Leviticus 17:16
New International Version
But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe themselves, they will be held responsible.’”

New Living Translation
But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe themselves, they will be punished for their sin.”

English Standard Version
But if he does not wash them or bathe his flesh, he shall bear his iniquity.”

Berean Standard Bible
But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, then he shall bear his iniquity.”

King James Bible
But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

New King James Version
But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt.”

New American Standard Bible
But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe his body, then he shall bear the responsibility for his guilt.”

NASB 1995
“But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt.”

NASB 1977
“But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt.”

Amplified Bible
But if he does not wash his clothes or bathe his body, he shall bear his guilt [for it will not be borne by the sacrifice of atonement].”

Christian Standard Bible
But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, he will bear his iniquity.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, he will bear his punishment.”

American Standard Version
But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.

Contemporary English Version
If you don't take a bath, you will suffer for what you did wrong.

English Revised Version
But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If they don't wash their clothes and their bodies, they will be guilty of sin."

Good News Translation
If they do not, they must suffer the consequences.

International Standard Version
But if he doesn't wash or bathe his body, then he is to bear the punishment of his iniquity."

Majority Standard Bible
But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, then he shall bear his iniquity.?

NET Bible
But if he does not wash his clothes and does not bathe his body, he will bear his punishment for iniquity.'"

New Heart English Bible
But if he doesn't wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
But if he doth not wash them, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

World English Bible
But if he doesn’t wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and if he does not wash, and does not bathe his flesh—then he has borne his iniquity.”

Young's Literal Translation
and if he wash not, and his flesh bathe not -- then he hath borne his iniquity.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And if he shall not wash his garments, and bathe not his flesh, and he shall bear his iniquity.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if he do not wash his clothes, and his body, he shall bear his iniquity.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if he will not wash his clothes and his body, he shall bear his iniquity.

New American Bible
If one does not wash his garments and bathe, that person shall bear the penalty.

New Revised Standard Version
But if they do not wash themselves or bathe their body, they shall bear their guilt.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if he does not wash them nor bathe his body, then he shall suffer for his iniquity.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if he will not wash his garments and will not bathe his flesh, he will carry his sin.'"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if he do not wash his garments, and do not bathe his body in water, then shall he bear his iniquity.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eating of Blood Forbidden
15And any person, whether native or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening; then he will be clean. 16But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, then he shall bear his iniquity.”

Cross References
Acts 15:20
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

Acts 15:29
You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Genesis 9:4
But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.

Deuteronomy 12:16
but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

Deuteronomy 12:23-25
Only be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. / You must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. / Do not eat it, so that it may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD.

1 Samuel 14:32-34
So they rushed greedily to the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood still in it. / Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” / Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there.

Ezekiel 33:10-11
Now as for you, son of man, tell the house of Israel that this is what they have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy upon us, and we are wasting away because of them! How can we live?’ / Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Isaiah 1:16-17
Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! / Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Mark 7:15
Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”

Romans 14:14
I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

Romans 14:20-21
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. / It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

1 Corinthians 8:7-13
But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. / But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. / Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. ...

1 Corinthians 10:25-31
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, / for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” / If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience. ...

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.


Treasury of Scripture

But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

Leviticus 5:1
And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

Leviticus 7:18
And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.

Leviticus 19:8
Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

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Leviticus 17
1. The blood of slain beasts must be offered to the Lord at the tabernacle door
7. They must not offer to idols
10. All eating of blood is forbidden
15. and of all that dies by itself, or is torn














But if he does not wash his clothes
The phrase "wash his clothes" in the Hebrew text is "כִּבֶּס בְּגָדָיו" (kibbes begadav). The act of washing clothes in ancient Israel was not merely a physical cleansing but also held a significant ritualistic and symbolic meaning. In the context of Leviticus, washing was often associated with purification and the removal of impurity or sin. The requirement to wash one's clothes signifies a call to holiness and a separation from defilement. This reflects the broader Levitical theme of maintaining purity before God, who is holy. The act of washing symbolizes repentance and the desire to be cleansed from sin, aligning with the New Testament call for believers to be washed and renewed through Christ.

and bathe himself
The Hebrew word for "bathe" is "רָחַץ" (rachatz), which means to wash or cleanse oneself. In the ancient Near Eastern context, bathing was a significant act of purification, often required before participating in religious activities or entering sacred spaces. This requirement underscores the importance of personal holiness and the need for individuals to be clean before approaching God. It serves as a reminder of the inner cleansing that is necessary for true worship and fellowship with the Lord. The physical act of bathing points to the spiritual cleansing that is fulfilled in the New Testament through the blood of Christ, which washes away sin and makes believers pure before God.

he will bear his iniquity
The phrase "bear his iniquity" in Hebrew is "יִשָּׂא עֲוֹנוֹ" (yissa avono). This expression indicates that the individual will be held accountable for their sin and will face the consequences of their actions. In the Levitical system, failing to adhere to God's commands, especially those related to purity and holiness, resulted in bearing one's iniquity, which could lead to separation from the community or even death. This highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. In a broader biblical context, this phrase points to the ultimate bearing of iniquity by Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself the sins of the world, offering redemption and reconciliation with God. It serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of sin and the grace available through faith in Christ.

(16) Then he shall bear his iniquity.--If he neglects these acts of purification, and enters the sanctuary in a defiled state, or partakes of the sacrificial meal, he is to incur the penalty of excision for the former act, and to be beaten with stripes for the latter, according to the interpretation given to this law in the time of Christ.



Parallel Commentaries ...


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

he does not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

wash
יְכַבֵּ֔ס (yə·ḵab·bês)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3526: To trample, to wash

his clothes and bathe
יִרְחָ֑ץ (yir·ḥāṣ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7364: To wash, wash off or away, bathe

himself,
וּבְשָׂר֖וֹ (ū·ḇə·śā·rōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

then he shall bear
וְנָשָׂ֖א (wə·nā·śā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

his iniquity.”
עֲוֺנֽוֹ׃ (‘ă·wō·nōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity


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OT Law: Leviticus 17:16 But if he doesn't wash them (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 17:15
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