Leviticus 13:58 - The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean.”
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What does "Leviticus 13:58" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 13:58 describes a purification ritual for garments or leather goods suspected of being contaminated with a plague (likely a fungal or bacterial infection exhibiting similar symptoms to leprosy). Let's break it down:
"The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is..." This specifies what is being discussed: items made of woven fabric (warp and woof refer to the threads running lengthwise and widthwise in woven material) or items made of leather ("thing of skin").
"...which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them..." This means that after a garment or leather good has been isolated and inspected for signs of a plague (as described in earlier verses), if the priest determines that the signs of the infection have faded or disappeared, it should be washed. The "departed" refers to the apparent remission of the disease.
"...then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean." Even if the plague seems to have gone away, the item is not considered clean after just one washing. It must be washed a second time. This second washing is the final step in the ritual cleansing process, after which the item is declared ritually clean and safe to use again.
In essence, the verse outlines a two-step washing process for potentially infected garments and leather goods. If, after initial quarantine and inspection, the suspected infection appears to have subsided, the item must be washed twice to ensure it is completely free of contamination and ritually clean.
Significance:
Public Health: These meticulous instructions were important for public health in a time before modern medicine. They were a way to isolate and manage potentially contagious conditions.
Ritual Purity: Beyond simply preventing disease, these rituals were also about maintaining ritual purity within the community. Contact with disease made a person or object "unclean," requiring specific steps for purification.
Emphasis on Thoroughness: The requirement of a second washing underscores the importance of thoroughness in dealing with potential contagions. It was better to be overly cautious than to risk the spread of disease.
Understanding this verse requires understanding the broader context of Leviticus 13, which details various skin diseases and infections and the procedures for identifying, isolating, and purifying those affected. It's not necessarily about cleanliness in the modern sense, but about ritual purity and public health practices of the time.
Leviticus 13:58 - The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean.”
What does "Leviticus 13:58" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 13:58 describes a purification ritual for garments or leather goods suspected of being contaminated with a plague (likely a fungal or bacterial infection exhibiting similar symptoms to leprosy). Let's break it down:
"The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is..." This specifies what is being discussed: items made of woven fabric (warp and woof refer to the threads running lengthwise and widthwise in woven material) or items made of leather ("thing of skin").
"...which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them..." This means that after a garment or leather good has been isolated and inspected for signs of a plague (as described in earlier verses), if the priest determines that the signs of the infection have faded or disappeared, it should be washed. The "departed" refers to the apparent remission of the disease.
"...then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean." Even if the plague seems to have gone away, the item is not considered clean after just one washing. It must be washed a second time. This second washing is the final step in the ritual cleansing process, after which the item is declared ritually clean and safe to use again.
In essence, the verse outlines a two-step washing process for potentially infected garments and leather goods. If, after initial quarantine and inspection, the suspected infection appears to have subsided, the item must be washed twice to ensure it is completely free of contamination and ritually clean.
Significance:
Public Health: These meticulous instructions were important for public health in a time before modern medicine. They were a way to isolate and manage potentially contagious conditions.
Ritual Purity: Beyond simply preventing disease, these rituals were also about maintaining ritual purity within the community. Contact with disease made a person or object "unclean," requiring specific steps for purification.
Emphasis on Thoroughness: The requirement of a second washing underscores the importance of thoroughness in dealing with potential contagions. It was better to be overly cautious than to risk the spread of disease.
Understanding this verse requires understanding the broader context of Leviticus 13, which details various skin diseases and infections and the procedures for identifying, isolating, and purifying those affected. It's not necessarily about cleanliness in the modern sense, but about ritual purity and public health practices of the time.