And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;

LEVITICUS 13:10KJV
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Leviticus 13:10 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 13:10 mean?

Leviticus 13:10 describes the priest’s examination of a person with a skin problem, specifying that if the swelling is white, has turned the hair white, and there is fresh, raw flesh in the swelling, these are signs the priest is to look for. These details help the priest identify a serious skin disease, often understood historically as leprosy.

In this verse, God is giving Moses and Aaron instructions for diagnosing skin diseases among the Israelites. The priest acts as a kind of health inspector, checking for certain visible signs on a person’s skin. The verse lists three specific symptoms—white swelling, white hair, and raw flesh—that together indicate a particular stage or seriousness of the disease.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 13:10

  • priest (כֹּהֵן, kohen): This word refers to the religious leader responsible for examining and diagnosing the skin condition, showing that this was not just a medical issue but also a community and spiritual concern.
  • rising (שְׂאֵת, se'et): This word means a swelling or raised area on the skin. Its use here points to a visible, physical change that the priest must look for.
  • quick (חַיָּה, chayyah) and raw (חַי, chai): These words together describe living, raw flesh—meaning the sore is open and not healed over, which was a key sign of seriousness.
  • turned (הָפַךְ, hafakh): This word means "to turn" or "to change," here referring to the hair in the swelling turning white, another important symptom.

Why Leviticus 13:10 matters

  • Leviticus 13:10 clarifies that the priest’s diagnosis was based on specific, visible signs, not guesswork or superstition, which helped prevent unnecessary isolation or fear.
  • The verse shows the seriousness of the disease by highlighting the presence of raw, living flesh, which would have been alarming and required careful handling in the community.
  • This verse fits into a larger set of instructions about purity and health in ancient Israel, showing how physical health and ritual cleanliness were closely connected in daily life.

Where else these words appear

“quick” Hebrew H4241 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
  • Judges 6:4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
  • 2 Chronicles 14:13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.

“rising” Hebrew H7613 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
  • Leviticus 13:28 And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.
  • Job 31:23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

“white” Hebrew H3836 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 30:35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
  • Leviticus 13:16 Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;
  • Leviticus 13:38 If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;

“hair” Hebrew H8181 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 25:25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
  • Leviticus 13:31 And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:
  • 2 Samuel 14:26 And when he polled his head,(for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.