He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.

LEVITICUS 13:52KJV
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Leviticus 13:52 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 13:52 mean?

Leviticus 13:52 commands that any garment—whether made of wool, linen, or leather—that is found to have a spreading disease called "leprosy" must be completely burned in fire. This instruction is given because the contamination is considered deeply damaging and cannot be cleansed by other means.

In this passage, God is giving Moses and Aaron specific rules for dealing with "leprous" diseases in clothing, not just in people. The verse is part of a larger section where priests are taught how to identify and handle various forms of ritual impurity. The focus is on preventing the spread of uncleanness within the community by destroying anything that cannot be purified.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 13:52

  • "Burn" (שָׂרַף, saraph) means to completely destroy by fire. The command is not just to remove the garment but to utterly destroy it, highlighting the seriousness of the contamination.
  • "Garment" (בֶּגֶד, beged) refers to any piece of clothing, not just outerwear, showing that the rule applies broadly.
  • "Plague" (נֶגַע, nega‘) is the term for the mark or infection, which in this context refers to a visible spreading mold or mildew, not modern leprosy.
  • "Fretting" (מָרֵא, maré) is often understood as a "corroding" or "spreading" effect, emphasizing that this is an aggressive, worsening condition.

Why Leviticus 13:52 matters

  • This verse clarifies that ritual impurity in ancient Israel was not limited to people but could also affect objects, especially garments, which were common carriers of disease.
  • The instruction to burn the contaminated item shows the priority placed on community health and ritual purity, even at the cost of valuable possessions.
  • Understanding this verse helps make sense of the broader context in Leviticus, where detailed laws are given to maintain holiness and prevent the spread of anything considered unclean among the Israelites.

Where else these words appear

“fretting” Hebrew H3992 · used in 4 verses

  • 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.
  • Leviticus 14:44 Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean.
  • Ezekiel 28:24 And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

“warp” Hebrew H8359 · used in 9 verses

  • Leviticus 13:48 Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;
  • 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.
  • Leviticus 13:57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire.

“woof” Hebrew H6154 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
  • 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.
  • Leviticus 13:57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire.

“linen” Hebrew H6593 · used in 15 verses

  • Leviticus 13:47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;
  • Joshua 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
  • Ezekiel 40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.