Leviticus 15 7

Leviticus 15:7 kjv

And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:7 nkjv

And he who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.

Leviticus 15:7 niv

"?'Whoever touches the man who has a discharge must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.

Leviticus 15:7 esv

And whoever touches the body of the one with the discharge shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening.

Leviticus 15:7 nlt

If you touch the man with the discharge, you must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.

Leviticus 15 verses

Leviticus 15 7 Meaning

This verse outlines the consequence for an individual who physically touches a man with an abnormal bodily discharge (known as a zav). Such contact causes ritual impurity. To regain a state of cleanness, the individual must wash their clothes and perform a full body immersion in water. Despite these actions, they remain ritually impure until the sun sets, at which point their purity is restored. The verse underscores the contagious nature of specific types of defilement within the Israelite ceremonial system, demanding prescribed actions for purification and access to sacred space.

Leviticus 15 7 Context

Leviticus Chapter 15 provides detailed regulations concerning various types of ritual impurity arising from bodily discharges. It distinguishes between normal and abnormal emissions from both men and women. The core purpose of these laws was to maintain the purity of the Israelite camp, especially safeguarding the sanctity of the Tabernacle and later the Temple, where the holy God resided among His people. Any defilement could profanely impact the holy space or inhibit one's participation in corporate worship.

Verse 7 specifically addresses contact with a zav (a man with a persistent or chronic bodily discharge), as introduced in Leviticus 15:1-15. This type of discharge conveyed significant uncleanness, rendering not only the person afflicted but also anyone or anything they touched or sat/lay on as impure. The prescribed ritual actions—washing clothes, bathing in water, and waiting until evening—were standard responses to many forms of temporary uncleanness, signifying a process of external and internal ritual cleansing and a transition from one status to another, aligning daily life with divine holiness standards. These laws were not primarily for public health but for spiritual and cultic separation, teaching Israel about the holy nature of God and the need for purity in His presence.

Leviticus 15 7 Word analysis

• And he that toucheth: (v'nogea': וְנֹגֵעַ, from naga (נגע) - to touch, strike, reach, come into contact). This signifies direct physical interaction. The emphasis is on active contact, implying that defilement is directly transferred through the body of the zav.
• the flesh: (basar: בָּשָׂר - flesh, body). In this context, it refers to the physical person of the zav, not specifically a piece of meat. It underscores that contact with any part of the zav's body, as the source of impurity, transmitted the defilement.
• of him that hath the issue: (ha-zav: הַזָּב - the one having a flow or discharge). This term defines the individual who is the source of uncleanness in this specific passage (Lev 15:1-15). The "issue" refers to an abnormal, persistent discharge from the male genitals, distinct from typical seminal emissions (v. 16) or nocturnal emissions. This was considered a serious form of defilement requiring comprehensive cleansing for the zav himself (Lev 15:13-15).
• shall wash his clothes: (kibbes from kabas: כָּבַס - to wash, launder, cleanse by treading or beating). This action was essential for garments, as clothes could absorb and retain impurity, whether visible or ritual. It represented an outward purification from a defiled state.
• and bathe himself in water: (rachats: רָחַץ - to wash, bathe, specifically by immersion of the body). This signifies a ritual bath, a complete body immersion in clean water. It was critical for removing personal ritual defilement from the body itself, symbolizing cleansing and readiness for purification.
• and be unclean: (tame: טָמֵא - ritually unclean, impure). This state meant one was ceremonially defiled, prevented from participating in sacred worship or approaching the Tabernacle/Temple. It was a ritual, not a moral, condition. This state would persist despite the washing.
• until the even: (ad ha-erev: עַד הָעֶרֶב - until the evening). This specifies the duration of the uncleanness. Sundown marked the end of the ritual day in the Hebrew calendar. Completing the prescribed washings and waiting until sundown was necessary for the transition from a state of impurity to a clean status. It signified a temporary defilement that was bound by time and ritual action.

Leviticus 15 7 Bonus section

The repetitive nature of "wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even" throughout Leviticus 15 for various contacts with impure individuals or objects signifies a standard, common response to mild-to-moderate ritual defilement. This consistent phrase served as a clear, easy-to-understand directive for the Israelite community, emphasizing the immediate actions required to deal with ritual impurity and the set time frame for its cessation. It reinforced the theological principle that impurity was a temporary, removable state, preventing permanent social or spiritual exclusion when the prescribed actions were undertaken, illustrating God's gracious provision for His people to maintain a pure standing before Him. The sunset (erev) symbolized a reset, a divine marker indicating the close of one state and the beginning of another, in line with the biblical day commencing at evening.

Leviticus 15 7 Commentary

Leviticus 15:7 demonstrates the intricate purity system mandated for Israel. The act of touching a zav, who himself was highly defiled, automatically transferred that uncleanness to the one who touched. This was not a medical health warning, but a divinely ordained ritual boundary, emphasizing the profound holiness of God and the absolute separation required between the sacred and the common. The prescribed cleansing—washing clothes and bathing in water—was common for many forms of impurity and underscores the need for proactive restoration to a pure state. The delay "until the even" highlights that cleansing was a process; a waiting period ensured full ritual transition. These laws consistently reminded the Israelites of their calling to be a holy nation set apart for God, influencing their daily interactions and underscoring that defilement, even indirect, could prevent approach to the Divine Presence.