Leviticus 13 24

Leviticus 13:24 kjv

Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;

Leviticus 13:24 nkjv

"Or if the body receives a burn on its skin by fire, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white or white,

Leviticus 13:24 niv

"When someone has a burn on their skin and a reddish-white or white spot appears in the raw flesh of the burn,

Leviticus 13:24 esv

"Or, when the body has a burn on its skin and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a spot, reddish-white or white,

Leviticus 13:24 nlt

"If anyone has suffered a burn on the skin and the burned area changes color, becoming either reddish white or shiny white,

Leviticus 13 verses

Leviticus 13 24 Meaning

Leviticus 13:24 outlines one specific case of a suspected skin disease, often referred to as tzara'at (incorrectly translated as "leprosy" in many versions, as it refers to a broader range of skin conditions, some temporary), which develops from a burn scar. It describes the precise symptoms that required examination by a priest: if, within the healed tissue of a burn, a bright spot appears, which is either reddish-white or white, it triggers the priestly diagnostic procedure to determine if it is indeed tzara'at, rendering the individual ritually unclean. This regulation is part of the comprehensive instructions for identifying and managing various forms of tzara'at, emphasizing the meticulous nature of discerning purity and impurity within the Israelite community.

Leviticus 13 24 Context

Leviticus 13:24 is situated within a broader section of Leviticus (chapters 11-15) that delineates laws of purity and impurity. Specifically, Chapter 13 focuses entirely on the identification and management of tzara'at, a term often rendered as "leprosy" but encompassing various severe skin ailments, some perhaps more analogous to certain forms of psoriasis, eczema, or fungal infections, rather than Hansen's disease (modern leprosy). This chapter systematically details the procedures for priestly examination, quarantine, and pronouncement of ritual clean or unclean status for individuals. The verse in question presents one specific manifestation of tzara'at: a new spot appearing within the scar tissue of a healed burn.

The immediate context emphasizes the priest's meticulous role as a diagnostician, not a healer. His pronouncements carried significant societal and religious implications, determining whether an individual could remain within the Israelite camp and participate in worship. This served to maintain the holiness of the camp and its separation from impurity, reflecting God's holy character. Historically, these laws provided a structured system for managing what would have been perceived as grievous, potentially defiling, and disfiguring conditions in an ancient society, distinct from superstitious or uncontrolled responses seen in neighboring cultures. The law distinguishes clearly between a mere scar and one suspected of becoming a tzara'at lesion, preventing false alarms while ensuring thoroughness.

Leviticus 13 24 Word analysis

• Or if there is: (וְכִֽי־יִהְיֶה֙ wĕkhî yihyeh) - Introduces an alternative case to previous conditions (e.g., boils in verses 18-23). It signals a new, distinct scenario for examination.
• in the skin of the body: (בְעוֹר הַבָּשָׂר bĕʿôr habbāśār) - Specifies the location. The term ʿôr refers to the skin or hide. This clarifies that the examination concerns external manifestations on human skin, distinct from conditions on garments or houses.
• a burn from fire: (מִכְוַת אֵשׁ mikwath ʾēsh) - Describes the initial wound. Mikwāh (מִכְוָה) denotes a burn, from a root meaning "to be burned." The phrase ʾēsh (אֵשׁ), meaning "fire," clearly indicates the cause. This condition starts with an accidental burn, distinguishing it from innate skin issues.
• and the raw flesh of the burn: (וְהָיְתָה֙ מִסְפַּ֣חַת הַמִּכְוָ֔ה wĕhāythāh missapachath hammikwāh) - Refers to the underlying tissue that formed during healing of the burn. Missapachath (מִסְפַּחַת) comes from a root meaning "to attach, to spread." In this context, it describes a spreading or raw patch of flesh related to the burn wound itself, indicating the tissue around or within the healing burn.
• becomes a bright spot: (לְבַהֶרֶת lebaheret) - Indicates the critical symptom. Baheret (בַּהֶרֶת) refers to a bright, shiny spot or patch on the skin, a key diagnostic term used throughout Leviticus 13 for suspicious tzara'at. Its presence signifies that the original burn scar might now be harboring a ritual impurity.
• reddish-white or white: (אֲדַמְדֶּמֶת֩ א֣וֹ לְבָנָה֮ ʾadadamdmet ʾô lĕbhānāh) - These are the specific diagnostic colors the priest must observe within the bright spot. ʾAdadamdmet (אֲדַמְדֶּמֶת) is a diminutive of ʾādam (red), meaning "reddish." Lĕbhānāh (לְבָנָה) simply means "white." These color deviations from normal skin or scar tissue were vital indicators for the priest's assessment, guiding him to discern potential tzara'at within a burn scar, indicating that it was no longer merely a healing burn but possibly a defiling condition.

Leviticus 13 24 Bonus section

The distinction between mikwāh (the burn itself) and missapachath hammikwāh (the scar/spreading of the burn) is crucial. This indicates that the tzara'at isn't the direct result of the burning but a separate, new development occurring in the scar tissue that forms after the initial injury heals. This speaks to the chronic and perhaps deeper nature of tzara'at beyond superficial wounds. The very specific colors—reddish-white and white—were essential for diagnosis because common scars might be lighter than the surrounding skin, but tzara'at would have presented very distinct chromatic changes that priests were trained to identify. This also implicitly guarded against false declarations of uncleanness from ordinary injuries.

Leviticus 13 24 Commentary

Leviticus 13:24 exemplifies the detailed precision of the Old Testament purity laws concerning tzara'at. It is not a medical textbook but a theological guide, primarily concerned with ritual purity and God's holiness. The emergence of a baheret (bright spot) within the missapachath hammikwāh (raw flesh/scar tissue of a burn) shifted a common physical affliction into a matter of ritual uncleanness. This instruction highlights several key aspects: the priest's essential role in maintaining Israel's holiness through careful diagnosis, the meticulousness required to distinguish true ritual impurity from mere injury, and the understanding that various forms of skin anomaly could signify tzara'at. The rule points to a potential defilement arising after an initial injury, indicating a secondary development, emphasizing God's concern for comprehensive purity within the community and individuals. Such detailed instructions would have contrasted sharply with the less structured and often superstitious responses to skin conditions in surrounding cultures, asserting God's orderly dominion over all aspects of life, including physical health and cleanliness, to reflect spiritual purity.