Leviticus 15:3 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 15:3 mean?

Leviticus 15:3 explains that a man is considered ritually unclean if he has a bodily discharge, whether the discharge is flowing or blocked. This uncleanness is tied to the presence of the discharge itself, regardless of its nature.

In this verse, God is giving instructions to Moses and Aaron for the Israelites about ritual purity. The focus is on physical conditions that make a person unclean according to the law, specifically a male with a genital discharge. The verse sets out that both types of discharge—whether the flow is ongoing or stopped—result in the same status of uncleanness, which would affect the person’s participation in community and worship.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 15:3

• "Uncleanness" (נִדָּה, nidah): This word means a state of ritual impurity, not physical dirtiness. It marks someone as temporarily unable to take part in certain religious activities.
• "Issue" (זוֹב, zov): This refers to a bodily discharge, often understood as an abnormal flow from the body, likely from the genitals in this context.
• "Flesh" (בָּשָׂר, basar): Here, this word refers to the man’s body, specifically his genital area.
• "Run" (רָר, rar): This verb means to flow or run, describing the discharge as active.
• "Stopped" (חָתַם, chatam): This word means to be shut up or blocked, describing a situation where the discharge is not flowing but still present.

Why Leviticus 15:3 matters

• This verse clarifies that ritual impurity is not only about what is visible or obvious; even a blocked or internal discharge counts, emphasizing thoroughness in the law’s approach to purity.
• It helps prevent misunderstandings that only certain types of discharges make someone unclean, showing that the law covers all cases.
• Leviticus 15:3 connects to a broader section on bodily discharges, highlighting the seriousness with which the community was to treat issues of ritual purity and health.