Leviticus 13:23
New International Version
But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.

New Living Translation
But if the area grows no larger and does not spread, it is merely the scar from the boil, and the priest will pronounce the person ceremonially clean.

English Standard Version
But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Berean Standard Bible
But if the spot remains unchanged and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

King James Bible
But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

New King James Version
But if the bright spot stays in one place, and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

New American Standard Bible
But if the bright spot remains in its place and does not spread, it is only the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

NASB 1995
“But if the bright spot remains in its place and does not spread, it is only the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

NASB 1977
“But if the bright spot remains in its place, and does not spread, it is only the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if the bright spot remains in its place and does not spread, it is only the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Amplified Bible
But if the bright spot remains where it is and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Christian Standard Bible
But if the spot remains where it is and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil. The priest is to pronounce him clean.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if the spot remains where it is and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil. The priest is to pronounce him clean.”

American Standard Version
But if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Contemporary English Version
But if it doesn't spread, and only a scar remains, he will say, "You are now clean."

English Revised Version
But if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if the irritated area has not spread, it is a scar caused by the boil. The priest must declare him clean.

Good News Translation
But if it remains unchanged and does not spread, it is only the scar left from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce you ritually clean.

International Standard Version
If the scab remains in place and doesn't spread, then it's the scab from the boil. The priest is to declare him clean."

Majority Standard Bible
But if the spot remains unchanged and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

NET Bible
But if the bright spot stays in its place and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil, so the priest is to pronounce him clean.

New Heart English Bible
But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn't spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Webster's Bible Translation
But if the bright spot shall stay in its place, and not spread, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

World English Bible
But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and if the bright spot stays in its place—it has not spread—it [is] an inflammation of the ulcer; and the priest has pronounced him clean.

Young's Literal Translation
and if in its place the bright spot stay -- it hath not spread -- it is an inflammation of the ulcer; and the priest hath pronounced him clean.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if the brightness shall stand still, lowest, spreading not, it the scar of the burning sore; and the priest cleansed him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if it stay in its place, it is but the scar of an ulcer, and the man shall be clean.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if it stays in its place, it is the scar of an ulcer, and the man shall be clean.

New American Bible
But if the blotch remains the same without spreading, it is merely the scar of the boil; the priest shall therefore declare the person clean.

New Revised Standard Version
But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil; the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if the shiny spot stays in its place and spreads not, it is a scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if the shiny spot has remained in its place and the sore has not changed, it is of an abscess; the Priest shall declare it clean.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if the bright spot should remain in its place and not spread, it is the scar of the ulcer; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws about Skin Diseases
22If it spreads any further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is an infection. 23But if the spot remains unchanged and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 24When there is a burn on someone’s skin and the raw area of the burn becomes reddish-white or white,…

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 17:12-14
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 1:40-44
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.” ...

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.” ...

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

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.”

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

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 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.”

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 9:1-7
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. ...

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. ...

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.


Treasury of Scripture

But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Genesis 38:26
And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

2 Samuel 12:13
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

2 Chronicles 19:2,3
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD…

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Boil Bright Burning Clean Gets Greater Hasn't Inflammation Keeps Mark Priest Pronounce Pronounced Scar Spot Spread Stays Ulcer Unchanged Wound
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Boil Bright Burning Clean Gets Greater Hasn't Inflammation Keeps Mark Priest Pronounce Pronounced Scar Spot Spread Stays Ulcer Unchanged Wound
Leviticus 13
1. The laws whereby the priest is to be guided in discerning the leprosy.














But if the spot remains unchanged
The Hebrew word for "spot" here is "נֶגַע" (nega), which refers to a mark or plague. In the context of Leviticus, it often pertains to skin conditions that could render someone ceremonially unclean. The phrase "remains unchanged" suggests a stability or lack of progression in the condition. This stability is crucial in the priestly examination, as it indicates that the condition is not infectious or spreading. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for steadfastness in faith, where one's spiritual condition remains firm and untainted by external influences.

and has not spread
The Hebrew root for "spread" is "פָּשָׂה" (pasah), which means to extend or grow. In the context of Levitical law, the spreading of a skin condition would indicate impurity and potential danger to the community. Historically, this reflects the ancient understanding of contagion and the need for communal protection. Spiritually, it can be seen as a warning against the spread of sin or moral decay, emphasizing the importance of containment and correction before it affects the wider community.

it is only a scar from the boil
The term "scar" in Hebrew is "צָרֶבֶת" (tzarevet), which refers to a mark left on the skin after healing. The "boil" or "שְׁחִין" (shechin) is a common skin ailment mentioned in the Bible, often associated with affliction or divine testing. The identification of the spot as merely a scar signifies healing and the absence of ongoing disease. This can be inspirationally viewed as a symbol of redemption and recovery, where past afflictions leave marks but do not define one's current state of purity or standing before God.

and the priest shall pronounce him clean
The role of the priest, or "כֹּהֵן" (kohen), was not only to perform religious rituals but also to act as a mediator and judge in matters of purity. The pronouncement of cleanliness is significant, as it restores the individual to full participation in the community and worship. This reflects the grace and mercy inherent in God's law, where restoration and reconciliation are always possible. In a broader spiritual sense, it highlights the role of Christ as our High Priest, who declares us clean through His sacrifice, allowing us to be reconciled with God and the community of believers.

(23) But if the bright spot stay.--As the spreading of the spot is a sure sign of the disease lurking in the system, its continuing in the same condition showed that it was simply the re-opening of the boil. The priest is therefore to pronounce the patient clean, or clear of leprosy.



Parallel Commentaries ...


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

the spot
הַבַּהֶ֙רֶת֙ (hab·ba·he·reṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 934: A whitish spot on the skin

remains
תַּעֲמֹ֤ד (ta·‘ă·mōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

unchanged
תַּחְתֶּ֜יהָ (taḥ·te·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

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

spread,
פָשָׂ֔תָה (p̄ā·śā·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6581: To spread

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

is only the scar
צָרֶ֥בֶת (ṣā·re·ḇeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6867: Scab, scar (of a sore)

from the boil,
הַשְּׁחִ֖ין (haš·šə·ḥîn)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7822: Inflammation, an ulcer

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

shall 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 13:23 But if the bright spot stays (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 13:22
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