But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

LEVITICUS 13:23KJV
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Leviticus 13:23 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 13:23 mean?

Leviticus 13:23 explains that if a bright spot on a person’s skin does not change or spread, but stays in the same place, it is considered a healed boil, and the priest will declare the person clean. This means the person is not considered ritually unclean and does not need to be isolated.

In this part of Leviticus, God is giving Moses and Aaron instructions for the priests on how to examine skin diseases and determine if someone is clean or unclean. The verse focuses on a specific situation: a skin spot that looks suspicious but does not get worse. The priest’s role is to observe and make a careful judgment, showing the importance of both patience and close attention in these ancient health laws.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 13:23

  • "spot" (נֶגַע, nega‘): This word refers to a mark or blemish on the skin, which could be a sign of disease. Its use here highlights the careful observation required to distinguish between different skin conditions.
  • "stay" (עָמַד, ‘amad): This means to stand or remain. In this verse, it points to the spot not changing or spreading, which is key to the priest’s decision.
  • "spread" (פָּשָׂה, pasha): This word means to spread out or extend. The lack of spreading is what reassures the priest that the condition is not contagious or dangerous.
  • "burning" (מִכְוָה, mikveh): This refers to a burn or inflammation, suggesting the spot is from a healed boil or burn, not a disease.
  • "boil" (שְׁחִין, shechin): This word means a sore or boil, a common skin issue in the ancient world. Its mention helps clarify that the spot is from a past injury, not a current illness.
  • "priest" (כֹּהֵן, kohen): The priest is the one responsible for examining and declaring someone clean or unclean, acting as both spiritual and health authority.
  • "clean" (טָהֵר, taher): This means ritually pure or acceptable, allowing the person to return to normal community life.

Why Leviticus 13:23 matters

  • Leviticus 13:23 helps clear up that not every skin mark was considered dangerous or unclean; careful observation was required before making a judgment.
  • The verse shows the priest’s role was not just religious but also practical, functioning as an early kind of health inspector to protect the community.
  • This instruction fits into a larger section on skin diseases, emphasizing caution, patience, and the need for clear evidence before declaring someone unclean.

Where else these words appear

“burning” Hebrew H6867 · used in 3 verses

  • 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.
  • Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

“spot” Hebrew H934 · used in 11 verses

  • Leviticus 13:2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
  • Leviticus 13:24 Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;
  • 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.

“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.

“spread” Hebrew H6581 · used in 18 verses

  • Leviticus 13:5 And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:
  • Leviticus 13:27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
  • Leviticus 13:51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.