Leviticus 13:34 kjv
And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
Leviticus 13:34 nkjv
On the seventh day the priest shall examine the scale; and indeed if the scale has not spread over the skin, and does not appear deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean.
Leviticus 13:34 niv
On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if it has not spread in the skin and appears to be no more than skin deep, the priest shall pronounce them clean. They must wash their clothes, and they will be clean.
Leviticus 13:34 esv
And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch, and if the itch has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean.
Leviticus 13:34 nlt
On the seventh day he will examine the sore again. If it has not spread and appears to be no more than skin-deep, the priest will pronounce the person ceremonially clean. The person's clothing must be washed, and the person will be ceremonially clean.
Leviticus 13 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 13:4-5 | ...The priest shall examine him, and behold, if the hair in the diseased spot has turned white... he shall isolate him for seven days. And on the seventh day... | Initial seven-day isolation and examination. |
| Lev 14:1-7 | The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing..." | Rituals for the tzara'at-afflicted. |
| Deut 24:8-9 | "Be careful in a case of tzara'at, to do according to all that the Levitical priests instruct you... Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam..." | Emphasizes strict obedience to priestly law. |
| Mal 2:7 | For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth... | Priest's role as interpreter of law. |
| Lev 10:10 | ...You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean... | Priestly duty to discern purity. |
| Num 6:9-11 | And if anyone dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles his consecrated head... he shall shave his consecrated head on the day of his cleansing... | Seven days for Nazirite purification. |
| Ex 20:8-11 | "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God..." | Significance of the seventh day. |
| Gen 2:2-3 | On the seventh day God finished His work... He rested on the seventh day... and blessed the seventh day and made it holy... | Divine pattern of the seventh day. |
| Ex 19:10-11 | And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments..." | Washing clothes for preparation/purity. |
| Num 8:6-7 | "Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them... And thus you shall do to them to cleanse them..." | Cleansing for service. |
| Lev 11:44-45 | For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy... | Call to holiness as motive for purity laws. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | ...as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." | NT emphasis on personal holiness. |
| Heb 9:13-14 | For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh... | Superiority of Christ's cleansing blood. |
| Matt 8:2-4 | And behold, a leper came to Him and knelt before Him, saying, "Lord, if You will, You can make me clean." Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him... | Jesus' power to directly cleanse tzara'at. |
| Mk 1:40-45 | And a leper came to Him... Jesus had compassion on him and stretched out His hand and touched him... | Christ's compassionate cleansing. |
| Lk 5:12-16 | While He was in one of the cities, there came a man full of tzara'at... and Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." | Christ's will and power to purify. |
| Acts 15:9 | ...and He made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. | Spiritual cleansing through faith. |
| Eph 5:26 | ...that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word... | Spiritual cleansing by the Word. |
| 2 Cor 6:17-18 | Therefore "come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch anything unclean..." | Call to separation from impurity. |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Importance of pursuing holiness. |
Leviticus 13 verses
Leviticus 13 34 Meaning
Leviticus 13:34 details a critical stage in the assessment of a specific skin affliction, the "itch" (neteq), after a seven-day observation period. If, upon re-examination, the priest determines that the lesion has not spread on the skin and remains superficial, he is to pronounce the affected individual ritually clean. This declaration restores the individual's communal status, which is then solidified by the washing of clothes, symbolizing a complete return to a state of purity and full integration into the community of Israel.
Leviticus 13 34 Context
Leviticus chapters 13 and 14 deal exclusively with the complex laws concerning tzara'at (often translated "leprosy"), a broad category of skin afflictions that were considered ritually impure. This condition was more than a mere physical illness; it carried profound theological implications, signaling separation from God's holy presence and the covenant community. Chapter 13 outlines the detailed diagnostic procedures for determining if an individual's skin condition constituted tzara'at, and subsequent actions based on that diagnosis. The "itch" (neteq) discussed in verse 34 is one of several manifestations that the priest must discern. These purity laws were essential for maintaining the holiness of the camp where God's tabernacle resided, differentiating Israel from surrounding pagan nations, and teaching the Israelites about the sanctity required for dwelling in God's presence. The rigorous process, including isolation and careful observation over seven-day periods, highlights God's thoroughness, justice, and mercy in dealing with His people's purity.
Leviticus 13 34 Word analysis
- And on the seventh day: This indicates the end of a specific observation period. The number "seven" (Hebrew: sheva') often symbolizes completeness, perfection, and holiness in biblical numerology (e.g., Creation week, Sabbath). It signifies a deliberate, unhurried assessment, not a hasty judgment, reflecting divine patience and thoroughness.
- the priest: Hebrew: hakohen. The priest's role was divinely appointed, not medical, but ceremonial and judicial. He acted as God's representative, the arbiter of ritual purity and impurity, having the authority to declare (not heal) a person clean or unclean based on God's statutes. His judgment was final and binding for the community's sake.
- shall examine him: Hebrew: ra'ah (to see, perceive, inspect). This signifies a meticulous visual inspection, a key duty of the priest in matters of tzara'at.
- and behold, if: Introduces a conditional outcome based on the priest's careful observation.
- the itch: Hebrew: haneteq. This is a specific type of skin lesion mentioned within the broader context of tzara'at regulations in Leviticus 13. Unlike the more severe forms, the neteq is characterized by its hair-thinning and yellowish appearance, often localized on the scalp or beard.
- has not spread on the skin: This is the primary diagnostic criterion. The absence of spreading (Hebrew: pasah) signifies that the condition is not a progressing, severe form of tzara'at which would warrant continued isolation or further rituals. It indicates a contained and less virulent state.
- and is no deeper than the skin: This second criterion further clarifies the superficiality of the condition. Hebrew: einah amōqah min ha'ohr. The term amōqah means deep. If the lesion penetrates the dermis, it implies a more serious form of impurity. Superficiality implies the condition is less severe or temporary, allowing for reintegration.
- then the priest shall pronounce him clean: Hebrew: v'tihero hakohen. This is a declarative act. The priest's pronouncement (root tahar – to be clean, pure) restores the individual's ritual purity status, making them permissible to re-enter the camp and participate in communal worship and life.
- and he shall wash his clothes: A standard physical purification rite for many forms of ritual uncleanness in the Old Testament (e.g., Lev 15). This action symbolizes a commitment to and embodiment of the newly declared purity. It indicates the completion of the ceremonial process.
- and be clean: Hebrew: v'tahor. The final state of restoration, reinforcing that the individual is fully cleansed and ritually acceptable, both ceremonially (by the priest's word) and practically (by their own action).
Words-group analysis
- "And on the seventh day the priest shall examine him": This phrase emphasizes the methodical and authoritative process of discerning purity. The "seventh day" highlights divine patience and thoroughness, while the "priest's examination" underscores the importance of proper, divinely ordained judgment.
- "if the itch has not spread on the skin and is no deeper than the skin": These two phrases establish the critical diagnostic benchmarks. They demonstrate God's precise and merciful standards for distinguishing minor, non-threatening skin conditions from those requiring more stringent isolation or purification. This shows that not all skin conditions resulted in the most severe pronouncement of "unclean."
- "then the priest shall pronounce him clean, and he shall wash his clothes and be clean": This final phrase outlines the complete restoration process. The priest's verbal declaration holds divine authority, while the personal act of washing clothes confirms the individual's participation in and acceptance of the cleansing, leading to a state of full ritual purity and communal reintegration.
Leviticus 13 34 Bonus section
The laws regarding tzara'at were not merely public health measures; they were fundamentally spiritual lessons about sin, holiness, and community. Tzara'at represented a severe form of impurity that separated an individual from God's immediate presence in the tabernacle/temple and from the rest of the clean community. It often manifested as an outward sign of an inward spiritual corruption or act of rebellion (as seen with Miriam in Num 12 or Uzziah in 2 Chr 26). The careful diagnostic process, observation, and specified conditions for declaration of cleanliness or uncleanness reflect God's attribute of discerning righteousness from unrighteousness and purity from impurity. The detailed procedure demonstrates the value God places on restoring His people to a state of fellowship with Him and with one another when the conditions of His covenant are met. This also prefigures Jesus, who, unlike the Old Testament priests who could only declare clean, possessed the divine authority and power to make the unclean truly clean.
Leviticus 13 34 Commentary
Leviticus 13:34 unveils God's meticulous care for the physical and spiritual well-being of His people, reflecting a just and merciful application of the law. It reveals that not all manifestations of tzara'at (or related skin conditions like the neteq) resulted in perpetual exclusion. God provided a pathway back to purity and communal participation. The seven-day observation period underscores divine patience and thoroughness, ensuring a sound, unbiased diagnosis. The priest, acting not as a physician but as God's ordained mediator, performs the vital function of discerning purity. His declaration holds the power to reintegrate an individual into the holy community, underscoring the communal and covenantal aspects of the Law. The required washing of clothes further symbolizes the completion of the purification process and the individual's active embrace of their restored state. Ultimately, this verse teaches that God provides pathways for reconciliation and restoration from defilement, paralleling Christ's ultimate power to truly cleanse us from the deeper stain of sin.