And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.

LEVITICUS 15:3KJV
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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.

Where else these words appear

“issue” Hebrew H2101 · used in 10 verses

  • Leviticus 15:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.
  • Leviticus 15:19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
  • Leviticus 15:28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.

“stopped” Hebrew H2856 · used in 24 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?
  • Job 9:7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
  • Jeremiah 32:10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.

“uncleanness” Hebrew H2932 · used in 31 verses

  • Leviticus 5:3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
  • Leviticus 18:19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
  • Ezra 9:11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.