Leviticus 13 4

Leviticus 13:4 kjv

If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:

Leviticus 13:4 nkjv

But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and its hair has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate the one who has the sore seven days.

Leviticus 13:4 niv

If the shiny spot on the skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days.

Leviticus 13:4 esv

But if the spot is white in the skin of his body and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days.

Leviticus 13:4 nlt

"But if the affected area of the skin is only a white discoloration and does not appear to be more than skin-deep, and if the hair on the spot has not turned white, the priest will quarantine the person for seven days.

Leviticus 13 verses

Leviticus 13 4 Meaning

Leviticus 13:4 details an initial diagnostic step in discerning a potential skin affliction, known in the Bible as tzara'at. It describes a scenario where a bright, white spot appears on a person's skin, but crucially, it does not appear to be deeper than the surrounding skin, and the hair within the spot has not turned white. In such cases, the priest, acting as a divine arbiter of ceremonial purity, is to isolate the affected individual for a mandatory period of seven days for further observation. This verse sets forth criteria for initial suspicion rather than definitive diagnosis, highlighting the cautious and methodical process mandated by God for dealing with defiling conditions.

Leviticus 13 4 Context

Leviticus 13 lays out detailed divine instructions regarding the identification, examination, and separation of individuals afflicted with various skin conditions referred to collectively as tzara'at. This term encompasses more than just modern-day Hansen's disease; it describes a range of specific dermatological manifestations that rendered an Israelite ceremonially unclean and separated them from the camp, impacting their worship and social life. Chapter 13 focuses solely on diagnosis and the subsequent handling of the afflicted.

The historical context is that of the Israelites encamped in the wilderness, operating under the meticulously prescribed laws given by God at Mount Sinai. Maintaining the purity and holiness of the camp was paramount, as God dwelt in their midst. These purity laws, including those for tzara'at, were not merely about hygiene but served as object lessons in holiness, warning against spiritual defilement (sin) and preserving the community's relationship with a holy God. The priests were given the sole authority to inspect and declare ritual purity or impurity, acting as guardians of God's covenant and mediators of the divine standard for the community's health and sanctity. There was no modern medical science, so God provided distinct, observable signs for a condition that was profoundly impactful on social and religious life.

Leviticus 13 4 Word analysis

• And if the bright spot:

  • spot (בַּהֶרֶת, baheret): This specific Hebrew term signifies a "bright spot," "shining spot," or "white spot." It's not a generic mark but refers to a distinct, lustrous area, a specific clinical sign in this diagnostic process. This precision in terminology emphasizes the exact nature of the affliction being described.
  • Significance: This term implies a change in texture and color that would be distinctly noticeable, marking a deviation from healthy skin.

• is white:

  • white (לְבָנָה, lavanah): Directly describes the color.
  • Significance: Whiteness often symbolizes purity in a general sense, but here it indicates a form of impurity, making it paradoxical and significant. The contrast with the surrounding healthy skin is crucial for identification.

• on the skin of his body:

  • skin of his body (עוֹר בְּשָׂרוֹ, 'or b'saro): Emphasizes that this condition pertains specifically to the human epidermal layer, distinguishing it from tzara'at on clothing or houses (as described later in Lev 13 and 14).
  • Significance: Confirms the personal, bodily nature of the affliction and its potential to render an individual unclean.

• and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin:

  • deeper than the skin (עָמֹק מִן־הָעוֹר, 'amok min ha'or): This is a critical diagnostic criterion. It indicates that the lesion is superficial, merely affecting the surface layer, not visibly depressed or penetrating underlying tissues.
  • Significance: A spot appearing "deeper than the skin" (as in Lev 13:3) was a sign of true, advanced tzara'at, suggesting greater severity and perhaps a more internal origin of the problem. Its absence here signals a less severe manifestation or an incipient stage that warrants further observation rather than immediate, definitive pronouncement.

• and the hair on it has not turned white:

  • hair... not turned white (וּשְׂעָרָהּ לֹא־הָפַךְ לָבָן, u'se'arah lo hafakh lavan): Another vital diagnostic point. The absence of white hair within the affected spot distinguishes this case from a more serious or chronic tzara'at.
  • Significance: White hair in the lesion (as in Lev 13:3) was a definite indicator of advanced tzara'at, suggesting nerve involvement or significant depigmentation that often accompanied severe cases. Its absence here signals that the condition might be temporary or a different, less serious skin anomaly.

• then the priest shall isolate:

  • priest (הַכֹּהֵן, ha'kohen): The sole authorized official for determining purity or impurity. His role is not medical treatment, but ritual judgment based on divine law.
  • isolate (וְהִסְגִּיר, v'higir): To shut in, quarantine, or confine. This is a command for immediate physical separation from the camp.
  • Significance: This highlights the priestly function in safeguarding the community's holiness and preventing the spread of ritual impurity. It also shows a precautionary principle: when doubt exists, separation is the immediate action.

• the afflicted person:

  • afflicted person (אֶת־הַנֶּגַע, et ha-nega): Lit. "the affliction" or "the plague." This is an interesting metonymy where the person is identified by the symptom. It refers to the individual experiencing the suspected condition.
  • Significance: It denotes the subject of the examination, the individual who may potentially be declared unclean. The term nega itself broadly refers to a "stroke" or "plague," implying that these skin conditions were often seen as divine "strokes" or judgments, even if temporary.

• for seven days:

  • seven days (שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, shiv'at yamim): A divinely mandated period of observation. The number seven is consistently significant in biblical contexts, representing completeness or divine perfection.
  • Significance: This specific duration suggests a period of incubation or manifestation for the true nature of the condition to become apparent. It implies God's wisdom in allowing time for development, ensuring an accurate diagnosis, and preventing hasty or erroneous declarations of impurity. This period is a standard unit of time in purification rites throughout the Pentateuch.

Leviticus 13 4 Bonus section

The specific form of tzara'at described in Leviticus is often distinct from modern Hansen's Disease (leprosy). While translations commonly use "leprosy," scholars indicate that biblical tzara'at encompassed a range of severe skin conditions, and perhaps even fungal growths in clothing and houses. Its primary significance was ritual impurity rather than simply a medical diagnosis. The physical manifestations served as a tangible sign of defilement that spiritually isolated the person, much like sin separates an individual from God and the holy community. This separation underscored the absolute holiness of God and the need for His people to maintain purity, setting Israel apart from pagan nations whose priests often practiced magic or treated diseases medically. The Israelite priest's function was to declare a status of ritual purity or impurity according to God's precise laws, a declarative function, not a therapeutic one. The elaborate rituals for cleansing, described in Leviticus 14, also highlight the concept of atonement and God's provision for restoration from even the most isolating forms of impurity. This intricate system was less about germ theory and more about illustrating spiritual truths concerning defilement, holiness, judgment, and restoration through divinely appointed means.

Leviticus 13 4 Commentary

Leviticus 13:4 forms a critical step in the meticulous diagnostic process for tzara'at, emphasizing cautious discernment before definitive pronouncement of impurity. This verse describes a scenario where an observed bright, white skin spot lacks the definitive indicators of deep tissue involvement or white hair. These two criteria – "deeper than the skin" and "white hair" – are crucial for a conclusive diagnosis of severe tzara'at. Without them, the condition is not immediately declared tzara'at. Instead, God's law mandates a mandatory seven-day isolation, a precautionary quarantine. This period allows time for the potential disease to either recede (indicating it was not tzara'at) or to develop the hallmark symptoms (confirming it as tzara'at). The priest's role is not medicinal; he neither treats nor heals. Rather, he acts as a divinely appointed judge of ritual purity, safeguarding the spiritual and communal well-being of the Israelites by meticulously applying God's statutes. This system provided clear guidance for maintaining holiness within the camp, highlighting the importance of discernment, prudence, and obedience to divine ordinances for both physical and spiritual purity. The laws concerning tzara'at also serve as vivid object lessons regarding the defiling nature of sin and the need for separation from it, emphasizing that just as physical defilement alienated one from the community and God's sanctuary, so too does sin separate us from God and fellow believers, underscoring the necessity of divine cleansing and restoration.