Leviticus 15:28 kjv
But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
Leviticus 15:28 nkjv
'But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
Leviticus 15:28 niv
"?'When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean.
Leviticus 15:28 esv
But if she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
Leviticus 15:28 nlt
"When the woman's bleeding stops, she must count off seven days. Then she will be ceremonially clean.
Leviticus 15 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 15:13 | When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge... he shall count for himself seven days... | Parallel purification process for male discharge. |
| Lev 15:19 | If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days... | Regular menstrual impurity also involves a seven-day period. |
| Lev 15:25 | If a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days... all the days of her discharge... she shall be unclean. | Describes the "issue" (chronic discharge) in question. |
| Lev 12:2 | If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days... | Childbirth impurity, similar initial duration of separation. |
| Num 19:11-12 | Whoever touches a dead person... shall be unclean seven days... He shall purify himself... on the third day and on the seventh day. | Touching a corpse requires seven days of impurity and purification rites. |
| Num 6:9-10 | If a man dedicates himself by a Nazirite vow... if anyone dies very suddenly beside him... he shall shave his consecrated head on the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day. | Nazirite defilement, requiring cleansing on the seventh day. |
| Deut 23:10-11 | If one among you becomes unclean by a nocturnal emission... he shall go outside the camp... he shall wash himself... when the sun sets, he may come into the camp. | Defilement requiring temporary exclusion and washing. |
| Mark 5:25-29 | A woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years... she touched His garment. And immediately the flow of blood stopped. | NT fulfillment: Jesus directly heals the "issue," bypassing/transcending the ritual law. |
| Luke 8:43-48 | And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years... touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. | Another gospel account of the woman with the issue of blood. |
| Matt 9:20-22 | Just then a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. | Matthew's parallel account emphasizing the healing by faith. |
| Acts 10:14-15 | But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." And the voice came to him again: "What God has made clean, do not call common." | God's declaration of former ritual "uncleanness" abolished, pointing to broader spiritual purity. |
| Heb 9:10 | These are regulations for the body, imposed until the time of the new order. | Mosaic purity laws were temporary and preparatory. |
| Heb 9:13-14 | For if the blood of goats and bulls... sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ... purify our conscience? | Contrast between ritual purification and spiritual cleansing by Christ. |
| Col 2:16-17 | Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink... or with regard to a festival... These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. | Old Covenant ritual laws were shadows, their substance found in Christ. |
| 1 John 1:7 | But if we walk in the light... the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. | Spiritual cleansing from sin through Christ's sacrifice. |
| 2 Cor 7:1 | Therefore... let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. | Call to comprehensive moral and spiritual purity for believers. |
| John 13:10 | Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean..." | Metaphorical cleansing: Christ makes one entirely clean. |
| Eph 5:26-27 | That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle. | Christ purifies the Church through His Word. |
| Tit 2:14 | He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. | Christ's self-sacrifice is for the purpose of purifying a people. |
| Ez 36:25 | I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. | Prophetic promise of future spiritual cleansing from sin and idolatry. |
| Zech 13:1 | On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David... to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. | Prophecy of a future, divine source of cleansing for God's people. |
| Psa 51:7 | Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. | Prayer for divine cleansing from sin and its effects. |
Leviticus 15 verses
Leviticus 15 28 Meaning
This verse precisely dictates the final phase of purification for a woman who has endured a chronic, abnormal bodily discharge—distinct from normal menstruation—which had rendered her ritually impure. Once this abnormal flow completely ceases, she is mandated to count for herself a period of seven consecutive days. This waiting period serves to confirm the absolute cessation of the issue. After these seven days have elapsed, and contingent upon performing additional rites as prescribed elsewhere in the chapter, she would be declared ritually clean (tahorah). This restored state of purity allowed her full reintegration into the Israelite community, permitting her to engage in everyday activities and, crucially, to participate in sacred worship and access holy things without defiling them.
Leviticus 15 28 Context
Leviticus chapter 15 meticulously details various laws concerning ritual impurity caused by specific bodily discharges, applicable to both men and women. The overarching purpose of these intricate regulations was to instruct the Israelites on the paramount importance of holiness and purity, necessary for dwelling in close proximity to a holy God whose presence resided in their midst within the Tabernacle. This chapter specifies categories of emissions, including seminal discharges, chronic male discharges, regular menstruation, and abnormal or prolonged female discharges (which Lev 15:28 specifically addresses). For each condition, the duration of impurity, the precise methods of purification (involving washing of clothes, bathing, and designated waiting periods, often followed by prescribed sacrifices), and the impact on daily life and sacred spaces are laid out. Verse 28 specifically details the pathway for a woman to be restored to ritual purity once her severe chronic discharge has ceased, illustrating God's provision for restoration from conditions that were often involuntary, thereby reaffirming the path back to full participation in the covenant community.
Leviticus 15 28 Word analysis
But if she be cleansed (וְכִי תָהֲרָה vechi taharah)
- וְכִי (vechi): A conjunction phrase meaning "and if" or "but if," indicating a conditional premise for the subsequent action. It signals the beginning of the pathway to recovery from the state of impurity.
- תָהֲרָה (taharah): The Hebrew verb, derived from the root טָהַר (tahar), means "to be clean," "to be pure." In this specific context, it signifies that the abnormal discharge has ceased, thus making her eligible to begin the purification rites. This "cleansing" refers to the termination of the active discharge, not the full state of ritual purity which requires further steps.
of her issue (מִזּוֹבָהּ mizzôvāh)
- מִזּוֹבָהּ (mizzôvāh): Literally, "from her flow" or "from her discharge." The noun זוֹבָה (zovah) denotes a persistent, irregular bodily discharge, specifically distinguished from the monthly cycle (which is addressed earlier in Lev 15). This term highlights the nature of the condition causing prolonged impurity and distinguishes it from temporary or regular bodily functions.
then she shall number to herself (וְסָפְרָה־לָּהּ vĕsaphĕrah-llah)
- וְסָפְרָה (vĕsaphĕrah): From the verb סָפַר (sapar), meaning "to count" or "to number." This verb emphasizes the active, deliberate role the individual must take in her purification process, a personal responsibility.
- לָּהּ (llah): "To herself" or "for herself." This personalizes the command, emphasizing that the counting is a self-imposed, conscientious act to ensure the complete cessation of the issue.
seven days (שִׁבְעַת יָמִים shiv'at yamim)
- שִׁבְעַת (shiv'at): "Seven." The number seven in biblical theology frequently signifies completeness, perfection, or a divine cycle. Here, it marks a full, observed cycle to confirm purity.
- יָמִים (yamim): "Days." The duration of seven full, consecutive days ensures thorough observation.
and after that (וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן vĕ'acharêy-chên)
- וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן (vĕ'acharêy-chên): "And after this" or "subsequently." This phrase clearly indicates the sequential progression of the ritual. The declaration of "clean" only comes after the preceding condition (cessation of discharge) and action (seven days of counting) have been completed.
she shall be clean (תִּטְהָר tiṭhār)
- תִּטְהָר (tiṭhār): From the same root טָהַר (tahar) as "be cleansed." This verb here denotes the culmination of the purification process; she achieves a state of ritual purity, making her eligible to resume normal life activities and interact with sacred objects or spaces without imparting defilement.
Words-group Analysis:
- "But if she be cleansed of her issue": This phrase acts as the initiating condition, distinguishing the end of the impure state from the commencement of the purification period. It specifically refers to the objective observation that the persistent discharge has indeed ceased.
- "then she shall number to herself seven days": This specifies the precise duration of the required waiting and observation period. The emphasis on "to herself" underscores the personal accountability of the individual in diligently fulfilling the command to ensure her true ritual readiness for cleansing.
- "and after that she shall be clean": This phrase presents the desired outcome and divine pronouncement. It signifies the successful completion of the purification process, resulting in the restoration of her ritually pure status, enabling her to re-engage fully with the community and approach sacred things without fear of defilement.
Leviticus 15 28 Bonus section
The "issue of blood" mentioned in Leviticus 15:25, and specifically dealt with in this verse regarding its cessation, directly correlates to the condition of the woman healed by Jesus in the Gospels (Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48, Matthew 9:20-22). Her twelve-year suffering under this very "issue" rendered her chronically unclean according to this Mosaic law. By touching Jesus, she transferred her ritual impurity to Him by conventional standards. However, Jesus, by His divine authority and purity, not only remained undefiled but instantly healed and made her "whole" or "clean." This dramatic New Testament event beautifully illustrates how Christ fulfills and transcends the Levitical purity laws, moving beyond external ritual purity to confer intrinsic, holistic cleansing and wholeness—spiritual, emotional, and physical—upon those who touch Him by faith. This transformation from unclean to clean without specific sacrifices or ritualistic waiting periods demonstrates the inauguration of a new covenant where spiritual purity and inner transformation take precedence over external regulations.
Leviticus 15 28 Commentary
Leviticus 15:28 succinctly defines a crucial step in the purification rite for a woman recovering from an abnormal bodily discharge. This law demonstrates the precise attention required to maintain ritual holiness within Israel, reflecting God's desire for purity among His people. The prerequisite is the actual cessation of the issue, followed by a meticulous seven-day count by the woman herself. This period was not only a practical measure to confirm healing but also carried deep symbolic weight, signifying completion and God's perfect order. While not related to sin, these bodily conditions caused ritual impurity, necessitating separation from sacred objects and the community. The meticulous adherence to these guidelines, culminating in her being "clean," allowed the individual to be re-admitted to the Tabernacle community, emphasizing that God provided a pathway back from every defilement to full covenant fellowship. This law prefigures the ultimate, spiritual cleansing provided by Christ, whose perfect sacrifice far exceeds external ritual purification.