If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;

LEVITICUS 13:29KJV
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Leviticus 13:29 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 13:29 mean?

Leviticus 13:29 introduces instructions for examining a person with an affected area on the head or beard. The KJV calls the condition a “plague,” but here the word refers to a bodily mark or sore. The verse begins the case; the examination follows.

God is speaking to Moses and Aaron in the instructions that began in Leviticus 13:1. The mention of both “a man or woman” makes clear who is covered. “Head or beard” identifies the location that calls for the examination.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 13:29

  • “plague” — נֶגַע (negaʿ): This word can mean a mark, sore, or affected area. Here it describes something on the body that needs inspection, rather than necessarily an epidemic.

Why Leviticus 13:29 matters

  • The opening condition leads to a priest’s examination, not an immediate verdict. Verse 30 says the priest must look at the affected area and describes signs he is to consider.
  • The instructions treat the condition as something to be assessed over time when the signs are uncertain. Verses 31–34 describe a period of separation followed by another examination.

Where else these words appear

“beard” Hebrew H2206 · used in 18 verses

  • Leviticus 13:30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.
  • 1 Samuel 21:13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
  • Psalms 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

“plague” Hebrew H5061 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 12:17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
  • Leviticus 13:44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.
  • Leviticus 14:37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall;