Leviticus 13:6 - The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day; and behold, if the plague has faded, and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Leviticus 13:6" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 13:6 describes part of the ancient Israelite procedures for dealing with skin diseases that were considered potentially contagious. Let's break it down:
"The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day..." The priest was the designated authority for diagnosing and dealing with these skin conditions. After the initial examination, the person was quarantined for seven days to observe the progression of the condition. This second examination was crucial.
"...and behold, if the plague has faded, and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin..." This is the key observation. The priest is looking to see if the skin condition has improved (faded) and hasn't gotten worse (spread). If the condition remains unchanged or worsens, the person would remain under suspicion for a more serious and contagious illness.
"...then the priest shall pronounce him clean." If the condition has faded or remained localized, the priest could declare the person ritually clean. This meant they were no longer considered contagious and could re-enter the community without restriction.
"It is a scab." This indicates the priest has determined the skin problem is a minor one, similar to a simple scab, and not a more serious plague or skin disease like leprosy.
"He shall wash his clothes, and be clean." Even though declared clean, the individual still had to perform a ritual cleansing. Washing the clothes was a symbolic act of purification and reaffirmation of their clean status.
In essence, the verse outlines a procedure for determining if a person with a skin condition is contagious. If the condition doesn't worsen over seven days and appears to be a simple scab, the person is declared clean after a ritual washing.
Why is this important?
Public Health: In a time without advanced medical knowledge, isolating potential contagions was a critical way to protect the community.
Ritual Purity: The concept of cleanliness in Leviticus is often tied to ritual purity. Being declared "clean" allowed a person to participate fully in religious and social life.
Social Order: The procedures provided a framework for dealing with uncertainty and fear surrounding disease, helping to maintain social order.
This verse represents a very early attempt at quarantine and disease control within a religious and social context. It's important to remember that our understanding of disease has advanced significantly since the time Leviticus was written, and the procedures described are not necessarily applicable in modern medicine.
Leviticus 13:6 - The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day; and behold, if the plague has faded, and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
What does "Leviticus 13:6" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 13:6 describes part of the ancient Israelite procedures for dealing with skin diseases that were considered potentially contagious. Let's break it down:
"The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day..." The priest was the designated authority for diagnosing and dealing with these skin conditions. After the initial examination, the person was quarantined for seven days to observe the progression of the condition. This second examination was crucial.
"...and behold, if the plague has faded, and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin..." This is the key observation. The priest is looking to see if the skin condition has improved (faded) and hasn't gotten worse (spread). If the condition remains unchanged or worsens, the person would remain under suspicion for a more serious and contagious illness.
"...then the priest shall pronounce him clean." If the condition has faded or remained localized, the priest could declare the person ritually clean. This meant they were no longer considered contagious and could re-enter the community without restriction.
"It is a scab." This indicates the priest has determined the skin problem is a minor one, similar to a simple scab, and not a more serious plague or skin disease like leprosy.
"He shall wash his clothes, and be clean." Even though declared clean, the individual still had to perform a ritual cleansing. Washing the clothes was a symbolic act of purification and reaffirmation of their clean status.
In essence, the verse outlines a procedure for determining if a person with a skin condition is contagious. If the condition doesn't worsen over seven days and appears to be a simple scab, the person is declared clean after a ritual washing.
Why is this important?
Public Health: In a time without advanced medical knowledge, isolating potential contagions was a critical way to protect the community.
Ritual Purity: The concept of cleanliness in Leviticus is often tied to ritual purity. Being declared "clean" allowed a person to participate fully in religious and social life.
Social Order: The procedures provided a framework for dealing with uncertainty and fear surrounding disease, helping to maintain social order.
This verse represents a very early attempt at quarantine and disease control within a religious and social context. It's important to remember that our understanding of disease has advanced significantly since the time Leviticus was written, and the procedures described are not necessarily applicable in modern medicine.