Keraia
Leviticus 13

Leviticus 13:46

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

Translations

Modern
As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.
Traditional
All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
Literal
All the days that the plague is in him he shall be unclean; he is unclean. He shall dwell alone; his dwelling is outside of the camp.
Latin
Omni tempore quo leprosus est et immundus, solus habitabit extra castra.

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.

Notes

Leviticus 13:46

The tabernacle, which held the ark of the covenant, was at the center of the camp. This was so the people would know God was present there (Deuteronomy 23:14). If someone had a skin disorder, they had to live alone in a place outside the camp. This prevented the spread of infection and kept holy things cermonially clean.

Even Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, spent seven days outside the camp (Numbers 12:15). This area was not just for those with skin disorders. They also burned uneaten sin offerings (Lev 4:21) and executed criminals there (24:14, 23). They took dead bodies there to keep the living area ceremonially clean (10:4–5). People also took care of bodily functions outside the camp (Deuteronomy 23:12–14).

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

Church of Israel: Members of Separated From, While Unclean Defilement: Caused by Leprosy Leprosy: Isolation of Lepers Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Leprosy Sanitation: Contagion Sanitation: Quarantine Sickness: Illustrative of Sin