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Leviticus 13:1-59 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses H4872 and Aaron, H175 saying, H559

2 When a man H120 shall have in the skin H5785 of his flesh H1320 a rising, H7613 a scab, H5597 or bright spot, H934 and it be in the skin H5785 of his flesh H1320 like the plague H5061 of leprosy; H6883 then he shall be brought H935 unto Aaron H175 the priest, H3548 or unto one H259 of his sons H1121 the priests: H3548

3 And the priest H3548 shall look H7200 on the plague H5061 in the skin H5785 of the flesh: H1320 and when the hair H8181 in the plague H5061 is turned H2015 white, H3836 and the plague H5061 in sight H4758 be deeper H6013 than the skin H5785 of his flesh, H1320 it is a plague H5061 of leprosy: H6883 and the priest H3548 shall look H7200 on him, and pronounce him unclean. H2930

4 If the bright spot H934 be white H3836 in the skin H5785 of his flesh, H1320 and in sight H4758 be not deeper H6013 than the skin, H5785 and the hair H8181 thereof be not turned H2015 white; H3836 then the priest H3548 shall shut H5462 up him that hath the plague H5061 seven H7651 days: H3117

5 And the priest H3548 shall look H7200 on him the seventh H7637 day: H3117 and, behold, if the plague H5061 in his sight H5869 be at a stay, H5975 and the plague H5061 spread H6581 not in the skin; H5785 then the priest H3548 shall shut H5462 him up seven H7651 days H3117 more: H8145

6 And the priest H3548 shall look H7200 on him again H8145 the seventh H7637 day: H3117 and, behold, if the plague H5061 be somewhat dark, H3544 and the plague H5061 spread H6581 not in the skin, H5785 the priest H3548 shall pronounce him clean: H2891 it is but a scab: H4556 and he shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be clean. H2891

7 But if the scab H4556 spread much H6581 abroad H6581 in the skin, H5785 after H310 that he hath been seen H7200 of the priest H3548 for his cleansing, H2893 he shall be seen H7200 of the priest H3548 again: H8145

8 And if the priest H3548 see H7200 that, behold, the scab H4556 spreadeth H6581 in the skin, H5785 then the priest H3548 shall pronounce him unclean: H2930 it is a leprosy. H6883

9 When the plague H5061 of leprosy H6883 is in a man, H120 then he shall be brought H935 unto the priest; H3548

10 And the priest H3548 shall see H7200 him: and, behold, if the rising H7613 be white H3836 in the skin, H5785 and it have turned H2015 the hair H8181 white, H3836 and there be quick H4241 raw H2416 flesh H1320 in the rising; H7613

11 It is an old H3462 leprosy H6883 in the skin H5785 of his flesh, H1320 and the priest H3548 shall pronounce him unclean, H2930 and shall not shut H5462 him up: for he is unclean. H2931

12 And if a leprosy H6883 break out H6524 abroad H6524 in the skin, H5785 and the leprosy H6883 cover H3680 all the skin H5785 of him that hath the plague H5061 from his head H7218 even to his foot, H7272 wheresoever the priest H3548 looketh; H4758 H5869

13 Then the priest H3548 shall consider: H7200 and, behold, if the leprosy H6883 have covered H3680 all his flesh, H1320 he shall pronounce him clean H2891 that hath the plague: H5061 it is all turned H2015 white: H3836 he is clean. H2889

14 But when H3117 raw H2416 flesh H1320 appeareth H7200 in him, he shall be unclean. H2930

15 And the priest H3548 shall see H7200 the raw H2416 flesh, H1320 and pronounce him to be unclean: H2930 for the raw H2416 flesh H1320 is unclean: H2931 it is a leprosy. H6883

16 Or if the raw H2416 flesh H1320 turn again, H7725 and be changed H2015 unto white, H3836 he shall come H935 unto the priest; H3548

17 And the priest H3548 shall see H7200 him: and, behold, if the plague H5061 be turned H2015 into white; H3836 then the priest H3548 shall pronounce him clean H2891 that hath the plague: H5061 he is clean. H2889

18 The flesh H1320 also, in which, H3588 even in the skin H5785 thereof, was a boil, H7822 and is healed, H7495

19 And in the place H4725 of the boil H7822 there be a white H3836 rising, H7613 or a bright spot, H934 white, H3836 and somewhat reddish, H125 and it be shewed H7200 to the priest; H3548

20 And if, when the priest H3548 seeth H7200 it, behold, it be in sight H4758 lower H8217 than the skin, H5785 and the hair H8181 thereof be turned H2015 white; H3836 the priest H3548 shall pronounce him unclean: H2930 it is a plague H5061 of leprosy H6883 broken H6524 out of the boil. H7822

21 But if the priest H3548 look H7200 on it, and, behold, there be no white H3836 hairs H8181 therein, and if it be not lower H8217 than the skin, H5785 but be somewhat dark; H3544 then the priest H3548 shall shut H5462 him up seven H7651 days: H3117

22 And if it spread much H6581 abroad H6581 in the skin, H5785 then the priest H3548 shall pronounce him unclean: H2930 it is a plague. H5061

23 But if the bright spot H934 stay H5975 in his place, and spread H6581 not, it is a burning H6867 boil; H7822 and the priest H3548 shall pronounce him clean. H2891

24 Or if there be any flesh, H1320 in the skin H5785 whereof there is a hot H784 burning, H4348 and the quick H4241 flesh that burneth H4348 have a white H3836 bright spot, H934 somewhat reddish, H125 or white; H3836

25 Then the priest H3548 shall look H7200 upon it: and, behold, if the hair H8181 in the bright spot H934 be turned H2015 white, H3836 and it be in sight H4758 deeper H6013 than the skin; H5785 it is a leprosy H6883 broken H6524 out of the burning: H4348 wherefore the priest H3548 shall pronounce him unclean: H2930 it is the plague H5061 of leprosy. H6883

26 But if the priest H3548 look H7200 on it, and, behold, there be no white H3836 hair H8181 in the bright spot, H934 and it be no lower H8217 than the other skin, H5785 but be somewhat dark; H3544 then the priest H3548 shall shut H5462 him up seven H7651 days: H3117

27 And the priest H3548 shall look H7200 upon him the seventh H7637 day: H3117 and if it be spread much H6581 abroad H6581 in the skin, H5785 then the priest H3548 shall pronounce him unclean: H2930 it is the plague H5061 of leprosy. H6883

28 And if the bright H934 spot H934 stay H5975 in his place, and spread H6581 not in the skin, H5785 but it be somewhat dark; H3544 it is a rising H7613 of the burning, H4348 and the priest H3548 shall pronounce him clean: H2891 for it is an inflammation H6867 of the burning. H4348

29 If a man H376 or woman H802 have a plague H5061 upon the head H7218 or the beard; H2206

30 Then the priest H3548 shall see H7200 the plague: H5061 and, behold, if it be in sight H4758 deeper H6013 than the skin; H5785 and there be in it a yellow H6669 thin H1851 hair; H8181 then the priest H3548 shall pronounce him unclean: H2930 it is a dry scall, H5424 even a leprosy H6883 upon the head H7218 or beard. H2206

31 And if the priest H3548 look H7200 on the plague H5061 of the scall, H5424 and, behold, it be not in sight H4758 deeper H6013 than the skin, H5785 and that there is no black H7838 hair H8181 in it; then the priest H3548 shall shut H5462 up him that hath the plague H5061 of the scall H5424 seven H7651 days: H3117

32 And in the seventh H7637 day H3117 the priest H3548 shall look H7200 on the plague: H5061 and, behold, if the scall H5424 spread H6581 not, and there be in it no yellow H6669 hair, H8181 and the scall H5424 be not in sight H4758 deeper H6013 than the skin; H5785

33 He shall be shaven, H1548 but the scall H5424 shall he not shave; H1548 and the priest H3548 shall shut H5462 up him that hath the scall H5424 seven H7651 days H3117 more: H8145

34 And in the seventh H7637 day H3117 the priest H3548 shall look H7200 on the scall: H5424 and, behold, if the scall H5424 be not spread H6581 in the skin, H5785 nor be in sight H4758 deeper H6013 than the skin; H5785 then the priest H3548 shall pronounce him clean: H2891 and he shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and be clean. H2891

35 But if the scall H5424 spread H6581 much H6581 in the skin H5785 after H310 his cleansing; H2893

36 Then the priest H3548 shall look H7200 on him: and, behold, if the scall H5424 be spread H6581 in the skin, H5785 the priest H3548 shall not seek H1239 for yellow H6669 hair; H8181 he is unclean. H2931

37 But if the scall H5424 be in his sight H5869 at a stay, H5975 and that there is black H7838 hair H8181 grown H6779 up therein; the scall H5424 is healed, H7495 he is clean: H2889 and the priest H3548 shall pronounce him clean. H2891

38 If a man H376 also or a woman H802 have in the skin H5785 of their flesh H1320 bright spots, H934 even white H3836 bright spots; H934

39 Then the priest H3548 shall look: H7200 and, behold, if the bright spots H934 in the skin H5785 of their flesh H1320 be darkish H3544 white; H3836 it is a freckled spot H933 that groweth H6524 in the skin; H5785 he is clean. H2889

40 And the man H376 H3588 whose hair is fallen H4803 off his head, H7218 he is bald; H7142 yet is he clean. H2889

41 And he that hath his hair fallen H4803 off from the part H6285 of his head H7218 toward his face, H6440 he is forehead bald: H1371 yet is he clean. H2889

42 And if there be in the bald head, H7146 or bald forehead, H1372 a white H3836 reddish H125 sore; H5061 it is a leprosy H6883 sprung H6524 up in his bald head, H7146 or his bald forehead. H1372

43 Then the priest H3548 shall look H7200 upon it: and, behold, if the rising H7613 of the sore H5061 be white H3836 reddish H125 in his bald head, H7146 or in his bald forehead, H1372 as the leprosy H6883 appeareth H4758 in the skin H5785 of the flesh; H1320

44 He is a leprous H6879 man, H376 he is unclean: H2931 the priest H3548 shall pronounce him utterly H2930 unclean; H2930 his plague H5061 is in his head. H7218

45 And the leper H6879 in whom the plague H5061 is, his clothes H899 shall be rent, H6533 and his head H7218 bare, H6544 and he shall put a covering H5844 upon his upper lip, H8222 and shall cry, H7121 Unclean, H2931 unclean. H2931

46 All the days H3117 wherein the plague H5061 shall be in him he shall be defiled; H2930 he is unclean: H2931 he shall dwell H3427 alone; H910 without H2351 the camp H4264 shall his habitation H4186 be.

47 The garment H899 also that the plague H5061 of leprosy H6883 is in, whether it be a woollen H6785 garment, H899 or a linen H6593 garment; H899

48 Whether it be in the warp, H8359 or woof; H6154 of linen, H6593 or of woollen; H6785 whether in a skin, H5785 or in any thing made H4399 of skin; H5785

49 And if the plague H5061 be greenish H3422 or reddish H125 in the garment, H899 or in the skin, H5785 either H176 in the warp, H8359 or in the woof, H6154 or in any thing H3627 of skin; H5785 it is a plague H5061 of leprosy, H6883 and shall be shewed H7200 unto the priest: H3548

50 And the priest H3548 shall look H7200 upon the plague, H5061 and shut H5462 up it that hath the plague H5061 seven H7651 days: H3117

51 And he shall look H7200 on the plague H5061 on the seventh H7637 day: H3117 if the plague H5061 be spread H6581 in the garment, H899 either in the warp, H8359 or in the woof, H6154 or in a skin, H5785 or in any work H4399 that is made H6213 of skin; H5785 the plague H5061 is a fretting H3992 leprosy; H6883 it is unclean. H2931

52 He shall therefore burn H8313 that garment, H899 whether warp H8359 or woof, H6154 in woollen H6785 or in linen, H6593 or any thing H3627 of skin, H5785 wherein the plague H5061 is: for it is a fretting H3992 leprosy; H6883 it shall be burnt H8313 in the fire. H784

53 And if the priest H3548 shall look, H7200 and, behold, the plague H5061 be not spread H6581 in the garment, H899 either H176 in the warp, H8359 or H176 in the woof, H6154 or H176 in any thing H3627 of skin; H5785

54 Then the priest H3548 shall command H6680 that they wash H3526 the thing wherein the plague H5061 is, and he shall shut H5462 it up seven H7651 days H3117 more: H8145

55 And the priest H3548 shall look H7200 on the plague, H5061 after H310 that it is washed: H3526 and, behold, if the plague H5061 have not changed H2015 his colour, H5869 and the plague H5061 be not spread; H6581 it is unclean; H2931 thou shalt burn H8313 it in the fire; H784 it is fret H6356 inward, whether it be bare within H7146 or without. H1372

56 And if the priest H3548 look, H7200 and, behold, the plague H5061 be somewhat dark H3544 after H310 the washing H3526 of it; then he shall rend H7167 it out of the garment, H899 or out of the skin, H5785 or out of the warp, H8359 or out of the woof: H6154

57 And if it appear H7200 still H5750 in the garment, H899 either in the warp, H8359 or in the woof, H6154 or in any thing H3627 of skin; H5785 it is a spreading H6524 plague: thou shalt burn H8313 that wherein the plague H5061 is with fire. H784

58 And the garment, H899 either warp, H8359 or woof, H6154 or whatsoever thing H3627 of skin H5785 it be, which thou shalt wash, H3526 if the plague H5061 be departed H5493 from them, then it shall be washed H3526 the second H8145 time, and shall be clean. H2891

59 This is the law H8451 of the plague H5061 of leprosy H6883 in a garment H899 of woollen H6785 or linen, H6593 either in the warp, H8359 or woof, H6154 or any thing H3627 of skins, H5785 to pronounce it clean, H2891 or to pronounce it unclean. H2930

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Leviticus 13

Commentary on Leviticus 13 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 13

The next ceremonial uncleanness is that of the leprosy, concerning which the law was very large and particular; we have the discovery of it in this chapter, and the cleansing of the leper in the next. Scarcely any one thing in all the levitical law takes up so much room as this.

  • I. Rules are here given by which the priest must judge whether the man had the leprosy or no, according as the symptom was that appeared.
    • 1. If it was a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot (v. 1-17).
    • 2. If it was a bile (v. 18-23).
    • 3. If it was in inflammation (v. 24-28).
    • 4. If it was in the head or beard (v. 29-37).
    • 5. If it was a bright spot (v. 38, 39).
    • 6. If it was in a bald head (v. 40-44).
  • II. Direction is given how the leper must be disposed of (v. 45, 46).
  • III. Concerning the leprosy in garments (v. 47, etc.).

Lev 13:1-17

  • I. Concerning the plague of leprosy we may observe in general,
    • 1. That it was rather an uncleanness than a disease; or, at least, so the law considered it, and therefore employed not the physicians but the priests about it. Christ is said to cleanse lepers, not to cure them. We do not read of any that died of the leprosy, but it rather buried them alive, by rendering them unfit for conversation with any but such as were infected like themselves. Yet there is a tradition that Pharaoh, who sought to kill Moses, was the first that ever was struck with this disease, and that he died of it. It is said to have begun first in Egypt, whence it spread into Syria. It was very well known to Moses, when he put his own hand into his bosom and took it out leprous.
    • 2. That it was a plague inflicted immediately by the hand of God, and came not from natural causes, as other diseases; and therefore must be managed according to a divine law. Miriam's leprosy, and Gehazi's, and king Uzziah's, were all the punishments of particular sins: and, if generally it was so, no marvel there was so much care taken to distinguish it from a common distemper, that none might be looked upon as lying under this extraordinary token of divine displeasure but those that really were so.
    • 3. That it is a plague not now known in the world; what is commonly called the leprosy is of a quite different nature. This seems to have been reserved as a particular scourge for the sinners of those times and places. The Jews retained the idolatrous customs they had learnt in Egypt, and therefore God justly caused this with some others of the diseases of Egypt to follow them. Yet we read of Naaman the Syrian, who was a leper, 2 Ki. 5:1.
    • 4. That there were other breakings-out in the body which did very much resemble the leprosy, but were not it, which might make a man sore and loathsome and yet not ceremonially unclean. Justly are our bodies called vile bodies, which have in them the seeds of so many diseases, by which the lives of so many are made bitter to them.
    • 5. That the judgment of it was referred to the priests. Lepers were looked upon as stigmatized by the justice of God, and therefore it was left to his servants the priests, who might be presumed to know his mark best, to pronounce who were lepers and who were not. All the Jews say, "Any priest, though disabled by a blemish to attend the sanctuary, might be a judge of the leprosy, provided the blemish were not in his eye. And he might' (they say) "take a common person to assist him in the search, but the priest only must pronounce the judgment.'
    • 6. That it was a figure of the moral pollution of men's minds by sin, which is the leprosy of the soul, defiling to the conscience, and from which Christ alone can cleanse us; for herein the power of his grace infinitely transcends that of the legal priesthood, that the priest could only convict the leper (for by the law is the knowledge of sin), but Christ can cure the leper, he can take away sin. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean, which was more than the priests could do, Mt. 8:2. Some think that the leprosy signified, not so much sin in general as a state of sin, by which men are separated from God (their spot not being the spot of God's children), and scandalous sin, for which men are to be shut out from the communion of the faithful. It is a work of great importance, but of great difficulty, to judge of our spiritual state: we have all cause to suspect ourselves, being conscious to ourselves of sores and spots, but whether clean or unclean is the question. A man might have a scab (v. 6) and yet be clean: the best have their infirmities; but, as there were certain marks by which to know that it was a leprosy, so there are characters of such as are in the gall of bitterness, and the work of ministers is to declare the judgment of leprosy and to assist those that suspect themselves in the trial of their spiritual state, remitting or retaining sin. And hence the keys of the kingdom of heaven are said to be given to them, because they are to separate between the precious and the vile, and to judge who are fit as clean to partake of the holy things and who as unclean must be debarred from them.
  • II. Several rules are here laid down by which the judgment of the priest must be governed.
    • 1. If the sore was but skin-deep, it was to be hoped it was not the leprosy, v. 4. But, if it was deeper than the skin, the man must be pronounced unclean, v. 3. The infirmities that consist with grace do not sink deep into the soul, but the mind still serves the law of God, and the inward man delights in it, Rom. 7:22, 25. But if the matter be really worse than it shows, and the inwards be infected, the case is dangerous.
    • 2. If the sore be at a stay, and do not spread, it is no leprosy, v. 5, 6. But if it spread much abroad, and continue to do so after several inspections, the case is bad, v. 7, 8. If men do not grow worse, but a stop be put to the course of their sins and their corruptions be checked, it is to be hoped they will grow better; but if sin get ground, and they become worse every day, they are going downhill.
    • 3. If there was proud raw flesh in the rising, the priest needed not to wait any longer, it was certainly a leprosy, v. 10, 11. Nor is there any surer indication of the badness of a man's spiritual state than the heart's rising in self-conceit, confidence in the flesh, and resistance of the reproofs of the word and strivings of the Spirit.
    • 4. If the eruption, whatever it was, covered all the skin from head to foot, it was no leprosy (v. 12, 13); for it was an evidence that the vitals were sound and strong, and nature hereby helped itself, throwing out what was burdensome and pernicious. There is hope in the small-pox when they come out well: so if men freely confess their sins, and hide them not, there is no danger comparable to theirs that cover their sins. Some gather this from it, that there is more hope of the profane than of hypocrites. The publicans and harlots went into the kingdom of heaven before scribes and Pharisees. In one respect, the sudden breakings-out of passion, though bad enough, are not so dangerous as malice concealed. Others gather this, that, if we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged; if we see and own that there is no health in us, no soundness in our flesh, by reason of sin, we shall find grace in the eyes of the Lord.
    • 5. The priest must take time in making his judgment, and not give it rashly. If the matter looked suspicious, he must shut up the patient seven days, and then seven days more, that his judgment might be according to truth. This teaches all, both ministers and people, not to be hasty in their censures, nor to judge any thing before the time. If some men's sins go before unto judgment, the sins of others follow after, and so men's good works; therefore let nothing be done suddenly, 1 Tim. 5:22, 24, 25.
    • 6. If the person suspected was found to be clean, yet he must wash his clothes (v. 6), because he had been under the suspicion, and there had been in him that which gave ground for the suspicion. Even the prisoner that is acquitted must go down on his knees. We have need to be washed in the blood of Christ from our spots, though they be not leprosy-spots; for who can say, I am pure from sin? though there are those who through grace are innocent from the great transgression.

Lev 13:18-37

The priest is here instructed what judgment to make if there was any appearance of a leprosy, either,

  • 1. In an old ulcer, or bile, that has been healed, v. 18, etc. When old sores, that seemed to be cured, break out again, it is to be feared there is a leprosy in them; such is the danger of those who, having escaped the pollutions of the world, are again entangled therein and overcome. Or,
  • 2. In a burn by accident, for this seems to be meant, v. 24, etc. The burning of strife and contention often proves the occasion of the rising up and breaking out of that corruption which witnesses to men's faces that they are unclean.
  • 3. In a scall-head. And in this commonly the judgment turned upon a very small matter. If the hair in the scall was black, it was a sign of soundness; if yellow, it was an indication of a leprosy, v. 30-37. The other rules in these cases are the same with those mentioned before. In reading of these several sorts of ailments, it will be good for us,
    • 1. To lament the calamitous state of human life, which lies exposed to so many grievances. What troops of diseases are we beset with on every side! and they all entered by sin.
    • 2. To give thanks to God if he has never afflicted us with any of these sores: if the constitution is healthful, and the body lively and easy, we are bound to glorify God with our bodies.

Lev 13:38-46

We have here,

  • I. Provisos that neither a freckled skin nor a bald head should be mistaken for a leprosy, v. 38-41. Every deformity must not forthwith be made a ceremonial defilement. Elisha was jeered for his bald head (2 Ki. 2:23); but it was the children of Bethel, that knew not the judgments of their God, who turned it to his reproach.
  • II. A particular brand set upon the leprosy if at any time it did appear in a bald head: The plague is in his head, he is utterly unclean, v. 44. If the leprosy of sin have seized the head, if the judgment be corrupted, and wicked principles which countenance and support wicked practices, be embraced, it is an utter uncleanness, from which few are ever cleansed. Soundness in the faith keeps the leprosy from the head, and saves conscience from being shipwrecked.
  • III. Directions what must be done with the convicted leper. When the priest, upon mature deliberation, had solemnly pronounced him unclean,
    • 1. He must pronounce himself so, v. 45. He must put himself into the posture of a mourner and cry, Unclean, unclean. The leprosy was not itself a sin, but it was a sad token of God's displeasure and a sore affliction to him that was under it. It was a reproach to his name, put a full stop to his business in the world, cut him off from conversation with his friends and relations, condemned him to banishment till he was cleansed, shut him out from the sanctuary, and was, in effect, the ruin of all the comfort he could have in this world. Heman, it would seem, either was a leper or alludes to the melancholy condition of a leper, Ps. 88:8, etc. He must therefore,
      • (1.) Humble himself under the mighty hand of God, not insisting upon his cleanness when the priest had pronounced him unclean, but justifying God and accepting the punishment of his iniquity. He must signify this by rending his clothes, uncovering his head, and covering his upper lip, all tokens of shame and confusion of face, and very significant of that self-loathing and self-abasement which should fill the hearts of penitents, the language of which is self-judging. Thus must we take to ourselves the shame that belongs to us, and with broken hearts call ourselves by our own name, Unclean, unclean-heart unclean, life unclean, unclean by original corruption, unclean by actual transgression-unclean, and therefore worthy to be for ever excluded from communion with God, and all hope of happiness in him. We are all as an unclean thing (Isa. 64:6)-unclean, and therefore undone, if infinite mercy do not interpose.
      • (2.) He must give warning to others to take heed of coming near him. Wherever he went, he must cry to those he saw at a distance, "I am unclean, unclean, take heed of touching me.' Not that the leprosy was catching, but by the touch of a leper ceremonial uncleanness was contracted. Every one therefore was concerned to avoid it; and the leper himself must give notice of the danger. And this was all that the law could do, in that it was weak through the flesh; it taught the leper to cry, Unclean, unclean, but the gospel has put another cry into the lepers' mouths, Lu. 17:12, 13, where we find ten lepers crying with a loud voice, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. The law only shows us our disease; the gospel shows us our help in Christ.
    • 2. He must then be shut out of the camp, and afterwards, when they came to Canaan, out of the city, town, or village, where he lived, and dwell alone (v. 46), associating with none but those that were lepers like himself. When king Uzziah became a leper, he was banished from his palace, and dwelt in a separate house, 2 Chr. 26:21. And see 2 Ki. 7:3. This typified the purity which ought to be preserved in the gospel church, by the solemn and authoritative exclusion of scandalous sinners, that hate to be reformed, from the communion of the faithful. Put away from among yourselves that wicked person, 1 Co. 5:13.

Lev 13:47-59

This is the law concerning the plague of leprosy in a garment, whether linen or woollen. A leprosy in a garment, with discernible indications of it, the colour changed by it, the garment fretted, the nap worn off, and this in some one particular part of the garment, and increasing when it was shut up, and not to be got out by washing is a thing which to us now is altogether unaccountable. The learned confess that it was a sign and a miracle in Israel, an extraordinary punishment inflicted by the divine power, as a token of great displeasure against a person or family.

  • 1. The process was much the same with that concerning a leprous person. The garment suspected to be tainted was not to be burnt immediately, though, it may be, there would have been no great loss of it; for in no case must sentence be given merely upon a surmise, but it must be shown to the priest. If, upon search, it was found that there was a leprous spot (the Jews say no bigger than a bean), it must be burnt, or at least that part of the garment in which the spot was, v. 52, 57. If the cause of the suspicion was gone, it must be washed, and then might be used, v. 58.
  • 2. The signification also was much the same, to intimate the great malignity there is in sin: it not only defiles the sinner's conscience, but it brings a stain upon all his employments and enjoyments, all he has and all he does. To those that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure, Tit. 1:15. And we are taught hereby to hate even the garments spotted with the flesh, Jude 23. Those that make their clothes servants to their pride and lust may see them thereby tainted with a leprosy, and doomed to the fire, Isa. 3:18-24. But the ornament of the hidden man of the heart is incorruptible, 1 Pt. 3:4. The robes of righteousness never fret nor are moth-eaten.