This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall,

LEVITICUS 14:54KJV
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Leviticus 14:54 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 14:54 mean?

Leviticus 14:54 sums up the laws given for dealing with different kinds of skin diseases, including leprosy and a condition called "scall." This verse acts as a heading or summary, marking the end of a section about how the Israelites were to handle these specific health concerns.

In this passage, Moses is relaying God’s instructions to the people of Israel, specifically to the priests who were responsible for diagnosing and managing these diseases. The verse signals that what follows is a formal statement of the rules ("the law") for recognizing and treating these conditions, which were seen as both physical and ritual issues in ancient Israel.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 14:54

  • תּוֹרָה (torah, law): This word means "instruction" or "law" and highlights that these guidelines were not just suggestions, but binding rules for the community.
  • נֶגַע (nega‘, plague): This term often refers to a mark, spot, or affliction, not just a widespread disease. Here, it emphasizes that even small or localized skin issues were taken seriously.
  • צָרַעַת (tzara‘at, leprosy): In the Bible, this word covers a range of skin diseases, not just what we call leprosy today. It points to any suspicious skin condition that needed priestly inspection.
  • נֶתֶק (neteq, scall): This refers to a specific kind of skin problem, often thought to be a patchy or scaly spot, possibly a fungal infection. It was distinct from tzara‘at and had its own rules.

Why Leviticus 14:54 matters

  • Leviticus 14:54 clarifies that the detailed instructions in the previous verses were not just about one disease but covered all types of skin afflictions, making the scope of the law clear.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness with which ancient Israel approached issues of health and ritual purity, showing that these matters were deeply connected in their community life.
  • By summarizing the laws, Leviticus 14:54 helps the reader see that the following verses are meant to wrap up and organize the instructions, making it easier to understand the structure of this part of Leviticus.

Where else these words appear

“scall” Hebrew H5424 · used in 9 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.
  • Leviticus 13:32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;
  • Leviticus 13:35 But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;

“leprosy” Hebrew H6883 · used in 33 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 13:27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
  • Leviticus 14:32 This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.

“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 13:43 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;
  • Leviticus 14:36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house: