Leviticus 15 23

Leviticus 15:23 kjv

And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:23 nkjv

If anything is on her bed or on anything on which she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening.

Leviticus 15:23 niv

Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, they will be unclean till evening.

Leviticus 15:23 esv

Whether it is the bed or anything on which she sits, when he touches it he shall be unclean until the evening.

Leviticus 15:23 nlt

This includes her bed or any other object she has sat on; you will be unclean until evening if you touch it.

Leviticus 15 verses

Leviticus 15 23 Meaning

Leviticus 15:23 states that if a man touches any object, such as a bed or a seat, that a woman in her menstrual impurity has lain or sat upon, that man himself becomes ritually unclean. This state of ritual impurity will last until the evening, after which specific purification rites are to be observed.

Leviticus 15 23 Context

Leviticus chapter 15 details the laws regarding ritual impurity (Hebrew: ṭum’ah) stemming from various bodily discharges for both males and females. These impurities were not considered sins but were temporary physical states that required separation from the community's sacred spaces, particularly the tabernacle, and eventual purification before returning to full communal life. Verses 19-24 specifically address a woman's impurity due to her regular menstrual flow. Her person, anything she lies on (bed), and anything she sits on (seat) become contaminated. Verse 23 specifies the consequence for another person (implied: a man, from earlier verses on male impurity) who touches these secondary contaminated objects: they too become ritually unclean. This intricate system was critical for maintaining holiness within the Israelite camp, ensuring clear boundaries between the pure and impure, which was vital for God's holy presence to dwell among them. Historically, these laws differentiated Israel from surrounding pagan cultures that might have practiced fertility rites involving menstrual blood or had no such defined purity codes.

Leviticus 15 23 Word Analysis

• "If": (וְאִם; wə'im) - A conjunction introducing a conditional clause, establishing a hypothetical scenario rather than a direct command. It indicates that the following consequence applies if the stated action occurs.
• "it is": (וְהִיא; wəhi') - Refers back to the object of contact previously mentioned (bed or seat, contaminated by the woman in her flow) from Lev 15:22 and before, implicitly referring to "what" the man touches.
• "on the bed": (מִשְׁכָּב; mishkav) - From a root meaning "to lie down," referring to a couch, bed, or place of rest. It denotes an object used for prolonged or intimate contact, implying a significant transfer of impurity.
• "or on anything on which she sits": (וְאוֹ אֲשֶׁר תֵּשֵׁב עָלָיו; wə'o 'asher teshev alav) - Literally, "or what she sits upon." The "anything" signifies a seat or surface used for temporary rest or daily activities (Hebrew: מוֹשָׁב; moshav when used in conjunction with "sits"). This extends the contagious nature of impurity to everyday items, not just the bed.
• "when he touches it": (יִגַּע בּוֹ; yigga bo) - From the root נָגַע (naga') meaning "to touch, come into contact with, reach." This emphasizes that any contact, however slight or unintentional, transmits the ritual impurity. The "he" refers to a male from the broader context of Lev 15, likely the one addressed in earlier verses.
• "he shall be unclean": (טָמֵא הוּא; tame' hu') - ṭamē' is the Hebrew word for ceremonially impure, ritually defiled, or polluted. This state is not a moral sin but a condition that necessitates temporary separation from the community and especially the tabernacle, requiring specific purification rites to be lifted.
• "until evening": (עַד הָעֶרֶב; 'ad ha'erev) - A common timeframe for ritual impurity in the Levitical law. It signifies that the impurity is temporary and duration-limited. Full purification generally involved bathing and washing clothes, followed by waiting for sunset, marking the completion of the ritual process and restoration to cleanness.

Words-group Analysis:

• "If it is on the bed, or on anything on which she sits": This phrase clearly identifies the source of indirect contamination—items that have absorbed the uncleanness from the menstruating woman. It illustrates the extensive reach of this type of ritual impurity beyond direct physical contact, underscoring the necessity of strict adherence to separation for communal holiness.
• "when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening": This concise statement outlines the immediate consequence and the fixed duration of the newly acquired impurity. It underscores the concept of transferable uncleanness and the temporary nature of this ritual state, always pointing towards a necessary return to purity through prescribed means.

Leviticus 15 23 Bonus section

The detailed regulations concerning physical purity, like that found in Leviticus 15:23, extended beyond hygiene. While providing incidental hygienic benefits in an ancient context without modern sanitation, their primary function was ritual. They established a clear system of categorizing all aspects of Israelite life in terms of "clean" or "unclean" for interaction with a holy God. This constant reminder of temporary impurity and the need for purification deeply ingrained the concept of sin and its defiling nature, anticipating the spiritual cleansing offered by the New Covenant. The vulnerability of clean items to contamination by unclean ones (as seen in Haggai 2:13-14, where holy meat touching common food doesn't make it holy, but defiled hands make anything they touch unclean) profoundly illustrated the greater power of sin to corrupt versus the relative fragility of mere ritual holiness to spread.

Leviticus 15 23 Commentary

Leviticus 15:23, set within the broader context of the purification laws, details a specific instance of ritual impurity transmission. It illustrates that impurity, derived from natural bodily functions like menstruation, was considered highly contagious, capable of being transferred not only by direct contact with the impure person but also indirectly, through objects they have used or touched (like beds or seats). This law was foundational for maintaining the sanctity and order within the Israelite camp, especially given the dwelling presence of a holy God in the tabernacle. The impurity, though temporary ("until evening") and resolved through bathing and washing, signified separation from the holy community and its sacred cultic activities.

These purity laws were not moral judgments against the individual but served profound theological purposes:

1. To Teach God's Holiness: They impressed upon Israel the absolute purity and transcendent holiness of God, who requires a separation from defilement to dwell among His people.
2. To Define Boundaries: They provided clear guidelines for daily life, demarcating what was permissible or impermissible in maintaining a holy community.
3. To Act as Object Lessons: These temporary defilements and required purifications prefigured the greater need for spiritual cleansing from sin. The spread of impurity hinted at the pervasive nature of sin.Ultimately, the laws demonstrated that human effort and animal sacrifices could only address ritual, temporary defilement, leaving a profound spiritual gap. This pointed to the need for a final, perfect sacrifice and a superior cleansing, fully realized in Jesus Christ, who through His own holiness, was able to touch the "unclean" and, rather than becoming defiled, instead imparted true purity (Luke 8:43-48).