Keraia
Leviticus 13

Leviticus 13:3

Laws about Skin Diseases · Leviticus 13:1–46
Read Leviticus 13

Translations

Modern
The priest is to examine the infection on his skin, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a skin disease. After the priest examines him, he must pronounce him unclean.
Traditional
And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
Literal
And the priest shall examine the plague in the skin of his flesh. And if the hair in the plague has turned white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the skin of his body, it is a plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and he shall pronounce him unclean.
Latin
Qui cum viderit lepram in cute, et pilos in album mutatos colorem, ipsamque speciem lepræ humiliorem cute et carne reliqua: plaga lepræ est, et ad arbitrium ejus separabitur.

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
The priest is to examine the infection on his skin, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a skin disease. After the priest examines him, he must pronounce him unclean.

Notes

Leviticus 13:3

deeper than the skin: This means the infection either damaged the skin or was visible under it. The white hair and the skin depression showed a skin disease that could spread (Leviticus 13:21–23). This made the person ceremonially unclean (13:8).

Leviticus 13:1–46

a skin disease: The Hebrew word tsaraʿat refers to more than Hansen’s disease (leprosy), which is rare and severely disfiguring. In Leviticus, the word describes many different conditions. These include:

A key test was whether the condition spread to other parts of the body (13:5–8). If it did, they quarantined the person while the disorder lasted (13:46). Not only people, but also clothing and even buildings could become infected (13:47–59; 14:33–53).

Leviticus 13:1–14:57

Regarding regulations for infections, the idea of "normal" and "abnormal" is important (see “Clean, Unclean, and Holy” Theme Note). Infections in people, clothing, or buildings are not normal. They indicate disease and death. This is the opposite of wholeness. So, infections make a person ceremonially unclean.

Parallels

Numbers 5:1–4

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Boil Cleanness and Uncleanness, Regulations Concerning Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel Law of Moses Leper, Leprosy Leviticus, Book of Medicine and Medical Practice Naaman Priesthood Worship

Topics

Defilement: Caused by Leprosy Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Having a Leprosy Defilement: Priests: To Decide in all Cases of Leprosy: Turned the Hair White or Yellow Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Leprosy Sanitation: Contagion Sanitation: Quarantine The Hair: Colour of, Changed by Leprosy