A "running issue" in biblical terms refers to a discharge or flow from the body, often associated with impurity under the Mosaic Law. This condition is primarily discussed in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Leviticus, where it is addressed in the context of ceremonial cleanliness and uncleanliness.

Biblical References:

1. Leviticus 15:2-3 : "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean. This is the uncleanness of his discharge: whether his body allows the discharge to flow or blocks it, it is uncleanness."

2. Leviticus 15:25 : "When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period, or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her menstruation."

Context and Interpretation:

In the context of ancient Israelite society, a running issue was considered a significant matter due to its implications for ritual purity. The Mosaic Law provided detailed instructions on how to handle such conditions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining holiness and purity within the community. The laws concerning bodily discharges were part of a broader set of purity laws that governed various aspects of daily life, including diet, contact with the dead, and skin diseases.

The running issue, whether from a man or a woman, rendered the individual ceremonially unclean. This uncleanliness required specific actions to restore purity, including washing, waiting periods, and sometimes offering sacrifices. The purpose of these laws was to teach the Israelites about the holiness of God and the need for purity in approaching Him.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the laws concerning running issues highlight the separation between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. They serve as a reminder of the fallen state of humanity and the pervasive nature of sin, which affects even the most intimate aspects of human life. The need for cleansing and atonement underscores the necessity of divine intervention for restoration and reconciliation with God.

In the New Testament, Jesus' healing of the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) demonstrates His authority over impurity and His power to restore both physical and spiritual wholeness. This account reflects the transition from the Old Covenant, with its emphasis on ritual purity, to the New Covenant, where faith in Christ brings true cleansing and access to God.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, bodily discharges were often associated with impurity and were sometimes linked to spiritual or moral conditions. The Israelites' understanding of purity was distinct in its theological foundation, rooted in the character of God and His covenant with His people. The laws concerning running issues were part of a comprehensive system designed to set Israel apart as a holy nation.

Practical Implications:

For the Israelites, adherence to the laws regarding running issues was a matter of obedience to God's commandments. It required vigilance and discipline in daily life, as well as a communal commitment to uphold the standards of purity. These laws also provided a framework for addressing health and hygiene issues, contributing to the overall well-being of the community.

In summary, the concept of a running issue in the Bible is deeply intertwined with themes of purity, holiness, and the human condition. It serves as a poignant reminder of the need for divine grace and the transformative power of faith in Christ.Running Issue

(Leviticus 15:2,3; 22:4; Numbers 5:2; 2 Samuel 3:29) In (Leviticus 15:3) a distinction is introduced, which merely means that the cessation of the actual flux does not constitute ceremonial cleanness, but that the patient must abide the legal time, seven days, ver 13, and perform the prescribed purifications and sacrifice. ver. 14.

2100. zub -- to flow, gush
... flow, gush out, have a running issue, pine away, run. A primitive root; to
flow freely (as water), ie (specifically) to have a (sexual ...
/hebrew/2100.htm - 6k

Whether Sin is Aggravated by Reason of Its Causing More Harm?
... But the issue of an act does not add to its goodness or malice, as stated ... it correspond
with the gravity of the sin: for instance, if a man in running to slay ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sin is aggravated by.htm

At Gerasa - the Healing of the Demonised.
... and then the issue in the destruction of the herd. From the first, as they saw the
demonised, for fear of whom no man might pass that way,' running to Jesus ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxv at gerasa -.htm

Matt. xv. 21, 22
... He entreats them, and tempting Him He dismisses them not; but to her, running unto
Him, and ... 2030] and as He doth in the case of her that had the issue of blood ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lii matt xv 21.htm

By, Through, Unto
... and sometimes you have it treated as being progressive, running on continually ... in
pleasant stones.' Perfect salvation is obviously the only issue of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/by through unto.htm

The Last Words of the Old and New Testaments
... not come, and declares the issue of sin in order that that issue may never ... the fire
of the divine judgment are falling from the heavens and running along the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the last words of the.htm

Four Sowings and one Ripening
... It has a mysterious vitality, and its issue is not a manufacture, but a fruit. ... which
they have embraced so lightly, they desert, like John Mark running away as ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/four sowings and one ripening.htm

The Way to the City
... has not in it as supreme, directing motive, and ultimate aim and issue, the glory ...
Unless there be these, if you go at random, running a little way for a moment ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the way to the city.htm

The Testament of Abraham. Version I.
... captain arose and went out, as if by constraint of his belly to make issue of water ...
of the night Isaac awoke and rose up from his couch, and came running to the ...
/.../unknown/the testament of abraham/the testament of abraham version.htm

The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes
... While he was running towards the Fort, a wide open place, to save himself, he ... The
larger openings swallowed up houses; and out of some would issue whole rivers ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 129 the cause and.htm

First Greek Form.
... of their voice, and he gave them the power of walking and running, removing their ...
And a woman that had an issue of blood for many years, and whose joints [2016 ...
/.../the report of pilate concerning our lord jesus christ/first greek form.htm

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