And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.

LEVITICUS 13:41KJV
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Leviticus 13:41 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 13:41 mean?

Leviticus 13:41 explains that if a man loses hair from the front part of his head, resulting in baldness on his forehead, he is still considered clean according to the law. This verse clarifies that this kind of baldness is not a sign of disease or impurity.

In this part of Leviticus, God is giving instructions to Moses and Aaron for the priests about how to identify skin diseases, especially those that might make someone unclean. The verse addresses a specific case: if a man’s hair falls out toward his face (his forehead), this is simply a natural baldness and not a cause for concern. The focus is on distinguishing between normal physical changes and symptoms of illness.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 13:41

  • "Fallen" (נָפַל, naphal): This word means to fall or drop off, and here it refers to hair that has naturally fallen from the head. The use of this word shows the loss is not caused by disease.
  • "Face" (פָּנִים, panim): This term means face or front, clarifying that the baldness is on the front part of the head, near the forehead.
  • "Bald" (גַּבַּחַת, gabbachat): This word specifically refers to a bald spot on the forehead, not general baldness. It helps the priests know exactly what area is meant.
  • "Clean" (טָהוֹר, tahor): This word means ritually clean or pure, making it clear that this kind of baldness does not make a person unfit for worship or community life.

Why Leviticus 13:41 matters

  • Leviticus 13:41 helps prevent unnecessary exclusion or shame for men who naturally lose hair on their foreheads, making it clear that this is not a sign of ritual impurity.
  • The verse shows the careful attention in the law to distinguish between normal physical conditions and those that might indicate a contagious disease.
  • This instruction fits into a larger section where the priests are taught how to diagnose skin conditions, emphasizing fairness and clarity in community health and religious life.

Where else these words appear

“fallen” Hebrew H4803 · used in 9 verses

  • Leviticus 13:40 And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.
  • Nehemiah 13:25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
  • Ezekiel 21:11 And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

“part” Hebrew H6285 · used in 59 verses

  • Exodus 25:26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
  • Numbers 34:3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
  • Ezekiel 48:1 Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.

“clean” Hebrew H2889 · used in 87 verses

  • Genesis 7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
  • Exodus 39:25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;
  • Deuteronomy 12:15 Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.