📖 Leviticus — Chapter 13 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Leviticus 13:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,
Leviticus 13:2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a Trising, Ra scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
Leviticus 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is Rturned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
Leviticus 13:4 If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall Rshut up him that hath the plague seven days:
Leviticus 13:5 And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:
Leviticus 13:6 And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall Rpronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
Leviticus 13:7 But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again.
Leviticus 13:8 And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy.
Leviticus 13:9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;
Leviticus 13:10 And the priest Rshall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be Tquick raw flesh in the rising;
Leviticus 13:11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.
Leviticus 13:12 And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy Rcover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;
Leviticus 13:13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: Rhe is clean.
Leviticus 13:14 But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.
Leviticus 13:15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy.
Leviticus 13:16 Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;
Leviticus 13:17 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.
Leviticus 13:18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was Ra boil, and is healed,
Leviticus 13:19 And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest;
Leviticus 13:20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be Rin sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.
Leviticus 13:21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall Rshut him up seven days:
Leviticus 13:22 And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.
Leviticus 13:23 But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Leviticus 13:24 Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is RTa hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;
Leviticus 13:25 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be Rturned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
Leviticus 13:26 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; Rthen the priest shall shut him up seven days:
Leviticus 13:27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
Leviticus 13:28 And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.
Leviticus 13:29 RIf a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;
Leviticus 13:30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry Rscall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.
Leviticus 13:31 And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:
Leviticus 13:32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no Ryellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;
Leviticus 13:33 He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more:
Leviticus 13:34 And in Rthe seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
Leviticus 13:35 RBut if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;
Leviticus 13:36 Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean.
Leviticus 13:37 But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Leviticus 13:38 If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;
Leviticus 13:39 Then the priest shall look: and, behold, Rif the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.
Leviticus 13:40 And the man whose RThair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.
Leviticus 13:41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.
Leviticus 13:42 And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.
Leviticus 13:43 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;
Leviticus 13:44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him Rutterly unclean; his plague is in his head.
Leviticus 13:45 And the leper in whom the plague is, Rhis clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
Leviticus 13:46 All Rthe days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
Leviticus 13:47 RThe garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;
Leviticus 13:48 Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any RTthing made of skin;
Leviticus 13:49 And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any Tthing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:
Leviticus 13:50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days:
Leviticus 13:51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a Rfretting leprosy; it is unclean.
Leviticus 13:52 He shall therefore Rburn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
Leviticus 13:53 And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin;
Leviticus 13:54 Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:
Leviticus 13:55 And the priest shall look on the plague, Rafter that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, Twhether it be bare within or without.
Leviticus 13:56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:
Leviticus 13:57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou Rshalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire.
Leviticus 13:58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall Rbe washed the second time, and shall be clean.
Leviticus 13:59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Leviticus 13:1–23 — The Priest Examines Skin Conditions
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD gives detailed instructions for examining a rising, scab, bright spot, or other condition described as leprosy in the KJV. The priest observes features such as the hair, depth, and spread, sometimes waiting and examining again. The instructions distinguish cases pronounced clean from those pronounced unclean.
Key Truth: The priest's judgment follows the stated observations and periods of examination.
Check What You Remember
1. To whom was the person brought for examination? (Leviticus 13:2)
Find it in Leviticus 13:2 (KJV).
2. What colour of hair is mentioned as a sign in verse 3? (Leviticus 13:3)
Find it in Leviticus 13:3 (KJV).
3. How many days was the first waiting period in verse 4? (Leviticus 13:4)
Find it in Leviticus 13:4 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Leviticus 13:24–46 — Further Examination and Living Outside the Camp
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The law also addresses burns, conditions of the head or beard, and baldness. Baldness alone is expressly described as clean. A person pronounced unclean with the plague must make that status known and live outside the camp. These passages describe the ritual status and arrangements prescribed for Israel.
Key Truth: Careful distinctions matter; not every visible difference is pronounced unclean.
Check What You Remember
1. Did baldness alone make the man in verse 40 unclean? (Leviticus 13:40)
Find it in Leviticus 13:40 (KJV).
2. What was a person with the plague to cry? (Leviticus 13:45)
Find it in Leviticus 13:45 (KJV).
3. Where was that person's habitation? (Leviticus 13:46)
Find it in Leviticus 13:46 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Leviticus 13:47–59 — Affected Garments
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The chapter also applies the KJV term leprosy to affected wool, linen, or skin articles. A priest examines the coloured marks and oversees waiting, washing, removal, or burning as the passage specifies. The final verse identifies the purpose as pronouncing the article clean or unclean.
Key Truth: The instructions include objects as well as people, with distinct steps for examination and cleansing.
Check What You Remember
1. Name both colours of marks described in verse 49. (Leviticus 13:49)
Find it in Leviticus 13:49 (KJV).
2. How many days was the article first shut up? (Leviticus 13:50)
Find it in Leviticus 13:50 (KJV).
3. What was done to the garment with the spreading plague in verse 52? (Leviticus 13:52)
Find it in Leviticus 13:52 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the uncertain bright-spot case use repeated examination rather than immediate final judgment?
2. How does raw flesh change the case in which the whole skin has turned white?
3. When a scall spreads after cleansing, why is yellow hair no longer sought?
4. How does the chapter distinguish baldness alone from a sore in a bald area?
5. How does a garment’s response to washing affect its later treatment?
Notes
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