Leviticus 13:43

Verse

The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,

American Standard Version (1901)

Then the priest shall look upon him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh;

Bible in Basic English

Then if the priest sees that the growth of the disease has become red and white on his head or on his brow where there is no hair, like the mark in the skin of a leper;

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the priest perceive this, he shall condemn him undoubtedly of leprosy which is risen in the bald part.

Free Bible Version

The priest must inspect him, and if the swelling of the sore on his bald head or forehead looks reddish-white like a skin disease,

Geneva Bible 1599

Therefore the Priest shall looke vpon it, and if the rising of the sore bee white reddish in his balde head, or in his bald forehead, appearing like leprosie in the skin of the flesh,

King James (Authorized) Version

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;

One Unity Resource Bible

Then the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of tzara'at in the skin of the flesh,

Translation for Translators

The priest must examine him. If the swollen sore is a bright spot like the spot on someone who has a contagious skin disease,

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then the priest must examine him to see if the swelling of the diseased area on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white, like the appearance of an infectious disease in the skin.

Noah Webster Bible

Then the priest shall look upon it: and behold, if the rising of the sore is white reddish on his bald head, or on his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;

World English Bible

Then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body,

Young's Literal Translation

and the priest hath seen him, and lo, the rising of the very red white plague in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead, [is] as the appearance of leprosy, in the skin of the flesh,

Context

Laws about Skin Diseases

⁴²But if there is a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on it.⁴³The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,⁴⁴the man is diseased; he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean because of the infection on his head.

Summary

In Leviticus 13:43, the focus is on the diagnosis of leprosy in a person's skin. The presence of white swelling in the skin that turns the hair white and the raw flesh appearing in the swelling indicates a serious skin disease. This verse is part of the detailed instructions given to the Israelites by God through Moses regarding identifying and dealing with various skin conditions to maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of infectious diseases within the community. It underscores the importance of physical health and hygiene in the context of the Israelites' religious practices and daily living.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the leper in whom the plague is,.... Meaning not he only that has the plague of leprosy in his head, but every sort of leper before mentioned in this chapter: his clothes shall be rent; not that he might the more easily put on his clothes without hurting him, as some have thought; or that the corrupt humours might evaporate more freely, for evaporation would rather be hindered than promoted by being exposed to cold; nor that he might be known and better avoided, for his cry after mentioned was sufficient for that; but as a token of mourning: and so Aben Ezra having mentioned the former reason, that he might be known by going in a different habit, adds, or the sense is, as a token of mourning; for he was to mourn for the wickedness of his actions; for, for his works came this plague of leprosy upon him; and so the Jews in common understand it, not as a disease arising from natural causes, but as a punishment inflicted by God for sin; wherefore this rite of rending the garments was an emblem of contrition of heart, and of sorrow and humiliation for sin, see Joe 1:13, and his head bare; or "free" from cutting or shaving, but shall let his hair grow; and so the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi interpret it; or free from any covering upon it, hat, or cap, or turban: Ben Gersom observes, that the making bare the head, or freeing it, is taken different ways; sometimes it is used of not shaving the head for thirty days, and sometimes for the removal of the vail, or covering of the head it has been used to; but in this place it cannot signify the nourishing of the hair, but that his head ought to be covered: and so Maimonides (a) observes, that a leper should cover his head all the days he is excluded, and this was a token of mourning also; see Sa2 15:30, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip; as a mourner, see Eze 24:17. Jarchi interprets it of both lips, upper and under, which were covered with a linen cloth or vail thrown over the shoulder, and with which the mouth was covered; and this was done, as Aben Ezra says, that the leper might not hurt any with the breath of his mouth: and shall cry, Unclean, unclean; as he passed along in any public place, that everyone might avoid him, and not be polluted by him: the Targum of Jonathan is,"a herald shall proclaim and say, Depart, depart from the unclean.''So every sinner sensible of the leprosy of sin in his nature, and which appears in his actions, should freely confess and acknowledge his uncleanness, original and actual, the impurity of his heart and life, and even of his own righteousness in the sight of God, and have recourse to Christ, and to his blood, for the cleansing him from it. (a) Hilchot Tumaat Tzarat, c. 10. sect. 6.