Leviticus 15:33 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 15:33 mean?

Leviticus 15:33 lists the different people who were considered ritually unclean because of bodily discharges, including a woman during her menstrual period and anyone who has had contact with her. The verse summarizes the rules about uncleanness for both men and women, highlighting situations that required ritual separation in ancient Israel.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses and Aaron, giving instructions for the Israelites about ritual cleanliness. The context is a set of laws meant to help the community understand how to deal with bodily fluids, which were seen as making a person temporarily unclean. The verse acts as a summary statement at the end of a longer section about purity laws, making clear who is affected and when.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 15:33

• "sick" (חָלָה, ḥālāh): This word is used here for a woman who is "sick of her flowers," meaning a woman during her menstrual period. It highlights that her condition is a normal part of life, not a disease, but still made her ritually unclean.
• "flowers" (נִדָּה, niddāh): This term refers to menstrual flow. It is a specific word for the period of menstruation, which was a key marker for ritual impurity in the law.
• "issue" (זוֹב, zov): This word refers to any abnormal bodily discharge, especially from a man, which also caused ritual impurity. It covers a range of conditions beyond just normal bodily functions.
• "lieth" (שָׁכַב, shakav): This word means "to lie with," referring to sexual relations. The law included anyone who had sexual contact with a woman during her period as also being unclean.

Why Leviticus 15:33 matters

• Leviticus 15:33 clarifies that ritual impurity was not limited to men or to unusual illnesses, but also included regular, natural processes like menstruation, affecting both men and women.
• The verse helps the reader see that these laws were about ritual status, not moral failing or sin, and were designed to organize community life and worship in ancient Israel.
• By summarizing the rules, Leviticus 15:33 connects the details of the previous verses into a clear, practical guide for the community, showing the importance of purity in approaching God’s presence.