And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

LEVITICUS 15:11KJV
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Leviticus 15:11 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 15:11 mean?

Leviticus 15:11 says that if someone touches a person who has a bodily discharge and does not first rinse his hands with water, the one who touched him must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and will be considered unclean until evening. This rule is about ritual cleanliness, not physical dirt, and sets out what to do if contact happens without proper washing.

In this part of Leviticus, God is giving Moses instructions for the Israelites about how to handle situations that make someone ritually unclean. The focus here is on bodily discharges, which were seen as making a person temporarily unfit for worship or community activities. The verse explains the process for anyone who comes into contact with such a person, emphasizing the importance of washing and waiting until evening to be considered clean again.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 15:11

  • "toucheth" (נָגַע, nagaʿ): This word means to physically touch or come into contact with. In this context, it highlights that even indirect contact with someone who has a discharge can make a person ritually unclean.
  • "rinsed" (שָׁטַף, shataf): This word means to wash or rinse, specifically referring here to the hands. The verse singles out hand-washing as a preventive step, showing its importance in ritual purity.
  • "unclean" (טָמֵא, tame): This word refers to a state of ritual impurity, not necessarily physical filth. Being "unclean" meant a person could not take part in certain religious or social activities until the proper steps were taken.

Why Leviticus 15:11 matters

  • Leviticus 15:11 clarifies that ritual impurity could spread through touch, not just direct contact with bodily fluids, but even by touching someone who had not properly washed.
  • The verse emphasizes the seriousness with which ritual purity was treated in ancient Israel, showing that even small lapses (like not rinsing hands) had clear consequences.
  • This instruction fits into a larger section about bodily discharges, helping readers see how careful and detailed the laws were about maintaining community holiness and health.

Where else these words appear

“rinsed” Hebrew H7857 · used in 30 verses

  • Leviticus 6:28 But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.
  • Song of Solomon 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
  • Jeremiah 8:6 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

“issue” Hebrew H2100 · used in 41 verses

  • Exodus 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
  • Leviticus 15:25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
  • Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

“wash” Hebrew H3526 · used in 48 verses

  • Genesis 49:11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
  • Leviticus 14:47 And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.
  • Numbers 8:21 And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.

“bathe” Hebrew H7364 · used in 71 verses

  • Genesis 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
  • Leviticus 15:5 And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
  • Judges 19:21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.