Leviticus 15:24

Translations

Modern

If a man lies with her and her menstrual flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days, and any bed on which he lies will become unclean.

Traditional

And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

Literal

And if any man really lies with her, and her menstruation is on him, then he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed that he lies upon shall be unclean.

Latin

Si coierit cum ea vir tempore sanguinis menstrualis, immundus erit septem diebus: et omne stratum, in quo dormierit, polluetur.

Original

Hebrew

English

If a man lies with her and her menstrual flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days, and any bed on which he lies will become unclean.

Notes

Leviticus 15:24

Sexual intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period will later be forbidden and will have a harsh penalty (Leviticus 8:19). This verse probably describes a situation where the woman's menstrual flow went unnoticed when the sexual activity started. Or it could be when her period began during intercourse. The rules required the man who came into contact with her blood to share the woman's seven-day quarantine.

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.

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Clean, Unclean, and Holy

Related verses

Leviticus 20:18
If a man lies with a menstruating woman and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood. Both of them must be cut off from among their people.
1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
Leviticus 18:19
You must not approach a woman to have sexual relations with her during her menstrual period.
Ezekiel 18:6
He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
Leviticus 15:33
…of a woman in her menstrual period, of any male or female who has a discharge, and of a man who lies with an unclean woman.’”
Ezekiel 22:10
In you they have uncovered the nakedness of their fathers; in you they violate women during their menstrual impurity.
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from every form of evil.

Glossary

Bathe, Bathing 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 Offerings and Sacrifices Priesthood Worship

Topics

Defilement: Caused by Menses Menstruation: Law Relating To Purification for Women: After Menstruation Purification: Scriptures Relating To Sanitation: Contagion Sanitation: Disinfection Sanitation: Venereal Diseases Women: Purifications of After Menstruation

Leviticus 15:24

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Glossary

Topics