Leviticus 13:20

Verse

The 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.

American Standard Version (1901)

and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken out in the boil.

Bible in Basic English

And after looking at it, if it seems to go deeper than the skin, and the hair on it is turned white, then the priest will say that the man is unclean: it is the leper's disease, it has come out in the bad place.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And when he shall see the place of the leprosy lower than the other flesh, and the hair turned white, he shall declare him unclean, for the plague of leprosy is broken out in the ulcer.

Free Bible Version

The priest shall inspect it, and if it seems to be more than something on the surface, and if the hair there has turned white, the priest shall declare him unclean. It is a serious skin disease that has infected the boil.

Geneva Bible 1599

And when the Priest seeth it, if it appeare lower then the skinne, and the heare thereof bee changed into white, ye Priest then shall pronounce him vncleane: for it is a plague of leprosie, broken out in the bile.

King James (Authorized) Version

And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in 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.

One Unity Resource Bible

and the priest shall examine it; and behold, if its appearance is lower than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of tzara'at. It has broken out in the boil.

Translation for Translators

The priest must examine it. And if it seems to be deeper than just on the skin, and if the hair in that spot has become white, it is a contagious skin disease that has appeared where the boil had been. And the priest will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The priest will examine it to see if it appears deeper under the skin, and if the hair there has turned white. If so, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is an infectious disease, if it has developed in the place where the boil was.

Noah Webster Bible

And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it is in sight lower than the skin, and the hair of it is turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.

World English Bible

The priest shall examine it. Behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. It has broken out in the boil.

Young's Literal Translation

and the priest hath seen, and lo, its appearance [is] lower than the skin, and its hair hath turned white, and the priest hath pronounced him unclean; it [is] a plague of leprosy — in an ulcer it hath broken out.

Context

Laws about Skin Diseases

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 13:20 discusses the diagnosis of leprosy in a person where if a sore turns white and appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a sign of a serious skin disease. This verse reflects the meticulous instructions given by God to the Israelites regarding cleanliness and health. Leprosy was not only a physical ailment but also a symbol of sin and impurity, requiring isolation and purification rituals. The detailed regulations in Leviticus served to teach the people about holiness, obedience, and the need for spiritual cleansing before God.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And if, when the priest seeth it,.... And has thoroughly viewed it and considered it: behold, it be in sight lower than the skin; having eaten into and taken root in the flesh under the skin: and the hair thereof be turned white; which are the signs of leprosy before given, Lev 13:3, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; not fit for company and conversation, but obliged to conform to the laws concerning leprosy: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil; which was there before: this is an emblem of apostates and apostasy, who having been seemingly healed and cleansed, return to their former course of life, and to all the impurity of it, like the dog to its vomit, and the swine to its wallowing in the mire, Pro 26:11; and so their last state is worse than the first, Mat 12:45, as in this case; at first it was a boil, and then thought to be cured, and afterwards arises out of it a plague of leprosy.