Leviticus 13 8

Leviticus 13:8 kjv

And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy.

Leviticus 13:8 nkjv

And if the priest sees that the scab has indeed spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.

Leviticus 13:8 niv

The priest is to examine that person, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease.

Leviticus 13:8 esv

And the priest shall look, and if the eruption has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous disease.

Leviticus 13:8 nlt

If the priest finds that the rash has spread, he must pronounce the person ceremonially unclean, for it is indeed a skin disease.

Leviticus 13 verses

Leviticus 13 8 Meaning

Leviticus 13:8 details a crucial diagnostic criterion within the laws concerning ritual purity for skin diseases in ancient Israel. It states that if an afflicted person's skin condition, specifically described as a 'scab' or swelling (which had been quarantined for observation), demonstrates spreading, the priest is to officially declare that person ritually unclean. This declaration means the condition is identified as tsara'at, a broad term for a defiling skin ailment, necessitating immediate separation from the camp or community to maintain the sanctity of Israel, reflecting God's holy presence among His people.

Leviticus 13 8 Context

Leviticus 13 provides detailed instructions concerning various skin diseases, swellings, scabs, and boils that might appear on the body, which, if diagnosed as tsara'at (often translated "leprosy"), rendered a person ritually unclean. This chapter is part of the larger section of Leviticus (chapters 11-15) dealing with laws of purity and impurity. These laws served to delineate between the clean and the unclean, a fundamental concept for Israel, who was called to be a holy nation set apart for Yahweh. The entire system underscored the sanctity required for God's dwelling among His people in the Tabernacle.

Leviticus 13:8 specifically addresses a situation where an initial skin condition, after being isolated and observed by the priest for seven days (as per verses 4-7), shows signs of progression. The spreading of the ailment indicates its nature as tsara'at, prompting the priest to make the definitive declaration of ritual impurity. This priestly function was not a medical diagnosis in the modern sense but a cultic one, determining fitness for participation in community and worship based on established divine laws for ceremonial purity.

Historically, these laws helped reinforce social order and potentially aided in containing contagious conditions in a rudimentary sense. More importantly, they served as powerful object lessons in a visual culture, teaching Israel about the defiling nature of sin and the absolute holiness of God, who cannot dwell amidst impurity. They provided a framework for living set apart for Yahweh and underscored the seriousness of maintaining ritual cleanness in proximity to the Holy One.

Leviticus 13 8 Word Analysis

• And if (וְכִי - wə·ḵî): This conjunction serves to connect the verse logically to the preceding ones, indicating a continued scenario from the diagnostic observations in verses 4-7. It sets up a conditional statement for the priest's next action.

• the scab (הַנֶּתֶק - han·neṯeq): This is a definite form of neteq, derived from a root meaning "to tear off, detach." In Leviticus, it refers to a particular type of spreading eruption or "scurf" that affects the scalp or beard (as mentioned in Lev 13:30, 31, 32). While "scab" is a common translation, it describes a dry, scaly patch, distinct from the raw, open sores associated with "boil" (šeḥîn) or "burning" (mikwâ). Its presence indicates a potential tsara'at infection.

• spreads (יִפְשֶׂה - yif·seh): From the verb pāśāh, meaning "to spread abroad, grow, increase, extend." This is the crucial diagnostic criterion. The active, observable progression of the ailment signifies its contagious and defiling nature within the Levitical code. It is the visible expansion that definitively categorizes the affliction as unclean tsara'at. This "spreading" concept is key throughout Leviticus 13.

• in the skin (בָּעוֹר - bā·‘ōr): ‘Ōr refers to the external layer of skin. This emphasizes that the condition is a superficial one, appearing on the visible surface of the body, differentiating it from internal diseases. The focus is on outward manifestations for ritual purity assessment.

• then the priest (וְטִמֵּא הַכֹּהֵן - wə·ṭim·mê hak·kō·hēn): This phrase highlights the priest's specific and sole authority in rendering judgment on matters of purity and impurity. Ha-kōhēn is "the priest," indicating a specific, appointed individual. His role is not medical but ritual-legal. He acts as the divinely appointed adjudicator, carrying out God's decrees.

• shall pronounce him unclean (אֹתוֹ טָמֵא - ’ōṯō ṭāmē’): Ṭāmē’ means "unclean," specifically ritually impure. The priest's pronouncement is performative; it declares the person’s status under God’s law, marking them as ceremonially defiled. This leads to their removal from the community's general activities and access to the Tabernacle. It's a declaration, not an accusation or a curse, but a statement of their ritual state.

• it is a leprosy (צָרַעַת הִוא - ṣāra‘at hi): Tsara'at is the Hebrew term. While traditionally translated "leprosy," scholars agree it encompasses a wider range of skin afflictions than modern Hansen's disease, including various chronic skin conditions, fungi, or perhaps even environmental conditions like mildew. The focus is less on medical specifics and more on its effect of rendering one ritually impure and separated from the holy community. The declaration ṣāra‘at hî’ ('it is tsara'at') makes the diagnosis definitive according to the Lord’s instructions.

• "And if the scab spreads in the skin": This group of words pinpoints the dynamic progression of the disease. The prior observation period (Lev 13:4-7) for an isolated spot is now complete. If the ailment is seen to be active and growing on the skin's surface, it moves beyond a benign mark to a ritually defiling condition, which required isolation. The term neteq (הַנֶּתֶק) emphasizes a specific type of scaly eruption that requires precise identification.

• "then the priest shall pronounce him unclean": This emphasizes the priestly authority in matters of purity. The kōhēn (הַכֹּהֵן) functions not as a physician, but as God's representative to implement divine law. The declaration ṭāmē' (טָמֵא, 'unclean') marks the individual as ritually separated from the community, unable to participate in its communal life or sacred worship due to the defilement.

• "it is a leprosy": This phrase ṣāra‘at hi' (צָרַעַת הִוא) is the official verdict. This ṣāra‘at is a state of severe ritual uncleanness, regardless of the precise medical diagnosis by modern standards. It's about maintaining the holy character of the Israelite camp in the presence of God. The physical manifestation acts as a tangible sign of something that demands separation, much like sin separates from God's holiness.

Leviticus 13 8 Bonus Section

• Polemics against Paganism: Unlike surrounding pagan cultures which often viewed illness as capricious punishment from deities, or sought magical cures, the Mosaic law presented a clear, orderly, and diagnostic system administered by God's chosen priests. It demystified disease and ritual impurity by setting clear guidelines based on observable criteria rather than superstitious omens or arbitrary divine whims. The laws emphasized purity for God's presence, contrasting with cultic prostitution or ritual self-mutilation found in pagan practices.
• Symbolism of "Spreading": The "spreading" nature of the tsara'at in Leviticus 13:8 serves as a potent metaphor for sin. Like this skin condition, sin often starts small but, if left unchecked, has a tendency to "spread" and corrupt more of an individual's life, the community, or society. The immediate and public declaration of uncleanness, leading to separation, served as a stark warning about the danger of allowing spiritual impurity to go unaddressed within the holy community.
• Jesus and Tsara'at: The New Testament accounts of Jesus healing those with tsara'at (e.g., Matt 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45) powerfully demonstrate His divine authority. By simply touching and commanding, He not only cured a seemingly incurable physical condition but also directly dealt with ritual impurity, signifying His power over sin itself. Unlike the priest, who could only diagnose and declare, Jesus could actually cleanse, representing the ultimate High Priest who cleanses from all sin. Furthermore, when Jesus commanded the cleansed lepers to show themselves to the priests (Luke 5:14, 17:14), He affirmed the established legal and social processes of their time, while demonstrating His superior power to actually bring about the required physical change that priests could only verify.

Leviticus 13 8 Commentary

Leviticus 13:8 encapsulates a crucial step in the Levitical purity laws concerning tsara'at. Following an initial quarantine period where a suspicious skin lesion has been observed (as described in the preceding verses), this verse delivers the decisive criterion: if the lesion has spread, the diagnosis is confirmed as tsara'at. The verb pāśāh ("to spread") is key, indicating a progressive and pervasive nature.

The priest's role here is not as a physician administering medicine but as God's designated arbiter of purity and impurity. His "pronouncement" is a declarative act that transforms the person's status within the community from merely observed to officially "unclean" (ṭāmē'). This state of uncleanness mandated the person's immediate expulsion from the Israelite camp, symbolizing the necessity of separating impurity from God's holy dwelling place (the Tabernacle). This law visually reinforced the Israelites' understanding of God's absolute holiness and the pervasive, defiling nature of sin. Just as a physical spreading lesion renders one ritually impure, so too does unchecked sin lead to spiritual defilement and separation from a holy God. The tsara'at laws served as powerful object lessons illustrating the consequences of anything that contaminates the holiness God required of His covenant people.