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Rules About Skin Diseases

13 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Someone might have a swelling on their skin, or it may be a rash or a bright spot. If the sore looks like the disease of leprosy, the person must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests. The priest must look at the sore on the person’s skin. If the hair in the sore has become white, and if the sore seems deeper than the person’s skin, it is leprosy. When the priest has finished looking at the person, he must announce that the person is unclean.

“Sometimes there is a white spot on a person’s skin that does not seem deeper than the skin. If that is true, the priest must separate that person from other people for seven days. On the seventh day the priest must look at the person again. If the priest sees that the sore has not changed and has not spread on the skin, he must separate the person for seven more days. Seven days later the priest must look at the person again. If the sore has faded and has not spread on the skin, the priest must announce that the person is clean. The sore is only a rash. After washing the clothes, that person will be clean again.

“But if the rash spreads over the skin after the person has shown himself to the priest to be made clean again, that person must come again to the priest. The priest must look, and if the rash has spread, he must announce that the person is unclean. The disease is leprosy.

“Whoever has leprosy must be brought to the priest. 10 He must look at that person. If there is a white swelling on the skin, if the hair has become white, and if the skin looks raw in the swelling, 11 it is leprosy that has been there for a long time. The priest must announce that the person is unclean. He does not have to wait until after a period of separation, because he already knows that the person is unclean.

12 “Sometimes a skin disease will spread all over a person’s body, covering the skin from head to foot. The priest must look at that person’s whole body. 13 If the priest sees that the skin disease covers the whole body and that it has turned all the skin white, the priest must announce that the person is clean. 14 But if the skin is raw, that person is not clean. 15 When the priest sees the raw skin, he must announce that the person is unclean. The raw skin is not clean. It is leprosy.

16 “If the raw skin changes and becomes white, the person must come to the priest. 17 The priest must look at the person. If the skin has become white, the person who had the infection is clean, and the priest must announce this.

18 “Someone might get a boil on their skin that heals over. 19 Then that boil might become a white swelling or a bright, white spot with red streaks in it. If this happens, the person must show that spot to the priest. 20 The priest must look at it. If the swelling is deeper than the skin, and the hair on it has become white, the priest must announce that the person is unclean. The spot is leprosy that has broken out from inside the boil. 21 But if the priest looks at the spot, and there are no white hairs in it, and the spot is not deeper than the skin but is faded, the priest must separate the person for seven days. 22 If the spot spreads on the skin, the priest must announce that the person is unclean; it is an infection. 23 But if the bright spot stays in its place and does not spread, it is only the scar from the old boil. The priest must announce that the person is clean.

24-25 “Someone might get a burn on the skin. If the raw skin becomes a white spot or a white spot with red streaks in it, the priest must look at it. If that white spot seems to be deeper than the skin, and the hair at that spot has become white, it is leprosy that has broken out in the burn. The priest must announce that the person is unclean. 26 But if the priest looks at the spot, and there is no white hair in the bright spot, and the spot is not deeper than the skin but is faded, the priest must separate the person for seven days. 27 On the seventh day, the priest must look at the person again. If the spot has spread on the skin, the priest must announce that the person is unclean. It is leprosy. 28 But if the bright spot has not spread on the skin but has faded, it is only a scar from the burn. The priest must announce that the person is clean.

29 “Someone might get an infection on the scalp[a] or beard. 30 A priest must look at the infection. If the infection seems to be deeper than the skin, and if the hair around it is thin and yellow, the priest must announce that the person is unclean. It is a serious skin disease.[b] 31 If the disease does not seem deeper than the skin, but there is no dark hair in it, the priest must separate that person for seven days. 32 On the seventh day, the priest must look at it again. If the disease has not spread, and there are no yellow hairs growing in it, and the disease does not seem deeper than the skin, 33 the person must shave. But the diseased area should not be shaved. The priest must separate that person for seven more days. 34 On the seventh day, the priest must look at it again. If the disease has not spread, and it does not seem deeper than the skin, the priest must announce that the person is clean. After washing those clothes, that person will be clean. 35 But if the disease spreads on the skin after the person has become clean, 36 then the priest must look at the person again. If the disease has spread, the priest does not need to look for yellow hair. The person is unclean. 37 But if the priest thinks that the disease has stopped, and black hair is growing in it, the disease has healed. The person is clean, and the priest must announce this.

38 “If anyone has white spots on the skin, 39 a priest must look at them. If the spots on that person’s skin are dull white, the disease is only a harmless rash. That person is clean.

40 “A man might begin to lose the hair on his head. It is only baldness, so he is clean. 41 A man might lose hair from the sides of his head. He is clean. It is only another kind of baldness. 42 But if there is a red and white infection on his scalp, it is a skin disease. 43 A priest must look at him. If the swelling of the infection is red and white and looks like the leprosy on other parts of his body, 44 then he has leprosy on his scalp. The person is unclean. The priest must announce that he is unclean.

45 “People with leprosy must warn other people. They must shout, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ They must tear their clothes at the seams. They must let their hair grow wild,[c] and they must cover their mouth. 46 They are unclean the whole time that they have the infection. They are unclean and must live outside the camp.

47-48 “Some clothing might have mildew on it. The cloth could be linen or wool, woven or knitted. Or the mildew might be on a piece of leather or on something made from leather. 49 If the mildew is green or red, it must be shown to the priest. 50 The priest must look at it and put it in a separate place for seven days. 51-52 On the seventh day, he must look at it again. It doesn’t matter if the mildew is on leather or cloth or if the cloth is woven or knitted. And it doesn’t matter what the leather was used for. If the mildew has spread, the object is unclean because of the infection. The priest must burn it.

53 “If the priest sees that the mildew did not spread on the object, it must be washed. It doesn’t matter if it is leather or cloth, or if the cloth is knitted or woven, it must be washed. 54 He must order the people to wash it. Then he must separate the clothing for seven more days. 55 After that time, the priest must look at it again. If the mildew still looks the same, the object is unclean. It doesn’t matter if the infection has not spread; you must burn that cloth or piece of leather.

56 “But if the priest looks at that piece of leather or cloth, and the mildew has faded, he must tear the infected spot out of the piece of leather or cloth. It doesn’t matter if the cloth is woven or knitted. 57 But the mildew might come back to that piece of leather or cloth. If that happens, the mildew is spreading, and the object must be burned. 58 But if the mildew did not come back after washing, that piece of leather or cloth is clean, whether the cloth was woven or knitted.”

59 These are the rules for mildew on pieces of leather or cloth, whether the cloth is woven or knitted.

Rules for Those With Skin Diseases

14 The Lord said to Moses, “These are the rules for people who have had a skin disease and have been made well. These rules are for making them clean.

“A priest must look at those who had the skin disease. The priest must go to them outside the camp and look to see if the skin disease is healed. If they are healthy, the priest will tell them to do these things: They must bring two clean birds that are still alive, a piece of cedar wood, a piece of red cloth, and a hyssop plant. Then the priest must order one bird to be killed in a clay bowl over running water. He must take the other bird that is still alive and the piece of cedar wood, the piece of red cloth, and the hyssop plant and dip them in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. He must sprinkle the blood seven times on those who had the skin disease. Then he must announce that they are clean. After that the priest must go to an open field and let the living bird go free.

“The people going through this purification ceremony must wash their clothes, shave off all their hair, and wash with water. Then they will be clean. They may then go into the camp, but they must stay outside their tent for seven days. On the seventh day, they must shave off all their hair. They must shave their head, their beard, and their eyebrows—yes, all their hair. Then they must wash their clothes and bathe their bodies in water. Then they will be clean.

10 “On the eighth day, anyone who had a skin disease must take two male lambs that have nothing wrong with them and a one-year-old female lamb that has nothing wrong with it. They must also take 24 cups[d] of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering and 2/3 of a pint[e] of olive oil. 11 The priest must bring that person and those sacrifices before the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent. (This must be the same priest who announced that the person is clean.) 12 The priest will take one of the lambs and the oil as a guilt offering. He will lift them in front of the Lord to show they were presented to God. 13 Then the priest will kill the male lamb in the holy place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest. It is very holy.

14 “The priest will take some of the blood of the guilt offering. He will put some of this blood on the tip of the right ear of the person to be made clean. The priest will put some of this blood on the thumb of the right hand and on the big toe of the right foot of that person. 15 The priest will also take some of the oil and pour it into his own left palm. 16 Then the priest will dip the finger of his right hand into the oil that is in his left palm. He will use his finger to sprinkle some of the oil seven times before the Lord. 17 Then he will put some of the oil that is in his palm on the person to be made clean. He will put that oil on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering. The priest will put some of the oil on the tip of the person’s right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the person’s right foot. 18 He will put the oil that is left in his palm on the head of the person to be made clean. In this way he will make that person pure before the Lord.

19 “Then the priest must offer the sin offering to make that person pure. After that he will kill the animal for the burnt offering. 20 He will then offer up the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. In this way the priest will make that person pure, and that person will become clean.

21 “A poor person might not be able to afford all these offerings. So that poor person can use one male lamb as a guilt offering. It will be presented to God so that the priest can make that person pure. The poor person must take 8 cups[f] of fine flour mixed with oil. This flour will be used for a grain offering. The poor person must also take 2/3 of a pint of olive oil 22 and two doves or two young pigeons. Even poor people can afford these things. One bird will be a sin offering, and the other will be a burnt offering.

23 “On the eighth day, that person will bring these things to the priest at the entrance of the Meeting Tent. These things will be offered before the Lord so that the person can become clean. 24 The priest will take the lamb for the guilt offering and the oil, and he will lift them up to show they were offered before the Lord. 25 Then he will kill the lamb of the guilt offering, take some of its blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of the person to be made clean. The priest will put some of this blood on the thumb of the right hand and on the big toe of the right foot of this person. 26 He will also pour some of this oil into his own left palm. 27 He will use the finger of his right hand to sprinkle some of the oil that is in his left palm seven times before the Lord. 28 Then he will put some of the oil that is in his palm on the same places he put the blood from the guilt offering. He will put some of the oil on the tip of the right ear of the person to be made clean. The priest will put some of the oil on the thumb of the right hand and on the big toe of the person’s right foot. 29 He will put the oil that is left in his palm on the head of the person to be made clean. In this way he will make that person pure before the Lord.

30 “Then the priest must offer one of the doves or young pigeons. (He must offer whichever the person can afford.) 31 He must offer one of these birds as a sin offering and the other bird as a burnt offering. He must offer the birds with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make that person pure before the Lord, and that person will become clean.”

32 These are the rules for making people clean after they become well from a skin disease. These are the rules for those who cannot afford the regular sacrifices for becoming clean.

Rules for Mildew in a House

33 The Lord also said to Moses and Aaron, 34 “I am giving the land of Canaan to your people. Your people will enter that land. At that time I might cause mildew to grow in someone’s house. 35 The person who owns that house must come and tell the priest, ‘I see something like mildew in my house.’

36 “Then the priest must order the people to take everything out of the house before he goes in to look at the mildew. Then the priest will not have to say everything in the house is unclean. After the people have taken everything out of the house, the priest will go in to look at the house. 37 He will look at the mildew. If the mildew on the walls of the house has holes that are a green or red color, and if the mildew goes into the wall’s surface, 38 he must go out of the house and lock the house for seven days.

39 “On the seventh day the priest must come back and check the house. If the mildew has spread on the walls of the house, 40 then he must order the people to tear out the stones with the mildew on them and throw them away. They must put these stones at a special unclean place outside the city. 41 Then the priest must have the entire house scraped inside. The people must throw away the plaster that was scraped off the walls. They must put that plaster at a special unclean place outside the city. 42 Then new stones must be put in the walls, and the walls must be covered with new plaster.

43 “Maybe someone took away the old stones and plaster and put in new stones and plaster. And maybe mildew again appears in that house. 44 Then the priest must come in and check the house. If the infection has spread in the house, it is a disease that spreads quickly to other places. So the house is unclean. 45 The house must be torn down. All the stones, plaster, and pieces of wood must be taken to the special unclean place outside the city. 46 Anyone who goes into that house will be unclean until evening. 47 Anyone who eats in that house or lies down in there must wash their clothes.

48 “After new stones and plaster are put in a house, the priest must check the house. If the mildew has not spread through the house, the priest will announce that the house is clean, because the mildew is gone.

49 “Then, to make the house clean, the priest must take two birds, a piece of cedar wood, a piece of red cloth, and a hyssop plant. 50 He will kill one bird in a clay bowl over running water. 51 Then he will take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the piece of red cloth, and the living bird and dip them in the blood of the bird that was killed over running water. Then he will sprinkle that blood on the house seven times. 52 In this way he will use these things to make the house clean. 53 He will go to an open field outside the city and let the living bird go free. In this way the priest will make the house pure. The house will be clean.”

54 These are the rules for any infection of leprosy, 55 for mildew on pieces of cloth or in a house. 56 These are the rules for swellings, rashes, or bright spots on the skin. 57 These rules teach when something is clean and when something is unclean. These are the rules about these kinds of disease.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 13:29 scalp The skin on a person’s head. Also in verse 42.
  2. Leviticus 13:30 serious skin disease This could be leprosy, or it could be another kind of contagious skin disease.
  3. Leviticus 13:45 They must tear … wild This also showed that a person was very sad about something.
  4. Leviticus 14:10 24 cups Literally, “3/10,” probably meaning 3/10 of an ephah (6.6 l).
  5. Leviticus 14:10 2/3 of a pint Literally, “1 log” (.3 l). Also in verse 21.
  6. Leviticus 14:21 8 cups Literally, “1/10 of an ephah” (2.2 l).

Regulations About Defiling Skin Diseases

13 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When anyone has a swelling(A) or a rash or a shiny spot(B) on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease,[a](C) they must be brought to Aaron the priest(D) or to one of his sons[b] who is a priest. The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease. When the priest examines that person, he shall pronounce them ceremonially unclean.(E) If the shiny spot(F) on the skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days.(G) On the seventh day(H) the priest is to examine them,(I) and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and has not spread in the skin, he is to isolate them for another seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine them again, and if the sore has faded and has not spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them clean;(J) it is only a rash. They must wash their clothes,(K) and they will be clean.(L) But if the rash does spread in their skin after they have shown themselves to the priest to be pronounced clean, they must appear before the priest again.(M) The priest is to examine that person, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease.

“When anyone has a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to the priest. 10 The priest is to examine them, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic skin disease(N) and the priest shall pronounce them unclean. He is not to isolate them, because they are already unclean.

12 “If the disease breaks out all over their skin and, so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin of the affected person from head to foot, 13 the priest is to examine them, and if the disease has covered their whole body, he shall pronounce them clean. Since it has all turned white, they are clean. 14 But whenever raw flesh appears on them, they will be unclean. 15 When the priest sees the raw flesh, he shall pronounce them unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; they have a defiling disease.(O) 16 If the raw flesh changes and turns white, they must go to the priest. 17 The priest is to examine them, and if the sores have turned white, the priest shall pronounce the affected person clean;(P) then they will be clean.

18 “When someone has a boil(Q) on their skin and it heals, 19 and in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white(R) spot(S) appears, they must present themselves to the priest. 20 The priest is to examine it, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce that person unclean. It is a defiling skin disease(T) that has broken out where the boil was. 21 But if, when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days. 22 If it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling disease. 23 But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.(U)

24 “When someone has a burn on their skin and a reddish-white or white spot appears in the raw flesh of the burn, 25 the priest is to examine the spot, and if the hair in it has turned white, and it appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease.(V) 26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and if it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days.(W) 27 On the seventh day the priest is to examine that person,(X) and if it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease. 28 If, however, the spot is unchanged and has not spread in the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce them clean; it is only a scar from the burn.(Y)

29 “If a man or woman has a sore on their head(Z) or chin, 30 the priest is to examine the sore, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease on the head or chin. 31 But if, when the priest examines the sore, it does not seem to be more than skin deep and there is no black hair in it, then the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days.(AA) 32 On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore,(AB) and if it has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it and it does not appear to be more than skin deep, 33 then the man or woman must shave themselves, except for the affected area, and the priest is to keep them isolated another seven days. 34 On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore,(AC) and if it has not spread in the skin and appears to be no more than skin deep, the priest shall pronounce them clean. They must wash their clothes, and they will be clean.(AD) 35 But if the sore does spread in the skin after they are pronounced clean, 36 the priest is to examine them, and if he finds that the sore has spread in the skin, he does not need to look for yellow hair; they are unclean.(AE) 37 If, however, the sore is unchanged so far as the priest can see, and if black hair has grown in it, the affected person is healed. They are clean, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.

38 “When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, 39 the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; they are clean.

40 “A man who has lost his hair and is bald(AF) is clean. 41 If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean. 42 But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is a defiling disease breaking out on his head or forehead. 43 The priest is to examine him, and if the swollen sore on his head or forehead is reddish-white like a defiling skin disease, 44 the man is diseased and is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean because of the sore on his head.

45 “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes,(AG) let their hair be unkempt,[c] cover the lower part of their face(AH) and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’(AI) 46 As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.(AJ)

Regulations About Defiling Molds

47 “As for any fabric that is spoiled with a defiling mold—any woolen or linen clothing, 48 any woven or knitted material of linen or wool, any leather or anything made of leather— 49 if the affected area in the fabric, the leather, the woven or knitted material, or any leather article, is greenish or reddish, it is a defiling mold and must be shown to the priest.(AK) 50 The priest is to examine the affected area(AL) and isolate the article for seven days. 51 On the seventh day he is to examine it,(AM) and if the mold has spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather, whatever its use, it is a persistent defiling mold; the article is unclean.(AN) 52 He must burn the fabric, the woven or knitted material of wool or linen, or any leather article that has been spoiled; because the defiling mold is persistent, the article must be burned.(AO)

53 “But if, when the priest examines it, the mold has not spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather article, 54 he shall order that the spoiled article be washed. Then he is to isolate it for another seven days. 55 After the article has been washed, the priest is to examine it again, and if the mold has not changed its appearance, even though it has not spread, it is unclean. Burn it, no matter which side of the fabric has been spoiled. 56 If, when the priest examines it, the mold has faded after the article has been washed, he is to tear the spoiled part out of the fabric, the leather, or the woven or knitted material. 57 But if it reappears in the fabric, in the woven or knitted material, or in the leather article, it is a spreading mold; whatever has the mold must be burned. 58 Any fabric, woven or knitted material, or any leather article that has been washed and is rid of the mold, must be washed again. Then it will be clean.”

59 These are the regulations concerning defiling molds in woolen or linen clothing, woven or knitted material, or any leather article, for pronouncing them clean or unclean.

Cleansing From Defiling Skin Diseases

14 The Lord said to Moses, “These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest:(AP) The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them.(AQ) If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease,[d](AR) the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop(AS) be brought for the person to be cleansed.(AT) Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot.(AU) He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.(AV) Seven times(AW) he shall sprinkle(AX) the one to be cleansed of the defiling disease, and then pronounce them clean. After that, he is to release the live bird in the open fields.(AY)

“The person to be cleansed must wash their clothes,(AZ) shave off all their hair and bathe with water;(BA) then they will be ceremonially clean.(BB) After this they may come into the camp,(BC) but they must stay outside their tent for seven days. On the seventh day(BD) they must shave off all their hair;(BE) they must shave their head, their beard, their eyebrows and the rest of their hair. They must wash their clothes and bathe themselves with water, and they will be clean.(BF)

10 “On the eighth day(BG) they must bring two male lambs and one ewe lamb(BH) a year old, each without defect, along with three-tenths of an ephah[e](BI) of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering,(BJ) and one log[f] of oil.(BK) 11 The priest who pronounces them clean shall present(BL) both the one to be cleansed and their offerings before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(BM)

12 “Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering,(BN) along with the log of oil; he shall wave them before the Lord as a wave offering.(BO) 13 He is to slaughter the lamb in the sanctuary area(BP) where the sin offering[g] and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest;(BQ) it is most holy. 14 The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot.(BR) 15 The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand,(BS) 16 dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the Lord seven times.(BT) 17 The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering.(BU) 18 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed(BV) and make atonement for them before the Lord.

19 “Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from their uncleanness.(BW) After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering 20 and offer it on the altar, together with the grain offering, and make atonement for them,(BX) and they will be clean.(BY)

21 “If, however, they are poor(BZ) and cannot afford these,(CA) they must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for them, together with a tenth of an ephah[h] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of oil, 22 and two doves or two young pigeons,(CB) such as they can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.(CC)

23 “On the eighth day they must bring them for their cleansing to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting,(CD) before the Lord.(CE) 24 The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering,(CF) together with the log of oil,(CG) and wave them before the Lord as a wave offering.(CH) 25 He shall slaughter the lamb for the guilt offering and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot.(CI) 26 The priest is to pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand,(CJ) 27 and with his right forefinger sprinkle some of the oil from his palm seven times before the Lord. 28 Some of the oil in his palm he is to put on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. 29 The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for them before the Lord.(CK) 30 Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, such as the person can afford,(CL) 31 one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering,(CM) together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one to be cleansed.(CN)

32 These are the regulations for anyone who has a defiling skin disease(CO) and who cannot afford the regular offerings(CP) for their cleansing.

Cleansing From Defiling Molds

33 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 34 “When you enter the land of Canaan,(CQ) which I am giving you as your possession,(CR) and I put a spreading mold in a house in that land, 35 the owner of the house must go and tell the priest, ‘I have seen something that looks like a defiling mold in my house.’ 36 The priest is to order the house to be emptied before he goes in to examine the mold, so that nothing in the house will be pronounced unclean. After this the priest is to go in and inspect the house. 37 He is to examine the mold on the walls, and if it has greenish or reddish(CS) depressions that appear to be deeper than the surface of the wall, 38 the priest shall go out the doorway of the house and close it up for seven days.(CT) 39 On the seventh day(CU) the priest shall return to inspect the house. If the mold has spread on the walls, 40 he is to order that the contaminated stones be torn out and thrown into an unclean place outside the town.(CV) 41 He must have all the inside walls of the house scraped and the material that is scraped off dumped into an unclean place outside the town. 42 Then they are to take other stones to replace these and take new clay and plaster the house.

43 “If the defiling mold reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house scraped and plastered, 44 the priest is to go and examine it and, if the mold has spread in the house, it is a persistent defiling mold; the house is unclean.(CW) 45 It must be torn down—its stones, timbers and all the plaster—and taken out of the town to an unclean place.

46 “Anyone who goes into the house while it is closed up will be unclean till evening.(CX) 47 Anyone who sleeps or eats in the house must wash their clothes.(CY)

48 “But if the priest comes to examine it and the mold has not spread after the house has been plastered, he shall pronounce the house clean,(CZ) because the defiling mold is gone. 49 To purify the house he is to take two birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop.(DA) 50 He shall kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot.(DB) 51 Then he is to take the cedar wood, the hyssop,(DC) the scarlet yarn and the live bird, dip them into the blood of the dead bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times.(DD) 52 He shall purify the house with the bird’s blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet yarn. 53 Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields(DE) outside the town. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.(DF)

54 These are the regulations for any defiling skin disease,(DG) for a sore, 55 for defiling molds(DH) in fabric or in a house, 56 and for a swelling, a rash or a shiny spot,(DI) 57 to determine when something is clean or unclean.

These are the regulations for defiling skin diseases and defiling molds.(DJ)

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 13:2 The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin; here and throughout verses 3-46.
  2. Leviticus 13:2 Or descendants
  3. Leviticus 13:45 Or clothes, uncover their head
  4. Leviticus 14:3 The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin; also in verses 7, 32, 54 and 57.
  5. Leviticus 14:10 That is, probably about 11 pounds or about 5 kilograms
  6. Leviticus 14:10 That is, about 1/3 quart or about 0.3 liter; also in verses 12, 15, 21 and 24
  7. Leviticus 14:13 Or purification offering; also in verses 19, 22 and 31
  8. Leviticus 14:21 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms