Leviticus — Chapter 15
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1And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
2“Say to the Israelites, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean.
3This uncleanness is from his discharge, whether his body allows the discharge to flow or blocks it. So his discharge will bring about uncleanness.
4Any bed on which the man with the discharge lies will be unclean, and any furniture on which he sits will be unclean.
5Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
6Whoever sits on furniture on which the man with the discharge was sitting must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
7Whoever touches the body of the man with a discharge must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
8If the man with the discharge spits on one who is clean, that person must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
9Any saddle on which the man with the discharge rides will be unclean.
10Whoever touches anything that was under him will be unclean until evening, and whoever carries such things must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
11If the man with the discharge touches anyone without first rinsing his hands with water, the one who was touched must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
12Any clay pot that the man with the discharge touches must be broken, and any wooden utensil must be rinsed with water.
13When the man has been cleansed from his discharge, he must count off seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe himself in fresh water, and he shall be clean.
14On the eighth day he is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, come before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest.
15The priest is to sacrifice them, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the man before the LORD because of his discharge.
16When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
17Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.
18If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both must bathe with water, and they will remain unclean until evening.
19When a woman has a discharge consisting of blood from her body, she will be unclean due to her menstruation for seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening.
20Anything on which she lies or sits during her menstruation will be unclean,
21and anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
22Whoever touches any furniture on which she was sitting must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
23And whether it is a bed or furniture on which she was sitting, whoever touches it will be unclean until evening.
24If a man lies with her and her menstrual flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days, and any bed on which he lies will become unclean.
25When a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days at a time other than her menstrual period, or if it continues beyond her period, she will be unclean all the days of her unclean discharge, just as she is during the days of her menstruation.
26Any bed on which she lies or any furniture on which she sits during the days of her discharge will be unclean, like her bed during her menstrual period.
27Anyone who touches these things will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
28When a woman is cleansed of her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean.
29On the eighth day she is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
30The priest is to sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her before the LORD for her unclean discharge.
31You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.
32This is the law of him who has a discharge, of the man who has an emission of semen whereby he is unclean,
33of a woman in her menstrual period, of any male or female who has a discharge, and of a man who lies with an unclean woman.’”
1And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh,
3And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it
4Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.
5And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe
6And he that sitteth on
7And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe
8And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe
9And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.
10And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth
11And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe
12And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
13And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
14And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:
15And the priest shall offer them, the one
16And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
17And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
18The woman also with whom man shall lie
19And if a woman have an issue,
20And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
21And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe
22And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe
23And if it
24And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth
25And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
26Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.
27And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe
28But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
29And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
30And the priest shall offer the one
31Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that
32This
33And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath an issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.
3And 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.
4Every bed whereon he that hath the issue lieth shall be unclean; and everything whereon he sitteth shall be unclean.
5And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
6And he that sitteth on anything whereon he that hath the issue sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
7And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
8And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
9And what saddle soever he that hath the issue rideth upon shall be unclean.
10And whosoever toucheth anything that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
11And whomsoever he that hath the issue toucheth, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
12And the earthen vessel, which he that hath the issue toucheth, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
13And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
14And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before Jehovah unto the door of the tent of meeting, and give them unto the priest:
15and the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him before Jehovah for his issue.
16And if any man`s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
17And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
18The woman also with whom a man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.
19And if a woman have an issue, [and] her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
20And everything that she lieth upon in her impurity shall be unclean: everything also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
21And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
22And whosoever toucheth anything that she sitteth upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
23And if it be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
24And if any man lie with her, and her impurity be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
25And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days not in the time of her impurity, or if she have an issue beyond the time of her impurity; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness she shall be as in the days of her impurity: she is unclean.
26Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her impurity: and everything whereon she sitteth shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity.
27And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
28But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
29And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting.
30And the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Jehovah for the issue of her uncleanness.
31Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is in the midst of them.
32This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed of copulation goeth from him, so that he is unclean thereby;
33and of her that is sick with her impurity, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.
1The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:
2“Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean.
3Now this is his uncleanness in regard to his discharge—whether his body secretes his discharge or blocks his discharge, he is unclean. All the days that his body has a discharge or his body blocks his discharge, this is his uncleanness.
4“‘Any bed the man with a discharge lies on will be unclean, and any furniture he sits on will be unclean.
5Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
6The one who sits on the furniture the man with a discharge sits on must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
7The one who touches the body of the man with a discharge must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
8If the man with a discharge spits on a person who is ceremonially clean, that person must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
9Any means of riding that the man with a discharge rides on will be unclean.
10Anyone who touches anything that was under him will be unclean until evening, and the one who carries those items must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
11Anyone whom the man with the discharge touches without having rinsed his hands in water must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
12A clay vessel which the man with the discharge touches must be broken, and any wooden utensil must be rinsed in water.
13“‘When the man with the discharge becomes clean from his discharge, he is to count off for himself seven days for his purification, and he must wash his clothes, bathe in fresh water, and be clean.
14Then on the eighth day he is to take for himself two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and he is to present himself before the Lord at the entrance of the Meeting Tent and give them to the priest,
15and the priest is to make one of them a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. So the priest is to make atonement for him before the Lord for his discharge.
16“‘When a man has a seminal emission, he must bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until evening,
17and he must wash in water any clothing or leather that has semen on it, and it will be unclean until evening.
18As for a woman whom a man goes to bed with, then has a seminal emission, they must bathe in water and be unclean until evening.
19“‘When a woman has a discharge and her discharge is blood from her body, she is to be in her menstruation seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening.
20Anything she lies on during her menstruation will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean.
21Anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
22Anyone who touches any furniture she sits on must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
23If there is something on the bed or on the furniture she sits on, when he touches it, he will be unclean until evening,
24and if a man actually goes to bed with her so that her menstrual impurity touches him, then he will be unclean seven days, and any bed he lies on will be unclean.
25“‘When a woman’s discharge of blood flows many days not at the time of her menstruation, or if it flows beyond the time of her menstruation, all the days of her discharge of impurity will be like the days of her menstruation—she is unclean.
26Any bed she lies on all the days of her discharge will be to her like the bed of her menstruation, any furniture she sits on will be unclean like the impurity of her menstruation,
27and anyone who touches them will be unclean, and he must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.
28“‘If she becomes clean from her discharge, then she is to count off for herself seven days, and afterward she will be clean.
29Then on the eighth day she must take for herself two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and she must bring them to the priest at the entrance of the Meeting Tent,
30and the priest is to make one a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. So the priest is to make atonement for her before the Lord from her discharge of impurity.
31“‘Thus you are to set the Israelites apart from their impurity so that they do not die in their impurity by defiling my tabernacle which is in their midst.
32This is the law for the one with a discharge: for the one who has a seminal emission and becomes unclean by it,
33for the one who is sick in her menstruation, for the one with a discharge, whether male or female, and for a man who goes to bed with an unclean woman.’”
1Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When any man has a discharge from his body, because of his discharge he is unclean.
3This shall be his uncleanness in his discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body has stopped from his discharge, it is his uncleanness.
4“‘Every bed whereon he who has the discharge lies shall be unclean; and everything he sits on shall be unclean.
5Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
6He who sits on anything whereon the man who has the discharge sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
7“‘He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
8“‘If he who has the discharge spits on him who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
9“‘Whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on shall be unclean.
10Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. He who carries those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
11“‘Whoever he who has the discharge touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
12“‘The earthen vessel, which he who has the discharge touches, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
13“‘When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
14“‘On the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before Yahweh to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest:
15and the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. The priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh for his discharge.
16“‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening.
17Every garment, and every skin, whereon the semen is, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.
18If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.
19“‘If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.
20“‘Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be unclean. Everything also that she sits on shall be unclean.
21Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
22Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
23If it is on the bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening.
24“‘If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lies shall be unclean.
25“‘If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her period; all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness shall be as in the days of her period: she is unclean.
26Every bed whereon she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her period: and everything whereon she sits shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her period.
27Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
28“‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
29On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting.
30The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Yahweh for the uncleanness of her discharge.
31“‘Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.’”
32This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean thereby;
33and of her who has her period, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.
Summary
Moses and Aaron receive laws governing bodily discharges that render a person ceremonially unclean (vv. 1-2). A man with a chronic discharge defiles anything he lies or sits on, and anyone who touches him, his bedding, or his seat must wash and remain unclean until evening (vv. 3-12); once the discharge stops he counts seven days, washes, and brings two birds to the priest on the eighth day for atonement (vv. 13-15). A seminal emission brings uncleanness until evening for both partners (vv. 16-18). A woman's monthly period brings seven days of uncleanness that spreads to anything and anyone she touches (vv. 19-24), and an irregular or prolonged discharge extends that uncleanness until she is cleansed and brings the same bird offering (vv. 25-30). The chapter closes by explaining that these laws separate Israel from uncleanness so they do not defile the tabernacle that dwells among them (vv. 31-33).
Authorship & Background
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that these laws taught Israel that the body in its fallen state is a source of uncleanness, and that approaching God requires dealing with the whole person — not just moral sin but the effects of living in a fallen world. He connects the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5) to this chapter's regulations.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- BibleProject: bibleproject.com On the whole book: a case for reading the book most reading plans stall in.
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Leviticus -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Uncleanness Spreads Beyond the Person (vv.4-12) — Everything the man with a discharge touches — his bed, his seat, anyone who touches those things — becomes unclean too. Are you aware of how your own condition, good or bad, spreads to the people and spaces around you?
- Cleansing Requires Living Water (v.13) — The most serious uncleanness in this chapter can only be washed away in running, "living" water, not a stagnant basin. What in your life needs more than a surface fix — the ongoing, flowing work of God's Spirit rather than a one-time effort?
- A Body That Isn't Yet Whole (vv.16-24) — Even normal, non-sinful bodily functions render a person temporarily unclean here, reminding Israel that the body itself groans under the effects of the fall. Do you make space for the reality that you live in a body not yet fully redeemed?
- Twelve Years of Isolation (vv.25-30) — A woman with prolonged bleeding was perpetually unclean under this law, cut off from worship and touch — the exact condition of the woman healed by Jesus in Mark 5. Is there an area of shame or isolation in your life you're waiting for Christ to reach into?
- The Stakes of God's Presence (v.31) — These laws exist so Israel wouldn't defile the tabernacle and die, showing that approaching a holy God carelessly is genuinely dangerous. Do you approach God with the seriousness His presence deserves, or has familiarity made you casual?