The Law Concerning Leprosy

13 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: “When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, (A)a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a [a]leprous sore, (B)then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. The priest shall examine the sore on the skin of the body; and if the hair on the sore has turned white, and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous sore. Then the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him [b]unclean. But if the bright spot is white on the skin of his body, and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and its hair has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate the one who has the sore (C)seven days. And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day; and indeed if the sore appears to be as it was, and the sore has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall isolate him another seven days. Then the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day; and indeed if the sore has faded, and the sore has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a scab, and he (D)shall wash his clothes and be clean. But if the scab should at all spread over the skin, after he has been seen by the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen by the priest again. And if the priest sees that the scab has indeed spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him [c]unclean. It is leprosy.

“When the leprous sore is on a person, then he shall be brought to the priest. 10 (E)And the priest shall examine him; and indeed if the swelling on the skin is white, and it has turned the hair white, and there is a spot of raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is an old leprosy on the skin of his body. The priest shall pronounce him [d]unclean, and shall not isolate him, for he is unclean.

12 “And if leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of the one who has the sore, from his head to his foot, wherever the priest looks, 13 then the priest shall consider; and indeed if the leprosy has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean who has the sore. It has all turned (F)white. He is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him to be unclean; for the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh changes and turns white again, he shall come to the priest. 17 And the priest shall examine him; and indeed if the sore has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean who has the sore. He is clean.

18 “If the body develops a (G)boil in the skin, and it is healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest; 20 and if, when the priest sees it, it indeed appears deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous sore which has broken out of the boil. 21 But if the priest examines it, and indeed there are no white hairs in it, and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall isolate him seven days; 22 and if it should at all spread over the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a [e]leprous sore. 23 But if the bright spot stays in one place, and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

24 “Or if the body receives a (H)burn on its skin by fire, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white or white, 25 then the priest shall examine it; and indeed if the hair of the bright spot has turned white, and it appears deeper than the skin, it is leprosy broken out in the burn. Therefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous sore. 26 But if the priest examines it, and indeed there are no white hairs in the bright spot, and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall isolate him seven days. 27 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has at all spread over the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous sore. 28 But if the bright spot stays in one place, and has not spread on the skin, but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn. The priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn.

29 “If a man or woman has a sore on the head or the beard, 30 then the priest shall examine the sore; and indeed if it appears deeper than the skin, and there is in it thin yellow hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a scaly leprosy of the head or beard. 31 But if the priest examines the scaly sore, and indeed it does not appear deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the one who has the scale seven days. 32 And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the sore; and indeed if the scale has not spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the scale does not appear deeper than the skin, 33 he shall shave himself, but the scale he shall not shave. And the priest shall isolate the one who has the scale another seven days. 34 On the seventh day the priest shall examine the scale; and indeed if the scale has not spread over the skin, and does not appear deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the scale should at all spread over the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall examine him; and indeed if the scale has spread over the skin, the priest need not seek for yellow hair. He is unclean. 37 But if the scale appears to be at a standstill, and there is black hair grown up in it, the scale has healed. He is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

38 “If a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body, specifically white bright spots, 39 then the priest shall look; and indeed if the bright spots on the skin of the body are dull white, it is a white spot that grows on the skin. He is clean.

40 “As for the man whose hair has fallen from his head, he is bald, but he is clean. 41 He whose hair has fallen from his forehead, he is bald on the forehead, but he is clean. 42 And if there is on the bald head or bald (I)forehead a reddish-white sore, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall examine it; and indeed if the swelling of the sore is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy on the skin of the body, 44 he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him [f]unclean; his sore is on his (J)head.

45 “Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head (K)bare; and he shall (L)cover his mustache, and cry, (M)‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall [g]dwell alone; his dwelling shall be (N)outside the camp.

The Law Concerning Leprous Garments

47 “Also, if a garment has a [h]leprous plague in it, whether it is a woolen garment or a linen garment, 48 whether it is in the warp or woof of linen or wool, whether in leather or in anything made of leather, 49 and if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather, whether in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, it is a leprous [i]plague and shall be shown to the priest. 50 The priest shall examine the plague and isolate that which has the plague seven days. 51 And he shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, in the leather or in anything made of leather, the plague is (O)an active leprosy. It is unclean. 52 He shall therefore burn that garment in which is the plague, whether warp or woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of leather, for it is an active leprosy; the garment shall be burned in the fire.

53 “But if the priest examines it, and indeed the plague has not spread in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the plague; and he shall isolate it another seven days. 55 Then the priest shall examine the plague after it has been washed; and indeed if the plague has not changed its color, though the plague has not spread, it is unclean, and you shall burn it in the fire; it continues eating away, whether the damage is outside or inside. 56 If the priest examines it, and indeed the plague has faded after washing it, then he shall tear it out of the garment, whether out of the warp or out of the woof, or out of the leather. 57 But if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or in anything made of leather, it is a spreading plague; you shall burn with fire that in which is the plague. 58 And if you wash the garment, either warp or woof, or whatever is made of leather, if the plague has disappeared from it, then it shall be washed a second time, and shall be clean.

59 “This is the law of the leprous plague in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or woof, or in anything made of leather, to pronounce it clean or to pronounce it unclean.”

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 13:2 Heb. saraath, disfiguring skin diseases, including leprosy, and so in vv. 2–46 and 14:2–32
  2. Leviticus 13:3 defiled
  3. Leviticus 13:8 defiled
  4. Leviticus 13:11 defiled
  5. Leviticus 13:22 infection
  6. Leviticus 13:44 altogether defiled
  7. Leviticus 13:46 live alone
  8. Leviticus 13:47 A mold, fungus, or similar infestation, and so in vv. 47–59
  9. Leviticus 13:49 mark

13 And Hashem spoke unto Moshe and Aharon, saying,

When a man shall have in the skin of his basar a swelling, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his basar like the nega tzara’at; then he shall be brought unto Aharon the kohen, or unto one of his Banim the kohanim;

And the kohen shall examine the nega in the skin of the basar; and when hair in the nega is turned white, and the nega in appearance be deeper than the skin of his basar, it is a nega tzara’at; and the kohen shall examine him, and pronounce him tamei.

If the bright spot be white in the skin of his basar, and in appearance be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white, then the kohen shall quarantine him that hath the nega shivat yamim;

And the kohen shall examine him on the yom hashevi’i; and, hinei, if the nega in his sight be unchanged, and the nega spread not in the skin; then the kohen shall quarantine him another shivat yamim;

And the kohen shall examine him again on the yom hashevi’i; and, hinei, if the nega be somewhat faded, and the nega spread not in the skin, the kohen shall pronounce him tahor; it is but a scab; and he shall wash his clothes, and be tahor.

But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath shown himself to the kohen for his tohorah, he shall appear before the kohen again.

And if the kohen see that, hinei, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the kohen shall pronounce him tamei; it is a tzara’at.

When the nega tzara’at is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the kohen;

10 And the kohen shall examine him; and, hinei, if the swelling be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be raw basar in the swelling;

11 It is an old tzara’at in the skin of his basar, and the kohen shall pronounce him tamei, and shall not quarantine him; for he is tamei.

12 And if a tzara’at break out abroad in the skin, and the tzara’at cover all the skin of him that hath the nega from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the kohen looketh,

13 Then the kohen shall consider; and, hinei, if the tzara’at have covered all his basar, he shall pronounce him tahor that hath the nega; it is all turned white; he is tahor.

14 But on the day when raw basar appeareth in him, he shall be tamei.

15 And the kohen shall see the raw basar, and pronounce him to be tamei; for the raw basar is tamei; it is a tzara’at.

16 Or if the raw basar turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the kohen;

17 And the kohen shall see him; and, hinei, if the nega be turned into white, then the kohen shall pronounce him tahor that hath the nega; he is tahor.

18 The basar also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,

19 And in the place of the boil there be a white swelling, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shown to the kohen;

20 And if, when the kohen examine it, hinei, it be in appearance deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the kohen shall pronounce him tamei; it is a nega tzara’at broken out of the boil.

21 But if the kohen examine it, and, hinei, there be no white hair therein, and if it be not deeper than the skin, but be somewhat faded, then the kohen shall quarantine him shivat yamim;

22 And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the kohen shall pronounce him tamei; it is a nega.

23 But if the bright spot stay in its place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the kohen shall pronounce him tahor.

24 Or if there be any basar, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the raw basar that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white,

25 Then the kohen shall examine it; and, hinei, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in appearance deeper than the skin, it is a tzara’at broken out of the burning; therefore the kohen shall pronounce him tamei; it is the nega tzara’at.

26 But if the kohen examine it, and, hinei, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no deeper than the other skin, but be dim, then the kohen shall quarantine him shivat yamim;

27 And the kohen shall examine him on the yom hashevi’i; and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the kohen shall pronounce him tamei; it is the nega tzara’at.

28 And if the bright spot stay in its place, and spread not in the skin, but it be dim, it is a swelling of the burn, and the kohen shall pronounce him tahor; for it is an inflammation of the burning.

29 If an ish or isha have a nega upon the head or the chin,

30 Then the kohen shall examine the nega, and, hinei, if it be in appearance deeper than the skin, and there be in it a yellow thin hair, then the kohen shall pronounce him tamei; it is a scale, even a tzara’at upon the head or chin.

31 And if the kohen examine the nega of the scale, and, hinei, it be not in appearance deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it, then the kohen shall quarantine him that hath the nega of the scale shivat yamim;

32 And in the yom hashevi’i the kohen shall examine the nega; and, hinei, if the scale spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scale be not in appearance deeper than the skin,

33 He shall be shaven, but the scale shall he not shave; and the kohen shall quarantine him that hath the scale another shivat yamim;

34 And in the yom hashevi’i the kohen shall examine the scale; and, hinei, if the scale be not spread in the skin, nor be in appearance deeper than the skin, then the kohen shall pronounce him tahor; and he shall wash his clothes, and be tahor.

35 But if the scale spread much in the skin after his tohorah,

36 Then the kohen shall examine him; and, hinei, if the scale be spread in the skin, the kohen need not seek for yellow hair; he is tamei.

37 But if the scale be in his sight unchanged, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scale is healed, he is tahor; and the kohen shall pronounce him tahor.

38 If an ish also or an isha have in the skin of their basar bright spots, even white bright spots,

39 Then the kohen shall examine; and, hinei, if the bright spots in the skin of their basar be faint white, it is a bohak spot that groweth in the skin; he is tahor.

40 And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he tahor.

41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the front of his scalp, he is bald at the forehead; yet is he tahor.

42 And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish nega, it is a tzara’at breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

43 Then the kohen shall examine it; and, hinei, if the swelling of the nega be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the tzara’at appeareth in the skin of the basar,

44 He is an ish tzaru’a, he is tamei; the kohen shall pronounce him utterly tamei; his nega is in his head.

45 And the tzaru’a in whom the nega is, his clothes shall be torn, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his lower face, and shall cry, Tamei! Tamei!

46 All the days wherein the nega shall be in him he shall be tamei; he is tamei; he shall live alone; outside the machaneh shall his moshav be.

47 When a garment has the nega tzara’at in it, whether it be a wool garment, or a linen garment;

48 Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of wool; whether in a leather, or in anything made of leather;

49 And if the nega be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the leather, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of leather, it is a nega tzara’at, and shall be shown unto the kohen;

50 And the kohen shall examine the nega, and quarantine it that hath the nega shivat yamim;

51 And he shall examine the nega on the yom hashevi’i; if the nega be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a leather, or in any work that is made of leather, the nega is a malignant tzara’at; it is tamei.

52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in wool or in linen, or any thing of leather, wherein the nega is; for it is a malignant tzara’at; it shall be burned in the eish.

53 And if the kohen shall examine, and, hinei, the nega be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of leather,

54 Then the kohen shall command that they wash the thing wherein the nega is, and he shall quarantine it another shivat yamim;

55 And the kohen shall examine the nega, after that it is washed; and, hinei, if the nega has not changed its appearance, and the nega be not spread, it is tamei; thou shalt burn it in the eish; whether the eating away hath brought bareness in the front or back.

56 And if the kohen examine, and, hinei, the nega be somewhat faded after the washing of it, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the leather, or out of the warp, or out of the woof;

57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of leather, it is a spreading nega; thou shalt burn that wherein the nega is with eish.

58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of leather it be, which thou shalt wash, if the nega be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be tahor.

59 This is the torah of the nega tzara’at in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of leather, to pronounce it tahor, or to pronounce it tamei.