. The primary purpose was to preserve the ritual purity of the Israelite camp, especially as God's tabernacle (and later temple) dwelled among them. The regulations outlined the role of the priest, not as a physician in the modern sense, but as God's designated diagnostician and declarer of ceremonial status. His verdict determined who was clean (tahor) and could participate in the community and worship, and who was unclean (tameh) and needed to be isolated until pronounced clean.

Verse 23 specifically addresses the healing outcome of a boil (שְׁחִין, shechin). Previous verses (13:18-22) discuss various scenarios if a white or reddish spot appears after a boil. The crucial diagnostic criterion throughout Leviticus 13 for tzara'at is spreading. If a spot spreads, it's a strong indicator of ritual uncleanness. If it doesn't spread, as highlighted in verse 23, it's typically a sign of a non-threatening, non-contagious condition, or the residual scarring of a healed injury. The immediate context of verses 13:18-23 specifically deals with boils and burns. This particular verse, 13:23, concludes the section on boils, affirming that a stable, non-spreading "bright spot" arising from a boil indicates no ritual impurity.

Historically and culturally, these laws served several functions. They provided rudimentary public health guidance, though their primary focus was ceremonial purity. They emphasized the sanctity of the community in the presence of a holy God, and the need for order. Furthermore, they distinguished Israel's divine ordinances from the superstitious and often barbaric health practices of surrounding pagan nations, reinforcing a covenant relationship governed by God's precise commands rather than human fears or capricious deities.

Leviticus 13 23 Word analysis

• But if (וְאִם - wəʾim):
  • Literally "And if." The conjunction waw (and) here introduces a contrasting or alternative condition. It presents the positive outcome following preceding discussions of what would render a person unclean from a boil's eruption. It sets up a conditional statement for a specific diagnostic sign.
• the bright spot (הַבַּהֶרֶת - ha-baheret):
  • From the Hebrew root bāhar, meaning "to shine" or "to be bright." Baheret refers to a "shining spot" or a "bright patch" on the skin, often used for any discolored skin lesion. In the context of a boil (Lev 13:18), this would be a resulting mark or scar from the healed injury, distinct from an active infectious process. Its brightness or shininess makes it noticeable, thus requiring priestly inspection.
• stay in his place (עָמְדָה תַחְתֶּיהָ - ʿāmedâ taḥtěyāh):
  • ʿāmadâ (feminine singular of ʿāmad): "it stood" or "it remained." Implies stability, cessation of change.
  • taḥtěyāh (from tahat): literally "under it" or "in its place." This signifies that the spot has not moved from its original location or size. This immobility is a critical sign of a benign (ritually clean) condition. It's the opposite of spreading, which would indicate ritual uncleanness.
• and spread not (וְלֹא פָשָׂתָה - wĕlōʾ pāsāṯāh):
  • wĕlōʾ: "and not."
  • pāśāṯāh (feminine singular of pāśaṭ): "it spread out," "it expanded," "it diffused." The negation of spreading is the primary criterion for cleanness throughout Leviticus 13. Tzara'at (leprosy-like afflictions) was characterized by its progressive and expansive nature. A non-spreading lesion means the active disease is not present.
• it is a burning boil (חָרָבוֹת הַמִּכְוָה הִיא - ḥārāvōt hamikwāh hīʾ):
  • ḥārāvōt: Often translated as "scarred" or "dried-out" or "scabs." It derives from a root associated with dryness or desolation. This suggests the residual, inactive nature of the mark.
  • hamikwāh: "of the burning" or "the scald." This refers back to the origin of the spot – a burn or the mark from a boil which is often inflamed (burning).
  • hīʾ: "it is."
  • Combined, this phrase indicates that the spot is merely the lasting mark or dried tissue of a past, healed injury from a boil or a burn. It confirms that the underlying cause is an ordinary injury and not tzara'at.
• and the priest shall pronounce him clean (וְטִהֲרוֹ הַכֹּהֵן - wĕṭihărō hakōhēn):
  • wĕṭihărō (from the Hiphil of ṭāhēr): "and he shall make him clean" or "he shall declare him clean." This is the formal, authoritative declaration by the priest. It's not a medical cure, but a ritual verdict of fitness to participate in the community.
  • hakōhēn: "the priest." The Levitical priest, uniquely appointed by God, was given the authority and responsibility for making these critical declarations concerning purity status.

Leviticus 13 23 Bonus section

The concept of a "burning boil" and the bright spot highlights the acute pain and potential for lingering marks from such an injury. In ancient Israel, access to advanced medical care was limited, so divine statutes provided guidance for discernment and communal protection. The declaration of cleanness for a non-spreading lesion originating from a boil or burn demonstrates God's precision and mercy within the Law, ensuring that people were not unduly isolated for ordinary, non-contagious ailments. This nuanced distinction underlines that the Levitical laws were not merely arbitrary but discerning, focusing on specific criteria for contagious tzara'at (skin affliction leading to uncleanness) while differentiating them from other dermatological issues. The detailed nature of these purity laws trained Israel in obedience, holiness, and the consequences of sin, which like spreading skin disease, defiles and isolates. Ultimately, these laws, with their emphasis on priestly mediation and restoration, point to the New Testament's fulfillment in Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, who offers true spiritual cleansing from the spreading defilement of sin, bringing reconciliation and communion with God.

Leviticus 13 23 Commentary

Leviticus 13:23 is a succinct yet profoundly significant verse within the comprehensive legal framework for skin ailments in ancient Israel. It serves as a declarative statement of good prognosis for an individual exhibiting a particular skin condition arising from a boil. The primary diagnostic markers of stability and non-spreading are paramount. The "bright spot" emanating from a boil, if it remains confined and does not proliferate, is confirmed as the harmless, healed residue of the initial wound—a mere scar or dried lesion, rather than the ritually contaminating "leprosy."

The priest's role is critical; he acts as a sacred intermediary and discerning judge, empowered by God to ascertain and declare an individual's ritual standing. This declaration is not merely a medical diagnosis but a spiritual verdict that restores the person to full communal and religious life, signifying that God’s holy presence among His people can be maintained. This system highlights God’s concern not only for physical health but for communal purity and fellowship with His people. It implicitly underscores the contrast between genuine ceremonial uncleanness, which demanded separation, and benign conditions that, despite appearing similar, did not necessitate isolation, thus preventing undue hardship for the innocent. It offers reassurance that not every disfigurement leads to banishment but rather, with divine oversight and proper judgment, restoration is possible.