Keraia
Leviticus 13

Leviticus 13:43

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

Translations

Modern
The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,
Traditional
Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;
Literal
And the priest shall examine him, and behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white … in his bald head or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy on the skin of the flesh,
Latin
…et hoc sacerdos viderit, condemnabit eum haud dubiæ lepræ, quæ orta est in calvitio.

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,

Notes

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 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

Head: Liable to Leprosy Leprosy: The Priests: had Rules for Distinguishing Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Leprosy Sanitation: Contagion