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 15:11KJVWhat 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.