Keraia
Leviticus 15

Leviticus 15:2

The Uncleanness of Men · Leviticus 15:1–12
Read Leviticus 15

Translations

Modern
“Say to the Israelites, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean.
Traditional
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.
Literal
“Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them, ‘Any man—when there is a discharge from his flesh his discharge—it is unclean.
Latin
Loquimini filiis Israël, et dicite eis: Vir, qui patitur fluxum seminis, immundus erit.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Say to the Israelites, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean.

Notes

Leviticus 15:2

bodily discharge (literally a flowing from his flesh): Most scholars think the word flesh refers to sexual organs, suggesting an infection like gonorrhea. Others believe it might mean a discharge of semen or even diarrhea. But a discharge of semen is improbable because it is specifically mentioned in Leviticus 15:16–17 and only requires washing with water. It is clear that this bodily discharge came from "under him" (15:10). It contaminated anything he sat on or lay upon (15:4, 6, 9).

Leviticus 15:1–33

The idea of normal and abnormal, along with the created order, helps interpret these rules (see “Clean, Unclean, and Holy” Theme Note). Bodily discharges, like infections (see study note on Leviticus 13:1–46), were not considered "normal" because they weakened a person's health. This made the person seem incomplete. Whether male (15:1–18) or female (15:19–33), such a person became unclean.

Parallels

Deuteronomy 23:9–14

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Blood, Flow of Cleanness and Uncleanness, Regulations Concerning Deuteronomy, Book of Hemorrhage History of Israel John the Baptist Law of Moses Leviticus, Book of Medicine and Medical Practice Priesthood Worship

Topics

Defilement: Caused by Gonorrhea Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Having an Issue Purifications or Baptisms of Individuals Who Were Ceremonially Unclean Sanitation: Contagion Sanitation: Disinfection Sanitation: Venereal Diseases