Leviticus 22:5
New International Version
or if he touches any crawling thing that makes him unclean, or any person who makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be.

New Living Translation
or by touching a small animal that is unclean, or by touching someone who is ceremonially unclean for any reason.

English Standard Version
and whoever touches a swarming thing by which he may be made unclean or a person from whom he may take uncleanness, whatever his uncleanness may be—

Berean Standard Bible
or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be—

King James Bible
Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

New King James Version
or whoever touches any creeping thing by which he would be made unclean, or any person by whom he would become unclean, whatever his uncleanness may be—

New American Standard Bible
or a man who touches any swarming things by which he is made unclean, or touches any person by whom he is made unclean, whatever his uncleanness;

NASB 1995
or if a man touches any teeming things by which he is made unclean, or any man by whom he is made unclean, whatever his uncleanness;

NASB 1977
or if a man touches any teeming things, by which he is made unclean, or any man by whom he is made unclean, whatever his uncleanness;

Legacy Standard Bible
or if a man touches any teeming things by which he is made unclean or any man by whom he is made unclean, whatever his uncleanness,

Amplified Bible
or whoever touches any crawling thing by which he is made unclean, or any person by whom he is made unclean, whatever it may be,

Christian Standard Bible
or whoever touches any swarming creature that makes him unclean or any person who makes him unclean—whatever his uncleanness—

Holman Christian Standard Bible
or whoever touches any swarming creature that makes him unclean or any person who makes him unclean—whatever his uncleanness—

American Standard Version
or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

Contemporary English Version
or if you have touched an unclean creature of any sort, including an unclean person.

English Revised Version
or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
an unclean swarming creature, or an unclean person

Good News Translation
or if he has touched an unclean animal or person.

International Standard Version
or who becomes unclean by touching a creeping creature or another human being, whatever the uncleanness may be—

Majority Standard Bible
or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be?

NET Bible
or a man who touches a swarming thing by which he becomes unclean, or touches a person by which he becomes unclean, whatever that person's impurity--

New Heart English Bible
or whoever touches any crawling creature, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatever uncleanness he has;

Webster's Bible Translation
Or whoever toucheth any creeping animal, by which he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatever uncleanness he hath:

World English Bible
or whoever touches any creeping thing by which he may be made unclean, or a man from whom he may become unclean, whatever uncleanness he has—
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
or a man who comes against any teeming thing which is unclean to him, or against a man who is unclean to him, even any of his uncleanness—

Young's Literal Translation
or a man who cometh against any teeming thing which is unclean to him, or against a man who is unclean to him, even any of his uncleanness --

Smith's Literal Translation
Or a man who shall touch upon any creeping thing which shall be unclean to him, or upon a man who shall be unclean to him for all his uncleanness;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he that toucheth a creeping thing, or any unclean thing, the touching of which is defiling,

Catholic Public Domain Version
and whoever has touched a creeping thing, or any kind of unclean thing, the touching of which is filthy,

New American Bible
or if anyone touches any swarming creature whose uncleanness is contagious or any person whose uncleanness, of whatever kind it may be, is contagious—

New Revised Standard Version
and whoever touches any swarming thing by which he may be made unclean or any human being by whom he may be made unclean—whatever his uncleanness may be—
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Or whoever touches any creeping thing whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatever uncleanness he has,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Or a man who will touch any creeping thing that is defiled to him or with a man who is defiled to him in all his defilement;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
or whosoever toucheth any swarming thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
or whosoever shall touch any unclean reptile, which will defile him, or who shall touch a man, whereby he shall defile him according to all his uncleanness:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Restrictions Against the Unclean
4If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen, 5or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be— 6the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening. He must not eat from the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water.…

Cross References
Numbers 19:11-13
Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days. / He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. / Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

Deuteronomy 14:8
as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.

Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

Ezekiel 44:25-27
A priest must not defile himself by going near a dead person. However, for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister, he may do so, / and after he is cleansed, he must count off seven days for himself. / And on the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering, declares the Lord GOD.

Haggai 2:13
So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Mark 7:18-23
“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, / because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.) / He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. ...

Acts 10:14-15
“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” / The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

2 Corinthians 6:17
“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Hebrews 9:13-14
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, / how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

Leviticus 11:24-28
These creatures will make you unclean. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening, / and whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening. / Every animal with hooves not completely divided or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you. Whoever touches any of them will be unclean. ...

Leviticus 15:7
Whoever touches the body of the man with a discharge must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

Numbers 5:2
“Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body.

Numbers 6:6-7
Throughout the days of his separation to the LORD, he must not go near a dead body. / Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile himself, because the symbol of consecration to his God is upon his head.

Numbers 19:22
Anything the unclean person touches will become unclean, and anyone who touches it will be unclean until evening.”


Treasury of Scripture

Or whoever touches any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatever uncleanness he has;

whosoever

Leviticus 11:24,43,44
And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even…

or a man

Leviticus 15:7,19
And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even…

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Animal Crawling Creeping Earth Flat Goes Makes Someone Swarming Teeming Touches Toucheth Touching Unclean Uncleanness Way Whatever Whatsoever Whereby
Leviticus 22
1. The priests in their uncleanness must abstain from the holy things
6. How they shall be cleansed
10. Who of the priest's house may eat of the holy things
17. The sacrifices must be without blemish
26. The age of the sacrifice
29. The law of eating the sacrifice of thanksgiving














or whoever touches
The Hebrew word for "touches" is נָגַע (naga), which implies more than a casual contact; it suggests an intentional or significant contact that results in a transfer of impurity. In the ancient Israelite context, touching was not merely physical but carried spiritual and ceremonial implications. The act of touching something unclean was a serious matter, as it could render a person unfit for worship or participation in the community's religious life. This highlights the importance of purity and the need for vigilance in maintaining one's spiritual cleanliness.

a crawling creature
The term "crawling creature" refers to the Hebrew word שֶׁרֶץ (sheretz), which encompasses a variety of small animals, often those that move close to the ground, such as insects or reptiles. These creatures were considered unclean according to Levitical law. The prohibition against touching them underscores the broader principle of separation from anything that defiles. This reflects God's call for His people to be distinct and holy, avoiding associations that could lead to spiritual contamination.

or a person that makes him unclean
This phrase indicates that uncleanness could be transferred from person to person. The Hebrew context suggests a state of ritual impurity that could arise from various conditions, such as skin diseases or bodily discharges. The communal aspect of purity laws is evident here, as one person's impurity could affect another's ability to participate in worship. This serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of the community and the collective responsibility to uphold holiness.

whatever the uncleanness may be
The phrase "whatever the uncleanness may be" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the purity laws. The Hebrew word for "uncleanness" is טֻמְאָה (tum'ah), which encompasses a wide range of conditions that could render someone impure. This inclusivity highlights the meticulous nature of the Levitical code and the seriousness with which God views holiness. It serves as a call to be ever-mindful of one's spiritual state and the need for constant purification and repentance.

(5) Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing.--See Leviticus 11:24-44.

Or a man of whom he may take uncleanness.--Better, or a man who is unclean to him, that is, who is a leper (see Leviticus 13:45), or has an issue (see Leviticus 15:5, &c.), and who imparts defilement by contact.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
or
אוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

whoever
אִישׁ֙ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

touches
יִגַּ֔ע (yig·ga‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

a
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

crawling creature
שֶׁ֖רֶץ (še·reṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8318: A swarm, active mass of minute animals

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

a person
בְאָדָם֙ (ḇə·’ā·ḏām)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

makes him unclean,
יִטְמָא־ (yiṭ·mā-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean

whatever
לְכֹ֖ל (lə·ḵōl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the uncleanness may be,
טֻמְאָתֽוֹ׃ (ṭum·’ā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2932: Religious impurity


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OT Law: Leviticus 22:5 Or whoever touches any creeping thing whereby (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 22:4
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