Leviticus 13:29-59
Examining the Garment
29If a man or woman has an infection on the head or chin,
30the priest shall examine the infection, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is a scaly outbreak, an infectious disease of the head or chin.
31But if the priest examines the scaly infection and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days.
32On the seventh day the priest is to reexamine the infection, and if the scaly outbreak has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it, and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin,
33then the person must shave himself except for the scaly area. Then the priest shall isolate him for another seven days.
34On the seventh day the priest shall examine the scaly outbreak, and if it has not spread on the skin and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, the priest is to pronounce him clean. He must wash his clothes, and he will be clean.
35If, however, the scaly outbreak spreads further on the skin after his cleansing,
36the priest is to examine him, and if the scaly outbreak has spread on the skin, the priest need not look for yellow hair; the person is unclean.
37If, however, in his sight the scaly outbreak is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed. He is clean, and the priest is to pronounce him clean.
38When a man or a woman has white spots on the skin,
39the priest shall examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; the person is clean.
40Now if a man loses his hair and is bald, he is still clean.
41Or if his hairline recedes and he is bald on his forehead, he is still clean.
42But if there is a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on it.
43The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,
44the man is diseased; he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean because of the infection on his head.
45A diseased person must wear torn clothes and let his hair hang loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
46As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.
47If any fabric is contaminated with mildew—any wool or linen garment,
48any weave or knit of linen or wool, or any article of leather—
49and if the mark in the fabric, leather, weave, knit, or leather article is green or red, then it is contaminated with mildew and must be shown to the priest.
50And the priest is to examine the mildew and isolate the contaminated fabric for seven days.
51On the seventh day the priest shall reexamine it, and if the mildew has spread in the fabric, weave, knit, or leather, then regardless of how it is used, it is a harmful mildew; the article is unclean.
52He is to burn the fabric, weave, or knit, whether the contaminated item is wool or linen or leather. Since the mildew is harmful, the article must be burned up.
53But when the priest reexamines it, if the mildew has not spread in the fabric, weave, knit, or leather article,
54the priest is to order the contaminated article to be washed and isolated for another seven days.
55After it has been washed, the priest is to reexamine it, and if the mildewed article has not changed in appearance, it is unclean. Even though the mildew has not spread, you must burn it, whether the rot is on the front or back.
56If the priest examines it and the mildew has faded after it has been washed, he must cut the contaminated section out of the fabric, leather, weave, or knit.
57But if it reappears in the fabric, weave, or knit, or on any leather article, it is spreading. You must burn the contaminated article.
58If the mildew disappears from the fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article after washing, then it is to be washed again, and it will be clean.
59This is the law concerning a mildew contamination in wool or linen fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article, for pronouncing it clean or unclean.”
Berean Standard Bible
The priest examines a sore on the head or beard, looking at the mark, the hair, and whether it appears deeper than the skin. The person may be isolated for seven days, then examined again. As in the earlier cases, a careful process stands between an uncertain appearance and a final declaration.
The law then turns to baldness, burns, and spots on the skin. A burn that becomes inflamed or a bright spot that spreads can be declared unclean, while stable or healing marks may be declared clean. The priest must look at what the condition is doing, not only what it looked like at first.
The final part addresses mildew or a spreading mark in wool, linen, leather, or anything made from leather. The item is shown to the priest and isolated for seven days. It may be washed, torn out, or burned if the mark spreads; if it does not spread, it is washed and isolated again.
The chapter ends by giving the law for declaring a garment clean or unclean. These procedures create a common language for the community. They do not make the priest a magical healer; they assign a careful responsibility for recognizing conditions that affect ritual life.
How We Know
The word often translated “leprosy” is used here for marks on skin, clothing, and buildings, so it cannot mean only one modern disease. The chapter describes ritual inspection and containment within ancient Israel's worship system. It should not be used to diagnose a modern illness or to attach blame to someone who is sick.
Questions
1 How long could a person be isolated?
AnswerA person with an uncertain mark could be isolated for seven days and examined again.
2 What happened if a mark on clothing spread?
AnswerIf the mark spread, the affected item was unclean and could be burned.
3 What could happen to a stable garment?
AnswerA garment whose mark had not spread could be washed and isolated for another period.
4 Who declared the item clean or unclean?
AnswerThe priest examined the item and declared its ritual status for the community.
What This Means for Us
Leviticus takes contagious-looking conditions seriously while requiring examination, waiting, and re-examination. It does not authorize snap judgments based on fear or appearance.
Build wise procedures around uncertainty, especially when other people's health or belonging is involved. Caution and compassion should work together.
Prayer
Lord, make our judgment careful and our compassion steady. Help us protect others without scapegoating the vulnerable, and give us patience when a clear answer requires time. Amen.