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:

LEVITICUS 13:21KJV
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Leviticus 13:21 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 13:21 mean?

Leviticus 13:21 describes a situation where a priest examines a skin problem and, if there are no white hairs and the spot is not deeper than the skin but appears somewhat dark, the priest isolates the person for seven days to observe the condition. This is part of a careful process to determine if someone has a serious skin disease.

In this verse, God is giving instructions to Moses and Aaron about how priests should diagnose possible cases of skin disease among the Israelites. The priest acts as a kind of health inspector, looking for specific signs—like white hairs or a spot deeper than the skin—to decide if the condition is dangerous. If the signs are not clear, the priest does not make a quick judgment but instead waits and watches for a week to see if the problem changes.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 13:21

  • כֹּהֵן (kohen, "priest"): This word refers to the religious official responsible for examining the skin condition. The priest’s role is not just spiritual but also practical, acting as a community health authority.
  • שָׁחֹר (shachor, "dark"): The word used here means "dark" or "dull," describing the appearance of the spot. This detail helps the priest distinguish between a more dangerous infection and something less serious.
  • סָגַר (sagar, "shut up" or "isolate"): This verb means to confine or quarantine the person. The idea is to prevent possible spread and to allow time for the condition to develop, making diagnosis clearer.
  • שֶׁבַע (sheva, "seven"): The number seven often marks a complete period in the Bible. Here, seven days is the standard observation time to see if the skin problem changes.

Why Leviticus 13:21 matters

  • Leviticus 13:21 shows that the priest is instructed to be cautious and not rush to declare someone unclean, emphasizing careful observation and fairness.
  • The verse highlights the importance of community health and the role of religious leaders in protecting the people from possible disease.
  • This careful process connects to the wider passage, showing that the laws about skin diseases were detailed and aimed at both physical and social well-being.

Where else these words appear

“dark” Hebrew H3544 · used in 9 verses

  • Leviticus 13:6 And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
  • 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.
  • 1 Samuel 3:2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

“lower” Hebrew H8217 · used in 18 verses

  • Leviticus 13:20 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.
  • 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;

“hairs” 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.