And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.

LEVITICUS 13:20KJV
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Leviticus 13:20 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 13:20 mean?

Leviticus 13:20 explains that if a priest examines a person with a skin problem and sees that the sore is lower than the surface of the skin and the hair in it has turned white, the priest must declare the person unclean because it is a sign of leprosy breaking out from a boil. This verse gives a specific guideline for diagnosing ritual impurity related to skin disease.

In this part of Leviticus, God is giving Moses and Aaron instructions for the priests about how to identify and handle various skin diseases among the Israelites. The focus here is on careful observation by the priest, who acts as both a spiritual and public health authority. The description is detailed so that priests can distinguish between ordinary skin issues and those that require a person to be set apart from the community.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 13:20

  • "priest" (כֹּהֵן, kohen): This word refers to the religious leader responsible for examining and diagnosing the skin condition. The kohen's role is central, as only he can declare someone unclean.
  • "lower" (שָׁפָל, shafal): This word means "lower" or "depressed," describing how the sore sinks below the level of the surrounding skin, which is a key sign of a serious disease.
  • "turned" (הָפַךְ, hafakh): This word means "turned" or "changed," referring to the hair in the sore turning white, another important diagnostic sign.
  • "unclean" (טָמֵא, tame): This word means ritually impure, not just physically ill. Being declared tame affected a person’s ability to participate in community and worship.

Why Leviticus 13:20 matters

  • This verse shows that the priest’s decision is based on observable, physical signs, not guesswork or superstition, which highlights the practical and careful approach to health in ancient Israel.
  • The verse clarifies that "unclean" (טָמֵא, tame) is about ritual status, not moral failure or sinfulness, which helps avoid common misunderstandings about biblical leprosy.
  • Leviticus 13:20 fits into a larger set of instructions that helped protect the community from contagious diseases and maintained order in worship and daily life.

Where else these words appear

“boil” Hebrew H7822 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 9:9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.
  • Leviticus 13:18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,
  • Deuteronomy 28:35 The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.

“lower” Hebrew H8217 · used in 18 verses

  • Leviticus 13:21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:
  • Psalms 138:6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
  • Ezekiel 17:14 That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

“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 13:13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.
  • 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.