Leviticus 13:55
New International Version
After the article has been washed, the priest is to examine it again, and if the mold has not changed its appearance, even though it has not spread, it is unclean. Burn it, no matter which side of the fabric has been spoiled.

New Living Translation
Then the priest must examine the object again. If he finds that the contaminated area has not changed color after being washed, even if it did not spread, the object is defiled. It must be completely burned up, whether the contaminated spot is on the inside or outside.

English Standard Version
And the priest shall examine the diseased thing after it has been washed. And if the appearance of the diseased area has not changed, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean. You shall burn it in the fire, whether the rot is on the back or on the front.

Berean Standard Bible
After it has been washed, the priest is to reexamine it, and if the mildewed article has not changed in appearance, it is unclean. Even though the mildew has not spread, you must burn it, whether the rot is on the front or back.

King James Bible
And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without.

New King James Version
Then the priest shall examine the plague after it has been washed; and indeed if the plague has not changed its color, though the plague has not spread, it is unclean, and you shall burn it in the fire; it continues eating away, whether the damage is outside or inside.

New American Standard Bible
After the article with the mark has been washed, the priest shall again look, and if the mark has not changed its appearance, even if the mark has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire, whether an eating away has produced bareness on the back or on the front of it.

NASB 1995
“After the article with the mark has been washed, the priest shall again look, and if the mark has not changed its appearance, even though the mark has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire, whether an eating away has produced bareness on the top or on the front of it.

NASB 1977
“After the article with the mark has been washed, the priest shall again look, and if the mark has not changed its appearance, even though the mark has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire, whether an eating away has produced bareness on the top or on the front of it.

Legacy Standard Bible
After the article with the mark has been washed, the priest shall again look, and if the mark has not changed its appearance, even though the mark has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire, whether an eating away has produced bareness on the top or on the front of it.

Amplified Bible
The priest shall examine the article with the mark after it has been washed, and if the mark has not changed color, even though the mark has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire; it is a corroding mildew, whether on the top or on the front of it.

Christian Standard Bible
After it has been washed, the priest is to reexamine the contamination. If the appearance of the contaminated article has not changed, it is unclean. Even though the contamination has not spread, you must burn the fabric. It is a fungus on the front or back of the fabric.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After it has been washed, the priest is to reexamine the contamination. If the appearance of the contaminated article has not changed, it is unclean. Even though the contamination has not spread, you must burn up the fabric. It is a fungus on the front or back of the fabric.”

American Standard Version
and the priest shall look, after that the plague is washed; and, behold, if the plague have not changed its color, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire: it is a fret, whether the bareness be within or without.

Contemporary English Version
after which he will examine it again. If the spot hasn't spread, but is still greenish or reddish, the clothing or leather is unclean and must be burned.

English Revised Version
and the priest shall look, after that the plague is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed its colour, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire: it is a fret, whether the bareness be within or without.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The priest will examine the area again after it is washed. If it doesn't look any different and the mildew has not spread, it is still unclean. It must be burned, whether the area is on the outside or the inside.

Good News Translation
Then he shall examine it, and if the mildew has not changed color, even though it has not spread, it is still unclean; you must burn the object, whether the rot is on the front or the back.

International Standard Version
Then the priest is to examine it after the contagion has been washed. If the contagion hasn't changed in appearance, even though the contagion hasn't spread, it's unclean. Incinerate it. It's a fungal infection, especially if the infection is on its exposed side.

Majority Standard Bible
After it has been washed, the priest is to reexamine it, and if the mildewed article has not changed in appearance, it is unclean. Even though the mildew has not spread, you must burn it, whether the rot is on the front or back.

NET Bible
The priest must then examine it after the infection has been washed out, and if the infection has not changed its appearance even though the infection has not spread, it is unclean. You must burn it up in the fire. It is a fungus, whether on the back side or front side of the article.

New Heart English Bible
Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and look, if the plague hasn't changed its color, and the plague hasn't spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the priest shall look on the plague after it is washed: and behold, if the plague hath not changed its color, and the plague hath not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it is bare within or without.

World English Bible
Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn’t changed its color, and the plague hasn’t spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the priest has seen [that which has] the plague after it has been washed, and behold, the plague has not changed its aspect, and the plague has not spread—it [is] unclean; you burn it with fire; it [is] a fretting in its back-part or in its front-part.

Young's Literal Translation
And the priest hath seen that which hath the plague after it hath been washed, and lo, the plague hath not changed its aspect, and the plague hath not spread, -- it is unclean; with fire thou dost burn it; it is a fretting in its back-part or in its front-part.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the priest saw after the washing, the stroke, and behold, the stroke turned not its eye, and the stroke spread not; it unclean; in fire thou shalt burn it; it a hollow in his baldness behind, or in his baldness in front.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he shall see that the former colour is not returned, nor yet the leprosy spread, he shall judge it unclean, and shall burn it with fire, for the leprosy has taken hold of the outside of the garment, or through the whole.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when he will have seen that the former appearance has not returned, even if the leprosy has not increased, he shall judge it to be unclean, and he shall burn it with fire, for the leprosy has been infused in the exterior of the garment, or throughout the whole.

New American Bible
If the priest, upon examination after the infection was washed, finds that it has not changed its color, even though it may not have spread, the article is unclean. You shall burn it with fire. It is a fray, be it on its inner or outer side.

New Revised Standard Version
The priest shall examine the diseased article after it has been washed. If the diseased spot has not changed color, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in fire, whether the leprous spot is on the inside or on the outside.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the priest shall look on the plague after it is washed; and if the plague has not changed its appearance and the disease has not changed its color and the plague has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire; it has been diseased when it was new or when old.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Priest shall look at the plague after they wash the plague; if the appearance of the plague was unchanged and the plague has not changed and it has not moved, it is unclean; he shall burn it in fire; it is the plague in its newness or in its oldness.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the priest shall look, after that the plague is washed; and, behold, if the plague have not changed its colour, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is a fret, whether the bareness be within or without.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the priest shall look upon it after the plague has been washed; and if this, even the plague, has not changed its appearance, and the plague does not spread, it is unclean; it shall be burnt with fire: it is fixed in the garment, in the warp, or in the woof.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws about Mildew
54the priest is to order the contaminated article to be washed and isolated for another seven days. 55After it has been washed, the priest is to reexamine it, and if the mildewed article has not changed in appearance, it is unclean. Even though the mildew has not spread, you must burn it, whether the rot is on the front or back. 56If the priest examines it and the mildew has faded after it has been washed, he must cut the contaminated section out of the fabric, leather, weave, or knit.…

Cross References
Leviticus 14:44-45
the priest must come and inspect it. If the mildew has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew; the house is unclean. / It must be torn down with its stones, its timbers, and all its plaster, and taken outside the city to an unclean place.

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.” ...

Deuteronomy 24:8
In cases of infectious skin diseases, be careful to diligently follow everything the Levitical priests instruct you. Be careful to do as I have commanded them.

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.” ...

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. ...

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.

Isaiah 1:6
From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.

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

Jeremiah 30:17
But I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD, because they call you an outcast, Zion, for whom no one cares.”

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.”

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

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. ...

Luke 5:12-14
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.”

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. ...

John 9:1-7
Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, / and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” / Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his color, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bore within or without.

after

Ezekiel 24:13
In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.

Hebrews 6:4-8
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, …

2 Peter 1:9
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Jump to Previous
Appearance Article Bare Burn Changed Color Colour Examine Fire Fret Hasn't Inside Inward Mark Outside Plague Priest Spot Spread Unclean Washed Whether Within
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Appearance Article Bare Burn Changed Color Colour Examine Fire Fret Hasn't Inside Inward Mark Outside Plague Priest Spot Spread Unclean Washed Whether Within
Leviticus 13
1. The laws whereby the priest is to be guided in discerning the leprosy.














After it has been washed
In the Levitical law, washing was a common practice for purification. This reflects the importance of cleanliness and ritual purity in ancient Israelite society. Washing symbolizes an attempt to remove impurity, paralleling spiritual cleansing seen in passages like Psalm 51:2, where David asks God to wash away his iniquity.

the priest is to reexamine it
The role of the priest as an examiner underscores the priestly duty to maintain holiness within the community. Priests acted as mediators between God and the people, ensuring that the community adhered to God's laws. This reflects the broader biblical theme of spiritual oversight and accountability, as seen in Hebrews 13:17.

and if the mildewed article has not changed in appearance
The unchanged appearance of mildew signifies persistent impurity. In biblical symbolism, mildew and leprosy often represent sin and corruption. The unchanged state after washing suggests the need for deeper intervention, akin to the need for repentance and transformation in the believer's life (Romans 12:2).

it is unclean
Declaring an item unclean meant it was not fit for use in worship or daily life. This reflects the broader biblical principle that God is holy and requires His people to be separate from impurity (1 Peter 1:16). The concept of uncleanness also points to the need for redemption and purification through Christ.

Even though the mildew has not spread
The lack of spread indicates that the issue is not one of contagion but of inherent impurity. This can be seen as a metaphor for sin, which may not always manifest outwardly but still requires cleansing. It highlights the need for vigilance in spiritual matters, as seen in 1 Corinthians 5:6, where a little leaven leavens the whole lump.

you must burn it
Burning the unclean item signifies total destruction, a common biblical method for dealing with impurity (Joshua 7:15). This act of destruction serves as a warning against tolerating sin and impurity. It foreshadows the ultimate judgment and purification that Christ brings, as seen in 2 Peter 3:10.

whether the rot is on the front or back
This phrase emphasizes the thoroughness required in dealing with impurity. It suggests that no part of the item is exempt from examination and potential destruction. This thoroughness is mirrored in the call for believers to examine their lives fully and remove all sin, as seen in 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Priest
The priest acts as the mediator and examiner, responsible for determining the cleanliness of the article. This role highlights the priest's duty in maintaining the purity of the community.

2. Article
Refers to any garment or fabric that may be affected by mildew. The article represents objects within the community that can become unclean and require purification or destruction.

3. Mildew
A symbol of impurity or sin that can affect objects, representing the pervasive nature of sin and the need for vigilance in maintaining holiness.

4. Examination
The process by which the priest inspects the article to determine its status. This reflects the careful discernment required in spiritual matters.

5. Burning
The act of destroying the unclean article, symbolizing the removal of sin and impurity from the community to maintain holiness.
Teaching Points
The Role of Spiritual Leaders
Spiritual leaders are tasked with guiding the community in matters of purity and holiness, much like the priests in Leviticus.

The Pervasiveness of Sin
Just as mildew can affect garments, sin can infiltrate our lives. We must be vigilant and proactive in addressing it.

The Importance of Purity
Maintaining purity is crucial for a community's spiritual health. This requires discernment and sometimes difficult decisions, such as removing unclean elements.

The Necessity of Repentance and Cleansing
When sin is identified, it must be dealt with decisively, akin to burning the unclean article, to restore purity and fellowship with God.

Symbolism of Fire
Fire represents purification and judgment. In our spiritual lives, we must allow God's refining fire to cleanse us from impurities.(55) And the plague be not spread.--Better, though the plague hath not spread. If after the washing of the affected spot the priest finds that its appearance has not changed, it must nevertheless be burnt, since the retention of the suspicious colour indicates that it is leprosy.

It is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without.--Better, it is a corroding in the fore baldness thereof or in the back baldness thereof. (See Leviticus 13:42-43.) That is, though it has not spread in breadth, the distemper has eaten into the fabric, either on the upper side, which is compared to the forehead, or into the under side, which is compared to the hinder part of the head in human head-leprosy.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
After
אַחֲרֵ֣י ׀ (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

it has been washed,
הֻכַּבֵּ֣ס (huk·kab·bês)
Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3526: To trample, to wash

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

is to reexamine it,
וְרָאָ֨ה (wə·rā·’āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

and if
וְ֠הִנֵּה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the mildewed
הַנֶּ֗גַע (han·ne·ḡa‘)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5061: Mark -- a blow, a spot

article
הַנֶּ֤גַע (han·ne·ḡa‘)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5061: Mark -- a blow, a spot

has not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

changed
הָפַ֨ךְ (hā·p̄aḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

in appearance,
עֵינוֹ֙ (‘ê·nōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

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

is unclean.
טָמֵ֣א (ṭā·mê)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2931: Unclean

Even though the mildew
וְהַנֶּ֣גַע (wə·han·ne·ḡa‘)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5061: Mark -- a blow, a spot

has not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

spread,
פָשָׂ֔ה (p̄ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6581: To spread

you must burn up
בָּאֵ֖שׁ (bā·’êš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

the fabric,
תִּשְׂרְפֶ֑נּוּ (tiś·rə·p̄en·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

whether
הִ֔וא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

the rot is
פְּחֶ֣תֶת (pə·ḥe·ṯeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6356: A boring or eating out

on the front
בְגַבַּחְתּֽוֹ׃ (ḇə·ḡab·baḥ·tōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1372: Baldness, a bare spot

or
א֥וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

back.
בְּקָרַחְתּ֖וֹ (bə·qā·raḥ·tōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7146: A bald spot, a threadbare spot


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OT Law: Leviticus 13:55 Then the priest shall examine it after (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 13:54
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