Leviticus 15 16

Leviticus 15:16 kjv

And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:16 nkjv

'If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall wash all his body in water, and be unclean until evening.

Leviticus 15:16 niv

"?'When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening.

Leviticus 15:16 esv

"If a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening.

Leviticus 15:16 nlt

"Whenever a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his entire body in water, and he will remain ceremonially unclean until the next evening.

Leviticus 15 verses

Leviticus 15 16 Meaning

Leviticus 15:16 defines a specific condition of ritual uncleanness: when a man experiences a seminal emission. This natural bodily discharge, whether involuntary (such as a nocturnal emission) or through coitus (as elaborated in Lev 15:18), rendered him ritually impure. The prescribed purification involved bathing his entire body in water and remaining in this state of uncleanness until sundown. This law was not about moral sin but maintaining ceremonial purity to preserve the sanctity of the Israelite camp and the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among His people.

Leviticus 15 16 Context

Leviticus Chapter 15 meticulously details various laws concerning ritual impurity arising from bodily discharges in both men and women. These regulations form part of the Holiness Code (chapters 11-26), which emphasized Israel's call to be holy as God is holy, especially in contrast to surrounding pagan nations. The purpose was not about hygiene or sin, but establishing a clear boundary between the holy and the profane, crucial for a people dwelling in close proximity to a holy God whose presence was manifest in the Tabernacle. This verse specifically addresses a male seminal emission, establishing its temporary defiling effect and the prescribed method of ritual restoration. This constant awareness of purity ensured reverence for the divine presence and distinguished Israel's worship from the fertility cults prevalent in the ancient Near East, which often glorified bodily fluids in idolatrous rituals.

Leviticus 15 16 Word analysis

• And if any man's: Indicates a general application, covering any individual male within the community.
• seed of copulation: Hebrew: zeraʿ shuḵāvâ (זֶרַע שִׁכְבָה).
  • zeraʿ (זֶרַע) translates to "seed," referring here specifically to seminal fluid.
  • shuḵāvâ (שִׁכְבָה) means "a lying down" or "an emission related to lying down." In this context, it broadly signifies seminal emission, whether voluntary (sexual activity) or involuntary (nocturnal emission). The exact phrasing avoids direct reference to the act of intercourse, allowing for broader application. This detail highlights God's comprehensive approach to ritual purity, recognizing even natural bodily functions as potentially impacting one's sacred status.
• go out from him: Hebrew: yēṣēʾ mimmennû (יֵצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ). Implies the act of emission itself. This wording covers both unintentional and intentional release, focusing on the state caused by the discharge, not necessarily the moral intent behind it.
• then he shall wash: Hebrew: wə-raḥaṣ (וְרָחַץ). This is a strong, direct command, indicating the mandatory nature of the purification ritual. Raḥaṣ implies a thorough bathing of the entire body, not merely a superficial rinse.
• all his flesh: Hebrew: ’et-kol-bəśārô (אֶת-כָּל־בְּשָׂרֹו). Emphasizes the completeness of the washing. The defilement affects the entire person, requiring a full bodily cleansing.
• in water: Hebrew: ba-mayim (בַּמָּיִם). Refers to actual water. In ancient Israelite tradition, this typically implied "living water" (springs, rivers) for maximum purity, but for daily rituals like this, any accessible water was acceptable. Water is a universal symbol of cleansing and purification.
• and be unclean: Hebrew: wə-ṭāmēʾ (וְטָמֵא). Signifies the ritual state of impurity. It is distinct from moral guilt. Being ṭāmēʾ meant temporary inability to participate in sacred communal life, specifically access to the Tabernacle or holy offerings.
• until the evening: Hebrew: ʿad-hā-ʿerev (עַד־הָעֶרב). Designates the duration of impurity. Since the Hebrew day concluded at sunset, this implies that by the start of the next day, after the washing, the individual would be ritually clean again. This set a clear, time-limited boundary for the state of uncleanness.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "seed of copulation go out from him": This phrase encapsulates the event leading to ritual impurity. It uses precise, yet comprehensive language to cover all instances of seminal emission. The very use of "seed" points to the source of life, highlighting how even processes essential for life and propagation must be recognized and governed under God's holy standards. This elevates a natural function to a realm of ritual significance.
• "then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening": This concise instruction outlines the precise actions required for purification and the defined period of impurity. The pairing of physical washing with a waiting period until sundown reinforces that ritual purity involved both an act of obedience and a specific passage of time, emphasizing that such matters were strictly regulated by divine decree.

Leviticus 15 16 Bonus section

• The laws concerning bodily emissions, including Leviticus 15:16, might have had a secondary, beneficial effect on public health by promoting regular washing, even though their primary intent was ritual.
• The repetitive phrase "and be unclean until the evening" underscores the temporary nature of this type of impurity. It's not a permanent ban, but a daily cycle of defilement and restoration, indicating God's grace in providing a pathway back to ritual purity.
• In contrasting these laws with pagan practices, the Hebrew understanding emphasized that human procreative functions were not divine in themselves but subject to God's created order and holy laws. Unlike fertility cults that might involve semen in their rituals, Israel's law imposed a defiling status, underscoring reverence for life and God's distinct separation from creation's processes without deifying them.
• The "evening" aspect also implies that these rules were integrated into daily life. An individual would become unclean, undergo the washing, and then resume normal activities by the end of the day.

Leviticus 15 16 Commentary

Leviticus 15:16 is a fundamental part of the Israelite purity code, demonstrating God's meticulous concern for holiness within the community dwelling around His Tabernacle. It reveals that uncleanness could arise not just from sinful acts but also from natural bodily functions. This ritual impurity was not a moral failing but a temporary state requiring purification before engaging in sacred activities or approaching holy space. By mandating a thorough wash and a waiting period, God impressed upon His people the need for a heightened awareness of purity and the pervasive presence of holiness. It instilled a discipline of mindful living, constantly reminding them of their distinctive relationship with a holy God. These temporary laws served as a constant pointer to a greater need for ultimate spiritual cleansing, which finds its fulfillment not in physical washings but in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood purifies us from all sin and makes us perpetually clean before God (1 John 1:7, Heb 10:1-4).