Leviticus 13 38

Leviticus 13:38 kjv

If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;

Leviticus 13:38 nkjv

"If a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body, specifically white bright spots,

Leviticus 13:38 niv

"When a man or woman has white spots on the skin,

Leviticus 13:38 esv

"When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots,

Leviticus 13:38 nlt

"If anyone, either a man or woman, has shiny white patches on the skin,

Leviticus 13 verses

Leviticus 13 38 Meaning

Leviticus 13:38 addresses a specific type of white skin lesion that is to be distinguished from the more serious, ritually defiling affliction of tzara'at. It specifies that if a person has faint, dull white spots on their skin, these spots, often referred to as bohak, do not render them ritually unclean. This verse provides a critical boundary within the broader purity laws, showing God's precision and mercy in differentiating benign conditions from those requiring isolation and ritual cleansing.

Leviticus 13 38 Context

Leviticus 13 outlines a detailed set of laws concerning the diagnosis of tzara'at, a serious and contagious skin affliction that carried not only physical consequences but also significant ritual impurity, separating the affected individual from the community and the tabernacle. The chapter describes various manifestations of skin conditions, their characteristics, and the prescribed diagnostic procedures to be carried out by a priest. Prior verses (Lev 13:1-37) delineate conditions that do render one unclean. Leviticus 13:38 marks a pivot, introducing a specific, visually distinct type of white skin lesion that, crucially, does not lead to ritual impurity. This differentiation highlights the precise nature of God's purity laws. In the historical and cultural context, a person with tzara'at was an outcast, cut off from community life due to the spiritual significance of the defilement, which often represented separation from God due to sin. The meticulous distinctions in this chapter underscore God's justice and mercy, preventing undue ostracism for common skin ailments and guiding priests in their vital role of discernment between clean and unclean, thereby safeguarding the holiness of the community and the sanctuary.

Leviticus 13 38 Word analysis

• And if a man or a woman: This phrase emphasizes that the divine instructions and diagnostic criteria apply universally to all Israelites, irrespective of gender. The concern for community purity and individual well-being extends to every member.
• have in the skin of their flesh: Hebrew: `בְּעוֹר בְּשָׂרוֹ` (b'or b'saro), literally "in the skin of his flesh" (using the masculine singular possessive, but inclusive). This specifies the visible, superficial location of the condition on the body's outer layer, accessible for priestly examination.
• bright spots, white bright spots: Hebrew: `בַּהֶרֶת בַּהֶרֶת לְבָנֹת` (baheret baheret levanot).
  • `בַּהֶרֶת` (baheret) generally means a "bright spot" or "white patch."
  • The repetition `בַּהֶרֶת בַּהֶרֶת` (baheret baheret) is significant. It functions as an intensive or diminutive, conveying a specific quality of white, usually interpreted by scholars and rabbinic tradition (as bohak) as a "dull white spot" or "faint white spot," rather than a brilliant white or vibrant redness associated with the contagious tzara'at.
  • `לְבָנֹת` (levanot) means "white" (feminine plural). This reiterates the color, specifically referring to dull, faint white patches that differ in appearance from the more intense, raw, or spreading whiteness indicative of severe tzara'at.
  This precise phrasing serves to differentiate common, non-contaminating skin conditions (like bohak, thought to be conditions such as vitiligo or psoriasis) from the serious ritual defilement of tzara'at, preventing unnecessary exclusion and distress for individuals within the community.

Leviticus 13 38 Bonus section

• The differentiation in this verse reflects the deep wisdom of God, providing specific guidelines in a time before advanced medical science. It served as a theological and social classification system, distinguishing conditions that necessitated separation from God's holy presence (represented by the Tabernacle/Temple and the clean community) from those that did not.
• The distinction in this verse implicitly serves as a polemic against indiscriminate fear or superstitious beliefs that might label any skin anomaly as an evil curse or defilement. Instead, God provided a rational, observable, and compassionate system of discernment.
• Spiritually, this verse reminds believers of the importance of discernment in all matters, especially within the Body of Christ. Not every "blemish" or "imperfection" observed in others renders them spiritually "unclean" or requires excommunication. There is a need for careful, prayerful distinction between genuine sin that defiles and ordinary human weaknesses or conditions that do not necessitate judgment.
• The emphasis on priestly examination points to the necessity of godly leadership and discernment within the spiritual community to rightly apply God's Word and guide His people.

Leviticus 13 38 Commentary

Leviticus 13:38 is a critical verse within the detailed regulations concerning tzara'at. It demonstrates the Lord's meticulousness in outlining specific characteristics to distinguish ritually defiling afflictions from benign skin conditions. By defining a specific type of white spot (bohak or dull white spots) as non-impure, God's law provides clarity and mercy. This avoided unwarranted condemnation or expulsion from the community for common, harmless ailments. The verse highlights the priestly role in applying divine standards of discernment, underscoring the balance between maintaining a holy community and exercising compassion towards individuals. This system safeguarded both public health (insofar as tzara'at involved contagion) and ritual purity, preventing false positives and ensuring accurate judgments in line with God's holy character and His desire for the well-being of His people.