Leviticus 13:39 - then the priest shall examine them; and behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless rash, it has broken out in the skin; he is clean.
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What does "Leviticus 13:39" mean?
Leviticus 13 deals with identifying and diagnosing skin diseases, particularly those that could be contagious, like leprosy (which encompassed a wider range of skin conditions than the modern definition). This verse, Leviticus 13:39, provides instructions for a specific scenario:
"Then the priest shall examine them...": The priest (kohen) had the responsibility of examining people with suspected skin diseases. His role was to determine if the condition was ritually impure, which could lead to social isolation for the person.
"...and behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white...": The priest is looking for discolored spots on the skin that are a "dull white" color.
"...it is a harmless rash, it has broken out in the skin; he is clean.": If the spots are a dull white and appear to be a superficial rash or eruption, the priest would declare the person "clean." This means the person was not ritually impure and did not need to be quarantined.
In essence, this verse distinguishes a harmless rash with dull white spots from more serious, contagious skin conditions. The presence of dull white spots was an indication that the disease was not a form of leprosy. Therefore, the individual was deemed ritually clean and could participate fully in the community.
This is a specific instruction within the broader context of Leviticus 13, which details many other symptoms and scenarios that the priest would consider when diagnosing skin conditions.
Leviticus 13:39 - then the priest shall examine them; and behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless rash, it has broken out in the skin; he is clean.
What does "Leviticus 13:39" mean?
Leviticus 13 deals with identifying and diagnosing skin diseases, particularly those that could be contagious, like leprosy (which encompassed a wider range of skin conditions than the modern definition). This verse, Leviticus 13:39, provides instructions for a specific scenario:
"Then the priest shall examine them...": The priest (kohen) had the responsibility of examining people with suspected skin diseases. His role was to determine if the condition was ritually impure, which could lead to social isolation for the person.
"...and behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white...": The priest is looking for discolored spots on the skin that are a "dull white" color.
"...it is a harmless rash, it has broken out in the skin; he is clean.": If the spots are a dull white and appear to be a superficial rash or eruption, the priest would declare the person "clean." This means the person was not ritually impure and did not need to be quarantined.
In essence, this verse distinguishes a harmless rash with dull white spots from more serious, contagious skin conditions. The presence of dull white spots was an indication that the disease was not a form of leprosy. Therefore, the individual was deemed ritually clean and could participate fully in the community.
This is a specific instruction within the broader context of Leviticus 13, which details many other symptoms and scenarios that the priest would consider when diagnosing skin conditions.