Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

LEVITICUS 13:25KJV
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Leviticus 13:25 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 13:25 mean?

Leviticus 13:25 explains that if a priest examines a burn on someone’s skin and sees that the hair in the bright spot has turned white and the spot looks deeper than the skin, the priest must declare the person unclean because it is a case of leprosy that has developed from the burn. This verse gives a specific instruction for diagnosing a skin disease according to ancient Israelite law.

In this part of Leviticus, God is giving Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for priests on how to identify and handle various skin conditions, especially those considered contagious or ritually unclean. The focus here is on a situation where a burn appears to have developed into a more serious disease, using visible signs like white hair and depth of the spot to make the determination.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 13:25

  • "priest" (כֹּהֵן, kohen): This word refers to the religious leader responsible for examining and making judgments about ritual purity. The priest’s role is central because only he can declare someone clean or unclean.
  • "leprosy" (צָרַעַת, tsaraʿat): This term does not refer only to modern leprosy (Hansen’s disease) but to a range of serious skin conditions that made a person ritually impure in ancient Israel.
  • "deeper" (עָמֹק, amoq): The word describes how the spot appears to sink below the surface of the skin, which was a key sign of a serious disease rather than a superficial injury.
  • "burning" (מִכְוָה, mikhvah): This term means a burn or a burn wound. The verse is about a skin disease that arises specifically from a burn, not just any skin spot.

Why Leviticus 13:25 matters

  • This verse clarifies that not every skin problem was treated the same; only certain signs, like white hair and depth, marked a person as unclean, showing the careful approach to diagnosis.
  • Leviticus 13:25 highlights the priest’s authority and responsibility in matters of health and ritual purity, not just religious ceremonies.
  • The verse fits into a larger section that shows how ancient Israel managed public health concerns and ritual cleanliness, connecting physical symptoms to community life and worship.

Where else these words appear

“burning” Hebrew H4348 · used in 3 verses

  • 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.

“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 13:23 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 13:28 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.

“deeper” Hebrew H6013 · used in 16 verses

  • Leviticus 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
  • Leviticus 13:34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
  • Proverbs 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

“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;