Leviticus 13:3 - and the priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the body: and if the hair in the plague has turned white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body’s skin, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean.
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What does "Leviticus 13:3" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 13:3 describes one of the criteria the priests of ancient Israel used to diagnose leprosy (or what they considered leprosy – it’s important to understand that the definition of leprosy in the Bible isn’t necessarily the same as the modern medical definition of Hansen's disease). Let's break down the meaning:
"and the priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the body": This highlights the priest's role as the designated authority to inspect skin ailments. They were not necessarily medical professionals in the modern sense, but they were responsible for determining ritual purity and impurity based on divine law.
"and if the hair in the plague has turned white": A key indicator suggesting a serious skin condition. A change in hair pigmentation within a lesion was a significant warning sign.
"and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body’s skin": This implies the lesion is not superficial; it penetrates beneath the surface of the skin. This could suggest inflammation, ulceration, or some other form of tissue damage.
"it is the plague of leprosy": If both the white hair and the deep appearance were present, the priest was to classify the condition as "leprosy." Again, it's crucial to remember that the biblical understanding of leprosy likely encompassed a variety of skin diseases, not just Hansen's disease.
"and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean": The priest confirms the diagnosis and declares the person "unclean." This wasn't just a medical diagnosis; it had significant social and religious implications. Being declared unclean meant the individual was ritually impure and had to be separated from the community. This separation was intended to prevent the potential spread of the condition and to maintain the ritual purity of the Israelite camp.
In essence, the verse provides specific visual criteria for identifying a severe and contagious skin condition, requiring a priest to diagnose and impose social isolation for the affected individual to maintain community ritual purity.
Leviticus 13:3 - and the priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the body: and if the hair in the plague has turned white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body’s skin, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean.
What does "Leviticus 13:3" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 13:3 describes one of the criteria the priests of ancient Israel used to diagnose leprosy (or what they considered leprosy – it’s important to understand that the definition of leprosy in the Bible isn’t necessarily the same as the modern medical definition of Hansen's disease). Let's break down the meaning:
"and the priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the body": This highlights the priest's role as the designated authority to inspect skin ailments. They were not necessarily medical professionals in the modern sense, but they were responsible for determining ritual purity and impurity based on divine law.
"and if the hair in the plague has turned white": A key indicator suggesting a serious skin condition. A change in hair pigmentation within a lesion was a significant warning sign.
"and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body’s skin": This implies the lesion is not superficial; it penetrates beneath the surface of the skin. This could suggest inflammation, ulceration, or some other form of tissue damage.
"it is the plague of leprosy": If both the white hair and the deep appearance were present, the priest was to classify the condition as "leprosy." Again, it's crucial to remember that the biblical understanding of leprosy likely encompassed a variety of skin diseases, not just Hansen's disease.
"and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean": The priest confirms the diagnosis and declares the person "unclean." This wasn't just a medical diagnosis; it had significant social and religious implications. Being declared unclean meant the individual was ritually impure and had to be separated from the community. This separation was intended to prevent the potential spread of the condition and to maintain the ritual purity of the Israelite camp.
In essence, the verse provides specific visual criteria for identifying a severe and contagious skin condition, requiring a priest to diagnose and impose social isolation for the affected individual to maintain community ritual purity.