Leviticus 15:16 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 15:16 mean?

Leviticus 15:16 says that if a man has an emission of semen, he must wash his whole body with water and will be considered ceremonially unclean until evening. This instruction is about ritual purity, not moral wrongdoing, and sets out what to do after a normal bodily function.

In context, God is giving Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for the Israelites about bodily discharges and how they affect ritual cleanliness. The passage is part of a larger section on purity laws, helping the community understand how to maintain ritual holiness in daily life and worship.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 15:16

• "Seed" (זֶרַע, zeraʿ): This word means "offspring" or "semen." Here, it refers specifically to semen as a bodily fluid that can make a person ritually unclean.
• "Copulation" (שְׁכָבָה, shekhavah): This word means "lying down" or "sexual emission." The verse uses it to describe the context of the emission, making clear it is about sexual activity or a nocturnal emission.
• "Unclean" (טָמֵא, tame): This word means "ritually impure." In this context, it does not mean sinful or dirty in a moral sense, but rather that the person cannot participate in certain religious activities until evening.
• "Even" (עֶרֶב, ʿerev): This word means "evening." Ritual impurity often lasted until sunset, after which the person could return to normal activities.

Why Leviticus 15:16 matters

• Leviticus 15:16 clarifies that ritual impurity could result from normal, everyday bodily functions, not just from disease or wrongdoing.
• The verse emphasizes the importance of ritual washing and waiting until evening, showing how the Israelites were to handle impurity in a practical, orderly way.
• This instruction fits into a broader set of laws that helped the community stay mindful of holiness and the boundaries between everyday life and sacred space.