Leviticus 13:19

Verse

and a white swelling or a reddish-white spot develops where the boil was, he must present himself to the priest.

American Standard Version (1901)

and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be showed to the priest;

Bible in Basic English

And on the same place there is a white growth of a bright mark, red and white, then let the priest see it;

Douay-Rheims 1899

And in the place of the ulcer, there appeareth a white scar, or somewhat red, the man shall be brought to the priest:

Free Bible Version

and a white swelling or a reddish-white spot appears in its place, they must show themselves to the priest.

Geneva Bible 1599

And in ye place of the bile there be a white swelling, or a white spot somewhat reddish, it shall be seene of the Priest.

King James (Authorized) Version

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;

One Unity Resource Bible

and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest;

Translation for Translators

but in the place where the boil was a white swelling or a bright/shiny spot appears, he must go to the priest.

Unlocked Literal Bible

and in place of the boil there is white swelling or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it must be shown to the priest.

Noah Webster Bible

And in the place of the boil there shall be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be showed to the priest;

World English Bible

and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest.

Young's Literal Translation

and there hath been in the place of the ulcer a white rising, or a bright white spot, very red, then it hath been seen by the priest,

Context

Laws about Skin Diseases

¹⁸When a boil appears on someone’s skin and it heals,¹⁹and a white swelling or a reddish-white spot develops where the boil was, he must present himself to the priest.²⁰The priest shall examine it, and if it appears to be beneath the skin and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection that has broken out in the boil.

Summary

Leviticus 13:19 discusses the diagnosis of leprosy in a person where the priest examines the skin and if there is a white swelling that has turned the hair white and raw flesh appears, it is considered unclean. This verse is part of the detailed instructions given to the Israelites regarding identifying and dealing with various skin diseases to maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of infection within the community. The emphasis is on the importance of physical health and hygiene as well as the role of the priest in making such determinations according to the laws given by God to Moses.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And in the place of the boil there be a white rising,.... In the place where the boil was, a white swelling appears: or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish; white and red mixed, as the Targum of Jonathan; and so Aben Ezra interprets the word "reddish", of the bright spot being mixed of two colours, or part of it so; and such a mixed colour of white and red, Gersom observes, is usual in a swelling, and adds, we are taught how to judge of these appearances, according to a tradition from Moses, which is this: take a cup full of milk, and put in it two drops of blood, and the colour of it will be as the colour of the bright spot, white and reddish; and if you put into it four drops, its colour will be as the colour of the rising (or swelling) reddish; and if you put into it eight drops, its colour will be as the colour of the scab of the bright spot, more reddish; and if you put into it sixteen drops, its colour will be as the colour of the scab of the swelling, very red: hence it appears, says he, that the bright spot is whitest with its redness, and after that the swelling, and next the scab of the bright spot, and then the scab of the swelling; but Bochart (p) is of opinion that the word is wrongly rendered "reddish", which, he thinks, contradicts the account of the bright spot being white, and especially as the word for "reddish" has its radicals doubled, which always increase the signification; and therefore if the word bears the sense of redness, it should be rendered "exceeding red", which would be quite contrary to the spot being white at all; wherefore from the use of the word in the Arabic language, which signifies white, bright, and glittering; See Gill on Lam 4:7; he chooses to read the words, "or a bright spot, white and exceeding glittering": but this word we render reddish and white, being read disjunctively, Lev 13:24; seems to contradict this observation of his: and it be shewed to the priest; to look upon and pass his judgment on it. (p) Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 5. c. 6. col. 689.