Topical Bible: Quarantined

◄ Quarantined ►

Jump to: Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the concept of quarantine, though not explicitly named as such, is evident in various laws and practices, particularly in the context of disease control and ritual purity. The Mosaic Law, given to the Israelites, contains several instructions that align with what we understand today as quarantine, especially concerning leprosy and other infectious conditions.

Levitical Laws on Leprosy:

The Book of Leviticus provides detailed instructions on how to handle cases of leprosy, a term that likely encompassed a variety of skin diseases. Leviticus 13 outlines the procedures for diagnosing and isolating individuals suspected of having leprosy. The priest played a crucial role in examining the person and determining whether they were clean or unclean. If deemed unclean, the individual was required to live outside the camp, effectively quarantined from the rest of the community, until they were healed and declared clean by the priest. Leviticus 13:46 states, "As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp."

Purpose of Quarantine:

The primary purpose of these quarantine measures was to prevent the spread of disease within the community. By isolating those who were unclean, the Israelites could maintain the purity and health of the camp. This practice also had a spiritual dimension, as physical cleanliness was often associated with spiritual purity. The separation served as a reminder of the holiness required by God and the need for the community to remain undefiled.

Quarantine and Ritual Purity:

In addition to leprosy, other conditions required temporary separation from the community. For example, those who came into contact with a dead body or experienced certain bodily discharges were considered unclean and had to undergo purification rituals before rejoining the community (Numbers 19:11-13). These practices underscored the importance of ritual purity in maintaining a right relationship with God and the community.

New Testament Context:

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention quarantine, the principles of separation for health and purity reasons continue to be relevant. Jesus' healing of lepers, as recorded in the Gospels, highlights His authority over disease and His compassion for those marginalized by their condition. In Luke 17:12-14, Jesus encounters ten lepers who stood at a distance, in accordance with the quarantine practices of the time. He instructs them to show themselves to the priests, and as they went, they were cleansed.

Spiritual Implications:

The biblical concept of quarantine can also be seen as a metaphor for the separation caused by sin. Just as physical disease required isolation and cleansing, sin separates individuals from God and necessitates spiritual purification. The sacrificial system in the Old Testament and the atoning work of Christ in the New Testament address this need for cleansing and restoration.

In summary, while the term "quarantine" is not used in the Bible, the principles of isolation for health and purity reasons are clearly present. These practices reflect the broader biblical themes of holiness, community health, and the need for both physical and spiritual cleansing.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(imp. & p. p.) of Quarantine.

Strong's Hebrew

5462. sagar -- to shut, close
... given (1), given over (1), hand over (1), hands over (1), imprison (1), imprisons
(1), isolate (7), locked (1), pure (9), quarantine (3), quarantined (1), shut ...
/hebrew/5462.htm - 6k

Library

The Value of Life
... fear of infection. The community quarantined the lepers in waste places
by stoning them when they crossed bounds. (Remember Ben ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter i the value of.htm

Mission Work in Chicago
... Our greatest fears were that the whole camp would be quarantined. The Lord encouraged
our hearts to continue in prayer that he would overrule the whole matter. ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter xix mission work in.htm

Thesaurus

Quarantined (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Quarantine. Multi-Version Concordance
Quarantined (1 Occurrence). Leviticus 14:46 "Moreover ...
/q/quarantined.htm - 6k