וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר 13:1
Levi. 13:1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron saying,
אָדָם כִּי־יִהְיֶה בְעֹור־בְּשָׂרֹו שְׂאֵת אֹו־סַפַּחַת אֹו בַהֶרֶת וְהָיָה בְעֹור־בְּשָׂרֹו לְנֶגַע צָרָעַת וְהוּבָא 13:2
אֶל־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן אֹו אֶל־אַחַד מִבָּנָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים
Levi. 13:2 “When there shall be a person, a swelling or a scab or a white patch in the skin of his flesh, and it should become a plague of malignancy in the skin of his flesh, then he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest, or to one of his descendants, the priests.”
The next to last word on the top line, צָרָעַת, is almost universally translated as leprosy. However, while this mistranslation has become popular, the term is thought by many modern and ancient scholars, including those of the Talmud, to mean any malignant condition of the skin, of a garment, or of a habitation.
As a side note, It should become apparent to you as you continue reading that the priests were the doctors, confession takers, and judges of early Israel.
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנֶּגַע בְּעֹור־הַבָּשָׂר וְשֵׂעָר בַּנֶּגַע הָפַךְ לָבָן וּמַרְאֵה הַנֶּגַע עָמֹק מֵעֹור בְּשָׂרֹו נֶגַע 13:3
צָרַעַת הוּא וְרָאָהוּ הַכֹּהֵן וְטִמֵּא אֹתֹו
Levi. 13:3 “And the priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the flesh; when the hair in the plague has turned white and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of malignancy, and the priest shall inspect him and pronounce him unclean.”
וְאִם־בַּהֶרֶת לְבָנָה הִוא בְּעֹור בְּשָׂרֹו וְעָמֹק אֵין־מַרְאֶהָ מִן־הָעֹור וּשְׂעָרָה לֹא־הָפַךְ לָבָן וְהִסְגִּיר 13:4
הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנֶּגַע שִׁבְעַת יָמִים
Levi. 13:4 “And the white patch, if it is in the skin of his flesh and the appearance is not deeper than the skin, and its hair of has not turned white, then the priest shall isolate the plague victim seven days.”
וְרָאָהוּ הַכֹּהֵן בַּיֹּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי וְהִנֵּה הַנֶּגַע עָמַד בְּעֵינָיו לֹא־פָשָׂה הַנֶּגַע בָּעֹור וְהִסְגִּירֹו הַכֹּהֵן שִׁבְעַת 13:5
יָמִים שֵׁנִית
Levi. 13:5 “And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day and see if the plague maintained its sight, the plague did not spread in the skin; then the priest shall isolate him a another seven days.”
It seems that the priests were the doctors in ancient Israel.
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אֹתֹו בַּיֹּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי שֵׁנִית וְהִנֵּה כֵּהָה הַנֶּגַע וְלֹא־פָשָׂה הַנֶּגַע בָּעֹור וְטִהֲרֹו הַכֹּהֵן 13:6
מִסְפַּחַת הִיא וְכִבֶּס בְּגָדָיו וְטָהֵר
Levi. 13:6 “And the priest shall examine him on the second seventh day and see if the plague has dimmed and the plague has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is a scab, and he shall wash his clothes and be clean.”
וְאִם־פָּשֹׂה תִפְשֶׂה הַמִּסְפַּחַת בָּעֹור אַחֲרֵי הֵרָאֹתֹו אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן לְטָהֳרָתֹו וְנִרְאָה שֵׁנִית אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן 13:7
Levi. 13:7 “But if the scab has spread larger in the skin after his presentation to the priest for his cleansing, then he shall appear again to the priest.”
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה פָּשְׂתָה הַמִּסְפַּחַת בָּעֹור וְטִמְּאֹו הַכֹּהֵן צָרַעַת הִוא 13:8
Levi. 13:8 “And the priest shall look and see if the scab has spread in the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a malignancy.”
נֶגַע צָרַעַת כִּי תִהְיֶה בְּאָדָם וְהוּבָא אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן 13:9
Levi. 13:9 “The plague of malignancy, when it will be in a person, then he shall be brought to the priest.
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה שְׂאֵת־לְבָנָה בָּעֹור וְהִיא הָפְכָה שֵׂעָר לָבָן וּמִחְיַת בָּשָׂר חַי בַּשְׂאֵת 13:10
Levi. 13:10 “And the priest shall look and behold, if a swelling of white is in the skin and it has turned the hair white and there is a revival of raw flesh in the swelling,
צָרַעַת נֹושֶׁנֶת הִוא בְּעֹור בְּשָׂרֹו וְטִמְּאֹו הַכֹּהֵן לֹא יַסְגִּרֶנּוּ כִּי טָמֵא הוּא 13:11
Levi. 13:11 it is a festering malignancy in the skin in his flesh and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; he need not isolate him, for he is unclean.”
וְאִם־פָּרֹוחַ תִּפְרַח הַצָּרַעַת בָּעֹור וְכִסְּתָה הַצָּרַעַת אֵת כָּל־עֹור הַנֶּגַע מֵרֹאשֹׁו וְעַד־רַגְלָיו לְכָל־ 13:12
מַרְאֵה עֵינֵי הַכֹּהֵן
Levi. 13:12 “And if the malignancy will have spread abroad in the skin and the malignancy will have covered all the skin of the plague victim from his head and to his feet to all appearances in the sight of the priest,
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה כִסְּתָה הַצָּרַעַת אֶת־כָּל־בְּשָׂרֹו וְטִהַר אֶת־הַנָּגַע כֻּלֹּו הָפַךְ לָבָן טָהֹור הוּא 13:13
Levi. 13:13 then the priest shall look and see if the malignancy has covered all his flesh, then he shall pronounce the plague victim clean; it is all turned white; he is clean.”
וּבְיֹום הֵרָאֹות בֹּו בָּשָׂר חַי יִטְמָא 13:14
Levi. 13:14 “But at the time raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean.”
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַבָּשָׂר הַחַי וְטִמְּאֹו הַבָּשָׂר הַחַי טָמֵא הוּא צָרַעַת הוּא 13:15
Levi. 13:15 “And the priest shall observe the raw flesh and declare him unclean. The raw flesh, it is unclean; it is a malignancy.”
אֹו כִי יָשׁוּב הַבָּשָׂר הַחַי וְנֶהְפַּךְ לְלָבָן וּבָא אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן 13:16
Levi. 13:16 “Or when the raw flesh returns and turns to white, then he shall come to the priest,
וְרָאָהוּ הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה נֶהְפַּךְ הַנֶּגַע לְלָבָן וְטִהַר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנֶּגַע טָהֹור הוּא 13:17
Levi. 13:17 and the priest shall look at him and see if the plague has turned to white, then shall the priest pronounce the plague victim clean; he is clean.”
וּבָשָׂר כִּי־יִהְיֶה בֹו־בְעֹרֹו שְׁחִין וְנִרְפָּא 13:18
Levi. 13:18 “And the flesh, when there is a boil in it, in its skin, and it heals,
וְהָיָה בִּמְקֹום הַשְּׁחִין שְׂאֵת לְבָנָה אֹו בַהֶרֶת לְבָנָה אֲדַמְדָּמֶת וְנִרְאָה אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן 13:19
Levi. 13:19 and there is in place of the boil a white swelling or a reddish white bright spot, then it shall be shown to the priest.”
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה מַרְאֶהָ שָׁפָל מִן־הָעֹור וּשְׂעָרָהּ הָפַךְ לָבָן וְטִמְּאֹו הַכֹּהֵן נֶגַע־צָרַעַת הִוא 13:20
בַּשְּׁחִין פָּרָחָה
Levi. 13:20 “And the priest shall look and see if the appearance is lower than the skin and its hair has turned white; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague of malignancy; it has broken out in the boil.”
וְאִם יִרְאֶנָּה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה אֵין־בָּהּ שֵׂעָר לָבָן וּשְׁפָלָה אֵינֶנָּה מִן־הָעֹור וְהִיא כֵהָה וְהִסְגִּירֹו הַכֹּהֵן 13:21
שִׁבְעַת יָמִים
Levi. 13:21 “And if the priest will examine it and see there is no white hair in it and it is not lower than the skin but is dim, then the priest shall isolate him seven days.”
וְאִם־פָּשֹׂה תִפְשֶׂה בָּעֹור וְטִמֵּא הַכֹּהֵן אֹתֹו נֶגַע הִוא 13:22
Levi. 13:22 “And if it spreads abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a plague.”
וְאִם־תַּחְתֶּיהָ תַּעֲמֹד הַבַּהֶרֶת לֹא פָשָׂתָה צָרֶבֶת הַשְּׁחִין הִוא וְטִהֲרֹו הַכֹּהֵן 13:23
Levi. 13:23 “But if the bright spot stays low, it does not spread, it is the scar of the boil; then the priest shall pronounce him clean.”
אֹו בָשָׂר כִּי־יִהְיֶה בְעֹרֹו מִכְוַת־אֵשׁ וְהָיְתָה מִחְיַת הַמִּכְוָה בַּהֶרֶת לְבָנָה אֲדַמְדֶּמֶת אֹו לְבָנָה 13:24
Levi. 13:24 “Or the flesh, when there is a fiery burning in its skin and the revival of the burning becomes a bright spot, reddish white or white,
וְרָאָה אֹתָהּ הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה נֶהְפַּךְ שֵׂעָר לָבָן בַּבַּהֶרֶת וּמַרְאֶהָ עָמֹק מִן־הָעֹור צָרַעַת הִוא בַּמִּכְוָה 13:25
פָּרָחָה וְטִמֵּא אֹתֹו הַכֹּהֵן נֶגַע צָרַעַת הִוא
Levi. 13:25 then the priest shall observe it and see if the hair is turned white in the bright spot and its appearance is deeper than the skin; it is a malignancy. It has broken out in the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a plague of malignancy.”
וְאִם יִרְאֶנָּה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה אֵין־בַּבֶּהֶרֶת שֵׂעָר לָבָן וּשְׁפָלָה אֵינֶנָּה מִן־הָעֹור וְהִוא כֵהָה וְהִסְגִּירֹו 13;26
הַכֹּהֵן שִׁבְעַת יָמִים
Levi. 13:26 “But if the priest will observe it and see if there is no white hair in the bright spot and it is not lower than the skin but it is dim, then the priest shall isolate him seven days.”
וְרָאָהוּ הַכֹּהֵן בַּיֹּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי אִם־פָּשֹׂה תִפְשֶׂה בָּעֹור וְטִמֵּא הַכֹּהֵן אֹתֹו נֶגַע צָרַעַת הִוא 13:27
Levi. 13:27 “And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a plague of malignancy.”
וְאִם־תַּחְתֶּיהָ תַעֲמֹד הַבַּהֶרֶת לֹא־פָשְׂתָה בָעֹור וְהִוא כֵהָה שְׂאֵת הַמִּכְוָה הִוא וְטִהֲרֹו הַכֹּהֵן כִּי־ 13:28
צָרֶבֶת הַמִּכְוָה הִוא
Levi. 13:28 “And if the bright spot stays low, it has not spread in the skin, but it is dim, it is a swelling of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar of the burning.”
וְאִישׁ אֹו אִשָּׁה כִּי־יִהְיֶה בֹו נָגַע בְּרֹאשׁ אֹו בְזָקָן 13:29
Levi. 13:29 “And a man or a woman, when there will be a plague in him on the head or on the beard,
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנֶּגַע וְהִנֵּה מַרְאֵהוּ עָמֹק מִן־הָעֹור וּבֹו שֵׂעָר צָהֹב דָּק וְטִמֵּא אֹתֹו הַכֹּהֵן נֶתֶק 13:30
הוּא צָרַעַת הָרֹאשׁ אֹו הַזָּקָן הוּא
Levi. 13:30 then the priest shall observe the plague and see if its appearance is deeper than the skin and thin yellow hair is in it, then the priest shall declare him unclean. It is a scall; it is malignancy of the head or the beard.” [Return to Levi. 19:27]
A scall is a scaly eruption of the skin or scalp.
וְכִי־יִרְאֶה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־נֶגַע הַנֶּתֶק וְהִנֵּה אֵין־מַרְאֵהוּ עָמֹק מִן־הָעֹור וְשֵׂעָר שָׁחֹר אֵין בֹּו 13:31
וְהִסְגִּיר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־נֶגַע הַנֶּתֶק שִׁבְעַת יָמִים
Levi. 13:31 “But if the priest observes the plague of the scall and sees its appearance is not deeper than the skin and no black hair is in it, then the priest shall isolate the plague victim of the scall seven days.”
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנֶּגַע בַּיֹּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי וְהִנֵּה לֹא־פָשָׂה הַנֶּתֶק וְלֹא־הָיָה בֹו שֵׂעָר צָהֹב וּמַרְאֵה 13:32
הַנֶּתֶק אֵין עָמֹק מִן־הָעֹור
Levi. 13:32 “And the priest shall observe the plague on the seventh day and see if the scall has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it and the appearance of the scall is not deeper than the skin,
וְהִתְגַּלָּח וְאֶת־הַנֶּתֶק לֹא יְגַלֵּחַ וְהִסְגִּיר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנֶּתֶק שִׁבְעַת יָמִים שֵׁנִית 13:33
Levi. 13:33 then he shall be shaven, but he shall not shave the scall, and the priest shall isolate the scall victim another seven days.”
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנֶּתֶק בַּיֹּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי וְהִנֵּה לֹא־פָשָׂה הַנֶּתֶק בָּעֹור וּמַרְאֵהוּ אֵינֶנּוּ עָמֹק מִן־הָעֹור 13:34
וְטִהַר אֹתֹו הַכֹּהֵן וְכִבֶּס בְּגָדָיו וְטָהֵר
Levi. 13:34 “And the priest shall observe the scall on the seventh day and see if the scall is not spread in the skin and its appearance is not deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean, and he shall wash his clothes and be clean.”
וְאִם־פָּשֹׂה יִפְשֶׂה הַנֶּתֶק בָּעֹור אַחֲרֵי טָהֳרָתֹו 13:35
Levi. 13:35 “But if the scall is spread abroad in the skin after his cleansing,
וְרָאָהוּ הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה פָּשָׂה הַנֶּתֶק בָּעֹור לֹא־יְבַקֵּר הַכֹּהֵן לַשֵּׂעָר הַצָּהֹב טָמֵא הוּא 13:36
Levi. 13:36 then the priest shall observe him and see if the scall is spread in the skin; the priest need not search for the yellow hair; he is unclean.”
וְאִם־בְּעֵינָיו עָמַד הַנֶּתֶק וְשֵׂעָר שָׁחֹר צָמַח־בֹּו נִרְפָּא הַנֶּתֶק טָהֹור הוּא וְטִהֲרֹו הַכֹּהֵן 13:37
Levi. 13:37 “But if the scall remained in its appearance and black hair is growing in it, the scall is healed; he is clean and the priest shall pronounce him clean.”
וְאִישׁ אֹו־אִשָּׁה כִּי־יִהְיֶה בְעֹור־בְּשָׂרָם בֶּהָרֹת בֶּהָרֹת לְבָנֹת 13:38
Levi. 13:38 “Whether a man or a woman, when there will be bright patches in the skin of their flesh, bright white patches,
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה בְעֹור־בְּשָׂרָם בֶּהָרֹת כֵּהֹות לְבָנֹת בֹּהַק הוּא פָּרַח בָּעֹור טָהֹור הוּא 13:39
Levi. 13:39 then the priest shall look and see if in the skin of their flesh the bright patches are dull white, it is a freckled spot; it has broken out in the skin. He is clean.”
וְאִישׁ כִּי יִמָּרֵט רֹאשֹׁו קֵרֵחַ הוּא טָהֹור הוּא 13:40
Levi. 13:40 “And if a man, his head might become bare, he is bald; he is clean.”
וְאִם מִפְּאַת פָּנָיו יִמָּרֵט רֹאשֹׁו גִּבֵּחַ הוּא טָהֹור הוּא 13:41
Levi. 13:41 “And if his head should become bare from the edge of his face, it is forehead baldness; he is clean.” [Return to Levi. 19:27]
וְכִי־יִהְיֶה בַקָּרַחַת אֹו בַגַּבַּחַת נֶגַע לָבָן אֲדַמְדָּם צָרַעַת פֹּרַחַת הִוא בְּקָרַחְתֹּו אֹו בְגַבַּחְתֹּו 13:42
Levi. 13:42 “But if there should be a reddish white plague on the bald head or on the bald forehead, it is a malignancy breaking out on his bald head or on his bald forehead.”
וְרָאָה אֹתֹו הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה שְׂאֵת־הַנֶּגַע לְבָנָה אֲדַמְדֶּמֶת בְּקָרַחְתֹּו אֹו בְגַבַּחְתֹּו כְּמַרְאֵה צָרַעַת עֹור 13:43
בָּשָׂר
Levi. 13:43 “Then the priest shall examine him and see if the swelling of the plague is reddish white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of malignancy of the skin of the flesh,
אִישׁ־צָרוּעַ הוּא טָמֵא הוּא טַמֵּא יְטַמְּאֶנּוּ הַכֹּהֵן בְּרֹאשֹׁו נִגְעֹו 13:44
Levi. 13:44 he is a malignant man; he is unclean. The priest surely shall pronounce him unclean. His plague is on his head.”
וְהַצָּרוּעַ אֲשֶׁר־בֹּו הַנֶּגַע בְּגָדָיו יִהְיוּ פְרֻמִים וְרֹאשֹׁו יִהְיֶה פָרוּעַ וְעַל־שָׂפָם יַעְטֶה וְטָמֵא טָמֵא 13:45
יִקְרָא
Levi. 13:45 “And the malignant person in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent and his head shall be uncovered and he shall place a cover over the beard, and he shall cry ‘Unclean, unclean!’”
כָּל־יְמֵי אֲשֶׁר הַנֶּגַע בֹּו יִטְמָא טָמֵא הוּא בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה מֹושָׁבֹו 13:46
Levi. 13:46 “All the days that the plague is in him he shall be unclean. He is unclean, dwelling alone. His dwelling place shall be on the outskirts of the camp.”
וְהַבֶּגֶד כִּי־יִהְיֶה בֹו נֶּגַע צָרַעַת בַּבֶּגֶד צֶּמֶר אֹו בַּבֶּגֶד פִּשְׁתִּים 13:47
Levi. 13:47 “And the garment, when the plague of malignancy would be in it, in a woolen garment or in a linen garment,
אֹו בִשְׁתִי אֹו בְעֵרֶב לַפִּשְׁתִּים וְלַצָּמֶר אֹו בְעֹור אֹו בְּכָל־מְלֶאכֶת עֹור 13:48
Levi. 13:48 or in the warp or in the woof, of linen or of wool, or in a skin, or in anything made of skin,
וְהָיָה הַנֶּגַע יְרַקְרַק אֹו אֲדַמְדָּם בַּבֶּגֶד אֹו בָעֹור אֹו־בַשְּׁתִי אֹו־בָעֵרֶב אֹו בְכָל־כְּלִי־עֹור נֶגַע צָרַעַת 13:49
הוּא וְהָרְאָה אֶת־הַכֹּהֵן
Levi. 13:49 and the plague would be greenish or reddish in the garment or in the skin, or in the warp or the woof, or in anything made of skin, it is a plague of malignancy, and shall be shown to the priest.”
Strange that the terms warp and woof are used here in these verses. The warp in a garment or cloth is the collection of lengthwise threads, through which the crosswise threads of the woof are interwoven. How could an infectious patch be present in either without its being in the other as well? Although the direct significance of this expression of detail escapes me, perhaps the emphasis placed on this point is to make certain that the garment will be examined in great detail.
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַנָּגַע וְהִסְגִּיר אֶת־הַנֶּגַע שִׁבְעַת יָמִים 13:50
Levi. 13:50 “And the priest shall observe the plague and shall isolate the plagued garment seven days.”
וְרָאָה אֶת־הַנֶּגַע בַּיֹּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי כִּי־פָשָׂה הַנֶּגַע בַּבֶּגֶד אֹו־בַשְּׁתִי אֹו־בָעֵרֶב אֹו בָעֹור לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־ 13:51
יֵעָשֶׂה הָעֹור לִמְלָאכָה צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת הַנֶּגַע טָמֵא הוּא
Levi. 13:51 “And he shall observe the plague on the seventh day. If the plague is spread in the garment or in the warp or in the woof or in the skin, for whatever the skin would be made to be used, the plague is a penetrating malignancy; it is unclean.”
I don’t see how a plague can be in the warp or in the woof? How can it not be in both? The only way I can understand this verse and the next several is if the plague is in the yarn before the fabric or skin is woven.
וְשָׂרַף אֶת־ הַבֶּגֶד אֹו אֶת־הַשְּׁתִי אֹו אֶת־הָעֵרֶב בַּצֶּמֶר אֹו בַפִּשְׁתִּים אֹו אֶת־כָּל־כְּלִי הָעֹור אֲשֶׁר־ 13:52
יִהְיֶה בֹו הַנָּגַע כִּי־צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת הִוא בָּאֵשׁ תִּשָּׂרֵף
Levi. 13:52 “Then he shall burn the garment or the warp or the woof, whether wool or linen, or any article of skin in which there would be the plague, for it is a penetrating malignancy; it shall be burned in a fire.”
וְאִם יִרְאֶה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה לֹא־פָשָׂה הַנֶּגַע בַּבֶּגֶד אֹו בַשְּׁתִי אֹו בָעֵרֶב אֹו בְּכָל־כְּלִי־עֹור 13:53
Levi. 13:53 “And if the priest shall observe and see if the plague is not spread in the garment or in the warp or in the woof or in any article of skin,
וְצִוָּה הַכֹּהֵן וְכִבְּסוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר־בֹּו הַנָּגַע וְהִסְגִּירֹו שִׁבְעַת־יָמִים שֵׁנִית 13:54
Levi. 13:54 then the priest shall command that they shall wash that in which the plague is, and he shall isolate it another seven days.”
וְרָאָה הַכֹּהֵן אַחֲרֵי הֻכַּבֵּס אֶת־הַנֶּגַע וְהִנֵּה לֹא־הָפַךְ הַנֶּגַע אֶת־עֵינֹו וְהַנֶּגַע לֹא־פָשָׂה טָמֵא הוּא 13:55
בָּאֵשׁ תִּשְׂרְפֶנּוּ פְּחֶתֶת הִוא בְּקָרַחְתֹּו אֹו בְגַבַּחְתֹּו
Levi. 13:55 “And after washing the plagued article, the priest shall observe and see if the plague has not changed its appearance and the plague has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in a fire; it is a malignant decay on its outside or on its inside.”
וְאִם רָאָה הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנֵּה כֵּהָה הַנֶּגַע אַחֲרֵי הֻכַּבֵּס אֹתֹו וְקָרַע אֹתֹו מִן־הַבֶּגֶד אֹו מִן־הָעֹור אֹו מִן־ 13:56
הַשְּׁתִי אֹו מִן־הָעֵרֶב
Levi. 13:56 “And if the priest looks and sees if the plague is dim after washing, then he shall tear it from the garment or from the skin or from the warp or from the woof.”
וְאִם־תֵּרָאֶה עֹוד בַּבֶּגֶד אֹו־בַשְּׁתִי אֹו־בָעֵרֶב אֹו בְכָל־כְּלִי־עֹור פֹּרַחַת הִוא בָּאֵשׁ תִּשְׂרְפֶנּוּ אֵת 13:57
אֲשֶׁר בֹּו הַנָּגַע
Levi. 13:57 “And if it should still appear in the garment or in the warp or in the woof or in any article of skin, it is breaking out; you shall burn in a fire that in which the plague is.”
וְהַבֶּגֶד אֹו־הַשְּׁתִי אֹו־הָעֵרֶב אֹו־כָל־כְּלִי הָעֹור אֲשֶׁר תְּכַבֵּס וְסָר מֵהֶם הַנָּגַע וְכֻבַּס שֵׁנִית וְטָהֵר 13:58
Levi. 13:58 “And the garment or the warp or the woof or any article of skin that you should wash, if the plague will be gone from them, then it shall be washed again and it shall be clean.”
זֹאת תֹּורַת נֶגַע־צָרַעַת בֶּגֶד הַצֶּמֶר אֹו הַפִּשְׁתִּים אֹו הַשְּׁתִי אֹו הָעֵרֶב אֹו כָּל־כְּלִי־עֹור לְטַהֲרֹו אֹו 13:59
לְטַמְּאֹו
Levi. 13:59 This is the law of a plague of malignancy, of a garment of wool or of linen, or of the warp or of the woof, or any article of skin, to pronounce it clean or to pronounce it unclean.
Two observations about this chapter: First, just about two whole chapters, this one and the next, are devoted to the diagnosis of malignancies of the skin, of garments, and of habitations, how they are to be cleansed, and their consequences. These diseases must have inspired much fear and horror in ancient peoples, as they still do in some developing regions of the earth. That the Lord acknowledges this and identifies these diseases, not as punishment for sin but as illnesses, and provides advice on how to deal with them, obviously implying that they can be contagious, is an indication of God’s compassion and understanding of human weaknesses. Second, as we have already been told, and will be told again in Deuteronomy, if we cleave to the Lord and obey His commandments, we will not have to deal with such plagues. By paying so much attention to this type of disease, the Lord is telling us He knows that we will not soon experience the joy of most of His happy prophecies. So be it!
Torah Commandments in this Chapter
172. The priests shall observe the rules of diagnosis and treatment of
malignancies of the skin, of garments, and of habitations. Chapters 13, 14, various verses
173. A person with a malignancy shall have his clothes rent, uncover his
head, cover his beard, and cry out, "Unclean, unclean!" V. 13:45
[Return to Leviticus Chapters] [Prev: Levi. 12] [Next: Levi. 14]
