Leviticus 13:37
New International Version
If, however, the sore is unchanged so far as the priest can see, and if black hair has grown in it, the affected person is healed. They are clean, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.

New Living Translation
But if the color of the scabby sore does not change and black hair has grown on it, it has healed. The priest will then pronounce the person ceremonially clean.

English Standard Version
But if in his eyes the itch is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed and he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Berean Standard Bible
If, however, in his sight the scaly outbreak is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed. He is clean, and the priest is to pronounce him clean.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
But if the scale appears to be at a standstill, and there is black hair grown up in it, the scale has healed. He is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

New American Standard Bible
If in his sight the scale has remained, however, and black hair has grown in it, the scale has healed, and he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

NASB 1995
“If in his sight the scale has remained, however, and black hair has grown in it, the scale has healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

NASB 1977
“If in his sight the scale has remained, however, and black hair has grown in it, the scale has healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Legacy Standard Bible
If in his sight the scale has remained, however, and black hair has grown in it, the scale has healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Amplified Bible
If, in the priest’s estimation, the scale has remained [without spreading], and black hair has grown in it, the scale is healed; he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Christian Standard Bible
But if as far as he can see, the scaly outbreak remains unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed; he is clean. The priest is to pronounce the person clean.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if as far as he can see, the scaly outbreak remains unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed; he is clean. The priest is to pronounce the person clean.”

American Standard Version
But if in his eyes the scall be at a stay, and black hair be grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Contemporary English Version
But if he thinks you are completely well, he will say, "You are clean."

English Revised Version
But if in his eyes the scall be at a stay, and black hair be grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if he sees that the scab hasn't spread and black hair grows on it, the scab is healed. The person is clean, so the priest must declare him clean.

Good News Translation
But if in the priest's opinion the sore has not spread and healthy hairs are growing in it, the sore has healed, and the priest shall pronounce you ritually clean.

International Standard Version
If, in his opinion, the scab remained the same and a black hair grew in it, then the scab has healed. He's clean. The priest is to declare him clean.

Majority Standard Bible
If, however, in his sight the scaly outbreak is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed. He is clean, and the priest is to pronounce him clean.

NET Bible
If, as far as the priest can see, the scall has stayed the same and black hair has sprouted in it, the scall has been healed; the person is clean. So the priest is to pronounce him clean.

New Heart English Bible
But if in his eyes the itch is arrested, and black hair has grown in it; the itch is healed, he is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean.

Webster's Bible Translation
But if the scall shall be in his sight at a stay, and there is black hair grown in it; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

World English Bible
But if in his eyes the itch is arrested and black hair has grown in it, then the itch is healed. He is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and if in his eyes the scale has stayed, and black hair has sprung up in it, the scale has been healed—he [is] clean—and the priest has pronounced him clean.

Young's Literal Translation
and if in his eyes the scall hath stayed, and black hair hath sprung up in it, the scall hath been healed -- he is clean -- and the priest hath pronounced him clean.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if in his eyes the scall stood still, and black hair sprang up in it, the scall was healed; he is clean: and the priest cleansed him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if the spot be stayed, and the hair be black, let him know that the man is healed, and let him confidently pronounce him clean.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Furthermore, if the spot has not increased, and the hair is black, let him know that the man is healed: and let him confidently pronounce him clean.

New American Bible
If, however, the scall has remained unchanged in color and black hair has grown in it, the disease has been healed; the person is clean, and the priest shall declare the individual clean.

New Revised Standard Version
But if in his eyes the itch is checked, and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if the disease remains in its place and there is black hair grown up in it; the disease is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if the sore has remained in its place and black hair springs up in it, the plague is healed, because it is clean. The Priest shall declare him clean.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But if the scall stay in its appearance, and black hair be grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if the scurf remain before him in its place, and a dark hair should have arisen in it, the scurf is healed: he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws about Skin Diseases
36the priest is to examine him, and if the scaly outbreak has spread on the skin, the priest need not look for yellow hair; the person is unclean. 37If, however, in his sight the scaly outbreak is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed. He is clean, and the priest is to pronounce him clean. 38When a man or a woman has white spots on the skin,…

Cross References
Matthew 8:2-4
Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. / Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”

Luke 17:12-19
As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance / and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” / When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed. ...

Mark 1:40-45
Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” / And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed. ...

2 Kings 5:1-14
Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. / At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. / She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.” ...

Luke 5:12-16
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. / “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ...

Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Mark 14:3
While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

Luke 7:22
So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Isaiah 53:4
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

Numbers 12:10-15
As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous, / and said to Moses, “My lord, please do not hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed. / Please do not let her be like a stillborn infant whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” ...

2 Chronicles 26:19-21
Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead. / When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him. / So King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolation, leprous and cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham had charge of the royal palace and governed the people of the land.

Matthew 11:5
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

John 9:6-7
When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. / Then He told him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.

2 Kings 7:3-10
Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die? / If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.” / So they arose at twilight and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the outskirts of the camp, there was not a man to be found. ...

Luke 4:27
And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”


Treasury of Scripture

But if the scale be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scale is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Jump to Previous
Appearance Arrested Black Checked Clean Disease Eyes Grown Growth Hair Healed However Itch Judgment Opinion Priest Pronounce Pronounced Scale Scall Sight Sprung Stopped Therein Unchanged
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Appearance Arrested Black Checked Clean Disease Eyes Grown Growth Hair Healed However Itch Judgment Opinion Priest Pronounce Pronounced Scale Scall Sight Sprung Stopped Therein Unchanged
Leviticus 13
1. The laws whereby the priest is to be guided in discerning the leprosy.














But if, in his sight
The phrase "in his sight" refers to the priest's examination, emphasizing the role of the priest as a mediator and judge in matters of ceremonial cleanliness. In Hebrew, the word for "sight" is "עַיִן" (ayin), which also means "eye." This highlights the importance of discernment and careful observation in spiritual leadership. The priest's role was not just to see with physical eyes but to discern the spiritual and communal implications of the condition.

the scaly outbreak
The term "scaly outbreak" is translated from the Hebrew word "נֶתֶק" (neteq), which refers to a specific type of skin condition. This condition was not merely a medical issue but had significant religious and social implications. In ancient Israel, such conditions could render a person ceremonially unclean, affecting their ability to participate in community and worship. The meticulous attention to detail in these laws underscores the holiness required by God and the separation from impurity.

has not spread
The phrase "has not spread" indicates the containment of the condition. In the Hebrew context, the spread of disease was a metaphor for sin and impurity. The containment signifies a return to purity and the possibility of restoration. This reflects the broader biblical theme of repentance and redemption, where sin, if unchecked, spreads and corrupts, but through God's grace, can be contained and cleansed.

and there is black hair in it
The presence of "black hair" is a sign of health and healing. In the ancient Near Eastern context, black hair was considered a sign of vitality and life. The Hebrew word for black, "שָׁחֹר" (shachor), is often associated with youth and vigor. This detail signifies that the condition is not leprous, as leprosy would cause hair to turn white. Spiritually, it symbolizes the restoration of life and strength through God's intervention.

the scaly outbreak has healed
The declaration that "the scaly outbreak has healed" is a pronouncement of restoration. The Hebrew word for healed, "רָפָא" (rapha), is often used in the context of divine healing. This reflects the belief that true healing, whether physical or spiritual, comes from God. It is a reminder of God's power to restore and make whole what was once broken or impure.

He is clean
The statement "He is clean" is a powerful declaration of restored status. In Hebrew, "clean" is "טָהוֹר" (tahor), which means pure or free from defilement. This pronouncement allowed the individual to re-enter the community and participate fully in religious life. It is a profound reminder of the cleansing power of God, who alone can purify and restore us to fellowship with Him and others.

and the priest shall pronounce him clean
The role of the priest in pronouncing someone clean underscores the importance of spiritual authority and community validation in the process of restoration. The priest acts as God's representative, affirming the individual's restored status. This reflects the New Testament concept of the church's role in affirming and supporting believers in their spiritual journey, emphasizing the communal aspect of faith and restoration.

(37) But if the scall be in his sight at a stay.--Better, But if the appearance of the scall hath remained the same.

And that there is black hair grown up therein.--Better, And if black hair hath, &c. If, in addition to its not spreading, the healthy colour of the hair has returned, it shows that the patient is cured of the leprosy, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. (See Leviticus 13:31.) According to the adminstrators of the law, there had at least to be two black hairs, of such a length that the top could bow towards the root. If two hairs grew up on the healed scall, one black and the other white or yellow, or one long and the other short, the patient could not be declared clean.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

in his sight
בְּעֵינָיו֩ (bə·‘ê·nāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

the scaly outbreak
הַנֶּ֜תֶק (han·ne·ṯeq)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5424: Scurf

is unchanged
עָמַ֨ד (‘ā·maḏ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

and black
שָׁחֹ֧ר (šā·ḥōr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7838: Dusky, jetty

hair
וְשֵׂעָ֨ר (wə·śê·‘ār)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8181: Hair

has grown
צָֽמַח־ (ṣā·maḥ-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6779: To sprout, spring up

in it,
בּ֛וֹ (bōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

then it
הַנֶּ֖תֶק (han·ne·ṯeq)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5424: Scurf

has healed.
נִרְפָּ֥א (nir·pā)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7495: To mend, to cure

He
ה֑וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is clean,
טָה֣וֹר (ṭā·hō·wr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2889: Clean, pure

and the priest
הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

is to pronounce him [clean].
וְטִהֲר֖וֹ (wə·ṭi·hă·rōw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2891: To be clean or pure


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OT Law: Leviticus 13:37 But if in his eyes the itch (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 13:36
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