Leviticus 13:38 - “When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots;

Generated Verse: Leviticus 13:38

What does "Leviticus 13:38" mean?


Leviticus 13 deals with the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases, particularly those that might be infectious, and their potential to make someone ritually unclean.

Verse 38, "When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots," is the beginning of a discussion about certain skin conditions that look like leprosy but are ultimately harmless. It sets up a contrast with the more serious conditions described earlier in the chapter.

Essentially, it means:

"When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body...": This indicates the verse is applicable to both men and women. It also describes a general observation: the presence of spots on the skin.
"...even white bright spots;": This specifies the color of the spots being referred to as "bright" and "white." The color is significant because the earlier descriptions of potentially infectious skin diseases also involve changes in pigmentation.

What follows this verse is crucial for understanding its meaning. The verses that follow explain that if the priest examines these white, bright spots and finds that they are merely dull and not deeply penetrating the skin, the person is clean and not contagious. These spots are likely a benign skin condition and not a sign of leprosy.

In summary, Leviticus 13:38 isn't about a specific disease itself, but rather introduces a scenario where someone has white spots that could be a sign of leprosy, but are likely something harmless. The priest then has to make a determination. It highlights the importance of careful examination to differentiate between serious and harmless skin conditions.

What categories does "Leviticus 13:38" have?