Leviticus 13:42
New International Version
But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is a defiling disease breaking out on his head or forehead.

New Living Translation
However, if a reddish white sore appears on the bald area on top of his head or on his forehead, this is a skin disease.

English Standard Version
But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased area, it is a leprous disease breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead.

Berean Standard Bible
But if there is a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on it.

King James Bible
And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

New King James Version
And if there is on the bald head or bald forehead a reddish-white sore, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead.

New American Standard Bible
But if on the bald head or the bald forehead there occurs a reddish-white infection, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or on his bald forehead.

NASB 1995
“But if on the bald head or the bald forehead, there occurs a reddish-white infection, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or on his bald forehead.

NASB 1977
“But if on the bald head or the bald forehead, there occurs a reddish-white infection, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or on his bald forehead.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if on the bald head or the bald forehead, there occurs a reddish-white infection, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or on his bald forehead.

Amplified Bible
But if there is a reddish-white infection on the bald head or forehead, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or forehead.

Christian Standard Bible
But if there is a reddish-white condition on the bald head or forehead, it is a serious skin disease breaking out on his head or forehead.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if there is a reddish-white infection on the bald head or forehead, it is a skin disease breaking out on his head or forehead.

American Standard Version
But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

English Revised Version
But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if there is a pink patch on the bald places in back or in front, a skin disease is developing in those places.

Good News Translation
But if a reddish-white sore appears on the bald spot, it is a dreaded skin disease.

International Standard Version
But when in the baldness of his head or his forehead there develops a skin rash that's white or reddish, it's an infectious skin disease that has spread to his bald head or forehead.

Majority Standard Bible
But if there is a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on it.

NET Bible
But if there is a reddish white infection in the back or front bald area, it is a disease breaking out in his back or front bald area.

New Heart English Bible
But if there is on the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if there is in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up on his bald head, or his bald forehead.

World English Bible
But if a reddish-white plague is in the bald head or the bald forehead, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head or his bald forehead.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And when there is in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague, it [is] a leprosy breaking out in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead;

Young's Literal Translation
And when there is in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead, a very red white plague, it is a leprosy breaking out in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead;

Smith's Literal Translation
And when there shall be in his baldness behind, or in his baldness in front, a stroke, reddish white, it is a leprosy broken out in his baldness behind, or in his baldness in front.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if in the bald head or in the bald forehead there be risen a white or reddish colour,

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if in the bald head or bald forehead there has arisen a white or reddish color,

New American Bible
But when there is a reddish white infection on his bald crown or bald forehead, it is a scaly infection that is breaking out there.

New Revised Standard Version
But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased spot, it is a leprous disease breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if there is on his bald head or bald forehead a white or reddish sore, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if there will be a sore of white or of blood red in his baldness or in his forehead baldness, it is leprosy growing in his baldness or in his forehead baldness.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if there should be in his baldness of head, or his baldness of forehead, a white or fiery plague, it is leprosy in his baldness of head, or baldness of forehead.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws about Skin Diseases
41Or if his hairline recedes and he is bald on his forehead, he is still clean. 42But if there is a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on it. 43The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,…

Cross References
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.

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.” ...

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 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.

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.”

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 5:12-16
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. ...

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

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.

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.

John 9:1-3
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.

Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.


Treasury of Scripture

And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

Jump to Previous
Breaking Broken Brow Disease Diseased Forehead Hair Head Infection Infectious Leprosy Occurs Plague Red Reddish Reddish-White Sore Spot Sprung White White-Reddish
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Breaking Broken Brow Disease Diseased Forehead Hair Head Infection Infectious Leprosy Occurs Plague Red Reddish Reddish-White Sore Spot Sprung White White-Reddish
Leviticus 13
1. The laws whereby the priest is to be guided in discerning the leprosy.














But if there is
This phrase introduces a conditional situation, indicating a specific scenario that requires attention. In the Hebrew text, the word "if" (אִם, 'im) is often used to present a case for examination, suggesting the importance of discernment and careful observation in the community. It underscores the need for vigilance in maintaining purity and health among the Israelites, reflecting God's concern for both physical and spiritual well-being.

a reddish-white sore
The description of the sore as "reddish-white" (אָדַם לָבָן, 'adam lavan) is significant in the Hebrew context. The color red often symbolizes life and blood, while white can denote purity or, in this case, the presence of disease. This combination of colors would have been a clear visual indicator to the priests, who were responsible for diagnosing skin conditions. The specificity of the description highlights the meticulous nature of the Levitical laws and the care with which the Israelites were to approach issues of health and cleanliness.

on the bald head or forehead
The mention of the "bald head or forehead" (קָרַחַת אוֹ מִצְחָה, qarachat o mitzchah) is noteworthy. In ancient Israel, the head was often seen as a symbol of authority and identity. A condition affecting the head, especially in a visible area like the forehead, would have been particularly concerning, as it could affect one's standing in the community. This detail emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the Levitical laws, which addressed all aspects of life, from the most private to the most public.

it is an infectious disease
The term "infectious disease" (נֶגַע צָרַעַת, nega tzara'at) refers to a condition that could spread and cause impurity. In the ancient world, diseases were often seen as both physical and spiritual afflictions. The Hebrew word "tzara'at" is traditionally translated as "leprosy," but it likely encompassed a range of skin conditions. This highlights the dual concern of the Levitical laws: to protect the community from physical contagion and to maintain spiritual purity.

breaking out on the head or forehead
The phrase "breaking out" (פֹּרַחַת, porachat) suggests an active and spreading condition. In the Hebrew context, this verb conveys the idea of something flourishing or growing, often used in positive contexts like the blossoming of a flower. Here, however, it indicates the seriousness of the disease, as it visibly manifests and potentially spreads. This serves as a reminder of the pervasive nature of sin and impurity, which can start small but grow if not addressed promptly.

(42) And if there be in the bald head.--Better, But if there be in the bald backhead. But if a reddish-white eruption appears either in the hinder or fore part of the bald head, resembling that which arises in the place of healed boils (see Leviticus 13:19-24), then it indicates the existence of leprosy.

In his bald head.--Better, in his bald backhead.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But if
וְכִֽי־ (wə·ḵî-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

there is
יִהְיֶ֤ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a reddish-white
לָבָ֣ן (lā·ḇān)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3836: White

sore
נֶ֖גַע (ne·ḡa‘)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5061: Mark -- a blow, a spot

on the bald head
בַקָּרַ֙חַת֙ (ḇaq·qā·ra·ḥaṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7146: A bald spot, a threadbare spot

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

forehead,
בַגַּבַּ֔חַת (ḇag·gab·ba·ḥaṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1372: Baldness, a bare spot

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

is an infectious disease
צָרַ֤עַת (ṣā·ra·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6883: Leprosy

breaking out
פֹּרַ֙חַת֙ (pō·ra·ḥaṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 6524: To break forth as a, bud, bloom, to spread, to fly, to flourish

[on it].
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 13:42 But if there is in the bald (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 13:41
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