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.
LEVITICUS 13:34KJVWhat does Leviticus 13:34 mean?
Leviticus 13:34 explains that on the seventh day, a priest must examine a skin condition called a "scall." If the scall has not spread or gone deeper than the skin, the priest declares the person clean, and the person must wash their clothes to complete the cleansing. This process confirms the person is no longer considered unclean.
In this verse, God is giving instructions to Moses and Aaron about how priests should handle cases of certain skin diseases among the Israelites. The priest acts as a kind of health inspector, carefully checking if the condition has worsened. The focus is on careful observation and following a set process to decide if someone can rejoin the community.
The Hebrew behind Leviticus 13:34
- "Scall" (נֶתֶק, neteq) refers to a specific type of skin disease, often thought to be a patchy, scaly spot. The word highlights that this is not just any rash but a particular condition the priest is trained to identify.
- "Spread" (פָּשָׂה, pasah) means to extend or go beyond its original area. The priest is checking if the disease has gotten worse, which would change the person’s status.
- "Clean" (טָהֵר, taher) means to be declared ritually pure. This is not just about physical health but about being able to participate fully in community and worship life.
- "Wash" (כָּבַס, kavas) means to launder or clean garments, which is a final step in restoring someone’s normal status after being pronounced clean.
Why Leviticus 13:34 matters
- Leviticus 13:34 shows that the priest’s role was not just religious but also practical, acting as a health official to protect the community from possible contagion.
- The verse emphasizes fairness and careful judgment, requiring a waiting period and re-examination before making a final decision about someone’s status.
- This verse connects to the larger section about skin diseases, showing that being declared "clean" involved both a priestly declaration and a personal act (washing clothes), underlining the importance of ritual purity in ancient Israel.