Leviticus 13:47 kjv
The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woolen garment, or a linen garment;
Leviticus 13:47 nkjv
"Also, if a garment has a leprous plague in it, whether it is a woolen garment or a linen garment,
Leviticus 13:47 niv
"As for any fabric that is spoiled with a defiling mold?any woolen or linen clothing,
Leviticus 13:47 esv
"When there is a case of leprous disease in a garment, whether a woolen or a linen garment,
Leviticus 13:47 nlt
"Now suppose mildew contaminates some woolen or linen clothing,
Leviticus 13 47 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 13:1-3 | The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, "When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest..." | Introduces the context of "tsara'at" laws for persons. |
| Lev 13:48 | ...or in the warp or woof of linen or wool, whether in skin or in anything made of skin, and the mark is reddish-white or greenish in the garment... | Subsequent verses detail garment material and color of marks. |
| Lev 14:34-36 | “When you come into the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession, and I put a case of leprous disease in a house in the land of your possession, then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest...” | Expands "tsara'at" regulations to include houses. |
| Num 12:9-10 | And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed... when the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. | "Tsara'at" as divine judgment for sin (Miriam). |
| Deut 24:8 | “Take care in a case of leprous disease to be very careful to do according to all that the Levitical priests instruct you..." | Command to obey "tsara'at" laws meticulously. |
| Lev 11:44-45 | For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy... | General command for Israel's holiness. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” | New Testament echo of the call to holiness. |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Necessity of holiness to see God. |
| Isa 1:6 | From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds... | Metaphorical defilement of sin, akin to disease. |
| Rom 6:19 | For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. | Sin leads to impurity/defilement. |
| Eph 5:27 | so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and blameless. | Christ cleanses His Church to be spotless. |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | Therefore “Come out from among them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will receive you.” | Call for separation from defilement. |
| Titus 1:15 | To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. | Inner state of purity affects outer perception. |
| Jam 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Practical obedience to God's instructions. |
| Job 29:14 | I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. | Righteousness as a garment. |
| Zech 3:3-4 | Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments... “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure robes.” | Filthy garments representing sin removed and replaced by purity. |
| Rev 19:8 | It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. | Righteousness as pure linen garments in Revelation. |
| Exod 28:42-43 | You shall make for them linen breeches... So Aaron and his sons shall wear them when they come into the tent of meeting... lest they incur guilt and die. | Priestly garments requiring specific materials and purity. |
| Lev 6:10-11 | The priest... shall put on his linen garment and put on his linen breeches... Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. | Purity regulations for priestly attire handling. |
| Eze 44:17-18 | When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen garments... They shall have linen turbans on their heads... They shall not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat. | Linen for priests, preventing sweat/impurity. |
Leviticus 13 verses
Leviticus 13 47 Meaning
Leviticus 13:47 outlines the specific scenario in which a garment develops a "leprous mark," indicating the start of the priestly examination process for ceremonial defilement within woven materials. This verse highlights that this affliction can manifest in either wool or linen fabrics, which were the primary materials for clothing in ancient Israel, initiating the subsequent legal procedures for determining its clean or unclean status according to God's commandments.
Leviticus 13 47 Context
Leviticus 13 is a pivotal chapter within the Law given to Israel concerning ceremonial purity. The larger context of Leviticus emphasizes the holiness of God and the requirement for His people to be holy in their daily lives to maintain communion with Him in His presence. Chapters 11-15 detail laws regarding clean and unclean animals, purification after childbirth, and various bodily discharges, culminating in specific regulations for dealing with the complex affliction known as tsara'at (often translated "leprosy," though distinct from modern medical leprosy) on individuals, garments, and houses.
Verse 47 specifically shifts the focus from human skin tsara'at (addressed in Lev 13:1-46) to its manifestation in textiles. In ancient Israelite society, clothing was essential for modesty, warmth, and protection, carrying significant cultural and symbolic weight. The instructions regarding contaminated garments underscored the pervasive nature of impurity and God's demand for holiness to permeate all aspects of life, including everyday objects. Historically, wool and linen were the most common and valued fabrics. Wool came from sheep, and linen was made from flax, both locally available resources. The detailed laws prevented the spread of physical contaminations (mildew/fungus) and, more importantly, reinforced spiritual purity. These regulations subtly pushed against pagan beliefs where such afflictions might be attributed to capricious gods or evil spirits, asserting that the origin and remedy were within God's ordered system, revealed to His priests, rather than requiring magical rites.
Leviticus 13 47 Word Analysis
- Also: Connects this new section of laws (garment tsara'at) to the preceding regulations concerning human tsara'at. It indicates a continuation of the same general theme of defiling affliction.
- if: (Hebrew: ki) Introduces a conditional statement, outlining a specific circumstance that triggers the subsequent legal procedure. It signifies that the presence of the "mark" is the prerequisite for examination.
- a garment: (Hebrew: beged, בֶּגֶד) A general term for an article of clothing or a cloth covering. It is significant because the Law extends purity considerations beyond human bodies to their immediate environment and possessions, emphasizing pervasive holiness.
- has: (Hebrew: yiheyeyh, יִהְיֶה) From the verb "to be," indicating the manifest presence or existence of the mark on the garment. It implies observation of an active state rather than a potential or past occurrence.
- a leprous mark: (Hebrew: nega' tsara'at, נֶגַע צָרַעַת) "Nega'" means "stroke," "blow," or "affliction." "Tsara'at" is a comprehensive term used for a variety of skin diseases, molds, or mildews, divinely sent, symbolizing sin or spiritual defilement. On a garment, it likely refers to destructive mildew or mold, not a human skin disease. Its presence rendered the garment ritually unclean.
- on it: Directly indicating the physical location of the mark on the garment itself.
- whether it is a woolen garment: (Hebrew: tse'mer, צֶמֶר, wool) Wool was a common, warm, and durable fabric, derived from sheep. Its inclusion highlights that God's laws apply to primary, everyday materials.
- or a linen garment: (Hebrew: pishtah, פִּשְׁתֶּה, flax/linen) Linen, produced from flax, was another foundational fabric, often valued for its coolness and fine texture. It was especially significant as it was required for many priestly garments and cultic uses (e.g., Exod 28:39; Lev 6:10). This indicates that even the most 'pure' and valued fabrics were not exempt from potential defilement.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "if a garment has a leprous mark on it": This phrase immediately identifies the subject and the specific affliction that triggers the divine protocol. It indicates that the physical condition of inanimate objects directly affects their ritual purity status, requiring priestly intervention for discernment. This goes beyond mere hygiene, indicating a deeper theological understanding of defilement that affects the material world under God's sovereignty.
- "whether it is a woolen garment or a linen garment": This exhaustive specification covers the two principal and distinct types of fabrics used for clothing at the time. By explicitly mentioning both, the divine law ensured comprehensiveness, leaving no ambiguity for common household items. It highlights God's meticulousness in setting boundaries for ritual purity, demonstrating that no part of the community's daily life was outside the scope of His holy requirements.
Leviticus 13 47 Bonus section
The Hebrew term tsara'at used here, while traditionally translated "leprosy," refers to a broader range of defiling skin conditions and, significantly for this verse, a mold or mildew-like affliction on objects (Lev 14:34-53 for houses). This broader definition prevents misinterpretation as strictly a modern medical diagnosis and emphasizes its theological function as a mark of ritual uncleanness divinely sent, often associated with disobedience or sin in biblical narratives (e.g., Miriam's leprosy in Num 12 for challenging Moses, Gehazi's in 2 Kgs 5 for greed and deceit). The intricate process for identifying and treating these "leprous marks" on garments reflects not only rudimentary health practices for the prevention of mildew spread but primarily God's teaching concerning the spiritual reality of sin's insidious and corrupting nature, which affects everything it touches. Just as a small spot could spread and render an entire garment unclean, sin, even if seemingly minor, defiles and spreads, requiring radical measures for purification or removal. This points forward to the comprehensive purification needed for humanity and all creation.
Leviticus 13 47 Commentary
Leviticus 13:47 is a foundational verse within the Mosaic Law's detailed instructions for maintaining ceremonial purity, specifically extending the concept of tsara'at (a divine affliction often symbolic of sin and defilement) to inanimate objects. The focus on wool and linen is critical as these were the most common fabrics, emphasizing that the standards of holiness permeated every aspect of Israelite life, not just personal bodies or sacred spaces. This law underscores the seriousness of impurity; a physical stain on a garment symbolized a spiritual condition requiring strict and precise divine protocols, administered by the priests. The careful distinction between clean and unclean, enforced through rigorous examination, quarantining, and, if necessary, destruction, taught Israel that defilement had real consequences and required specific, divinely appointed means for purification. It served as a constant reminder of God's utter holiness and His call for His people to reflect that holiness by purging any form of defilement from their midst, whether physical or symbolic. Ultimately, this system foreshadowed the complete removal of sin's defilement through Christ's perfect sacrifice (Heb 9:22-23), where sin, the true "tsara'at," is fully cleansed.