Leviticus 13 25

Leviticus 13:25 kjv

Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

Leviticus 13:25 nkjv

then the priest shall examine it; and indeed if the hair of the bright spot has turned white, and it appears deeper than the skin, it is leprosy broken out in the burn. Therefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous sore.

Leviticus 13:25 niv

the priest is to examine the spot, and if the hair in it has turned white, and it appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease.

Leviticus 13:25 esv

the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the spot has turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, then it is a leprous disease. It has broken out in the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease.

Leviticus 13:25 nlt

the priest must examine it. If he finds that the hair in the affected area has turned white and the problem appears to be more than skin-deep, a skin disease has broken out in the burn. The priest must then pronounce the person ceremonially unclean, for it is clearly a serious skin disease.

Leviticus 13 verses

Leviticus 13 25 Meaning

Leviticus 13:25 describes a specific condition regarding a bright spot appearing within the scar of a burn. This verse declares that if such a bright spot does not spread in the skin but remains in its place and darkens, it is considered a harmless elevation resulting from the burn. Consequently, the priest is to pronounce the person ritually clean, confirming that the mark is simply a benign aftermath of the original burn, not the defiling skin disease known as tzara'at.

Leviticus 13 25 Context

Leviticus chapter 13 establishes the intricate laws concerning the diagnosis and management of tzara'at, a term commonly translated as "leprosy" but encompassing various serious and ritually defiling skin conditions, including fungal infections or other dermatoses, not just Hansen's disease. The chapter outlines numerous scenarios, requiring careful examination by the priest to differentiate between ritually defiling plagues and harmless skin afflictions. The overall purpose of these laws was not solely public health but primarily to maintain ritual purity within the community and before a holy God. This verse, specifically addressing a bright spot in a burn scar, exemplifies the meticulousness required to prevent unnecessary ostracization while upholding God's standards of cleanliness and separation for the covenant people.

Leviticus 13 25 Word analysis

• And if the bright spot (וְאִם־בַּהֶרֶת, v'im-baheret):

  • baheret (בַּהֶרֶת): This Hebrew term, frequently used in Lev 13, refers to a bright, shiny white or reddish-white patch on the skin, a primary indicator for suspicion of tzara'at. In this specific context, it's a "bright spot" that has developed in an area previously affected by a burn.

• stay in his place (עָמְדָה תַחְתֶּיהָ, amadah takhteyha):

  • amad (עָמַד): Meaning to stand, remain, endure. This signifies stability and immobility.
  • takhteyha (תַחְתֶּיהָ): "Underneath it" or "in its place." Together, the phrase indicates that the spot has not spread or grown larger, a critical diagnostic criterion in Leviticus.

• and spread not in the skin (וְלֹא־פָשְׂתָה בָעוֹר, v'lo-pasetah va'or):

  • pasah (פָשָׂה): To spread, expand, or break out. The absence of spreading is the most vital sign for diagnosing cleanliness, as active, progressive lesions often indicate ritual impurity.
  • 'or (עוֹר): Skin, the external covering of the body.

• but be somewhat dark (וְכֵהָה הִוא, v'chehah hiw):

  • kehâh (כֵּהָה): Faded, dim, dull, darkish. This adjective describes a less vibrant or inflamed appearance, indicating that the spot is benign or healing, as opposed to the glaring whiteness or redness often associated with active tzara'at.

• it is a rising of the burning (שְׂאֵת הַמִּכְוָה הִוא, se'et hammikhvah hiw):

  • se'et (שְׂאֵת): A swelling or elevation. Throughout Lev 13, it's used for various forms of skin eruptions. Here, it refers to the residual raised tissue from the previous injury.
  • mikhvah (מִכְוָה): A burn wound or its resulting scar. This clearly identifies the origin of the "bright spot" as being connected to a physical burn, distinguishing it from tzara'at originating spontaneously.

• and the priest shall pronounce him clean (וְטִהֲרוֹ הַכֹּהֵן, v'tiharo hakkohen):

  • tihar (טָהַר): To cleanse, purify, or declare clean. The priest's pronouncement is authoritative and based on God's divine instructions.
  • kohen (כֹּהֵן): The priest, God's appointed representative for discerning and declaring ritual states.

• for it is an inflammation of the burning (כִּי־מַשְׂאַת הַמִּכְוָה הִוא, ki-mas'at hammikhvah hiw):

  • mas'at (מַשְׂאַת): A mark, scab, or remnant of an injury, often referring to scar tissue. Some translations use "inflammation," but the primary meaning points to the persistent mark or resulting effect of the injury.
  • This phrase acts as the justification for the clean declaration, reiterating that the spot is merely a normal result of a burn, not a defiling condition.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "bright spot stay in his place, and spread not": These phrases encapsulate the primary diagnostic criteria for non-defiling skin conditions within Leviticus 13. Stability, non-progression, and localized confinement are consistent indicators of ritual cleanliness throughout the chapter.
  • "but be somewhat dark": This signifies a specific qualitative change that confirms the benign nature of the spot. It differentiates a fading, benign scar from a persistently raw or aggressively white tzara'at lesion.
  • "rising of the burning" / "inflammation of the burning": These twin phrases confirm the etiology of the lesion, firmly rooting it in a physical injury rather than the mysterious, divinely-linked affliction of tzara'at. This distinction is paramount for a proper diagnosis according to God's law.
  • "priest shall pronounce him clean": This phrase highlights the authoritative and non-negotiable role of the priesthood in Israelite life concerning matters of ritual purity. It was not a matter for personal judgment but for divine declaration through God's ordained mediator.

Leviticus 13 25 Bonus section

• The term tzara'at as used in Leviticus chapter 13, and in this specific verse by implication (as a differential diagnosis), refers to a divinely inflicted and managed ritual impurity, distinct from purely medical definitions of skin diseases like Hansen's Disease, although it might have encompassed certain aspects. Its core function was to enforce communal purity and illustrate the seriousness of sin's defiling nature.
• The authority given to the priest was not based on medical expertise but on his divinely appointed role as the arbiter of ritual purity and defilement according to the commandments of God. This system emphasized divine instruction and obedience rather than human interpretation.
• This verse, like others in Leviticus 13, emphasizes diagnostic observation over time as a key element (implied by "stay in his place," indicating no change since initial observation, though no specific duration is mentioned in this verse alone).

Leviticus 13 25 Commentary

Leviticus 13:25 provides specific instructions for diagnosing a common dermatological outcome within the context of the elaborate tzara'at laws. The verse addresses a bright spot arising in the aftermath of a burn wound. The critical diagnostic markers are its lack of spreading, its stable size and location, and its color changing to a duller, "darker" hue. These signs indicate that the mark is merely a normal scar or an after-effect of the burn (se'et hammikhvah / mas'at hammikhvah), rather than the ritualistically defiling skin disease that required isolation. The meticulous detail in this law underscores God's wisdom in distinguishing between ordinary human ailments and conditions that specifically impacted covenantal purity. The priest, acting as God's representative, was crucial in preventing unnecessary ritual uncleanness and communal exclusion, affirming God's merciful provision for His people. This distinction showcases the law's precision, designed not to inflict burden but to provide clear guidelines for living in covenantal holiness.