Reference

Leviticus 13:6

Seventh-Day Sabbath Pre-Law Clean/Unclean Distinction Symbolic / Spiritual Interpretation

“And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.”

If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:

And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:

And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:

And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Seventh-Day Sabbath

The verse mentions "the seventh day" in the context of a medical examination timeline, not as a day of rest or Sabbath.

Pre-Law Clean/Unclean Distinction

The keyword "Pre-Law Clean/Unclean Distinction" is incorrectly applied. Leviticus is part of the Mosaic Law itself, detailing the regulations given at Sinai. Therefore, this verse describes the clean/unclean distinction *within* the Mosaic Law, not *before* it. The premise that this verse supports a pre-Mosaic distinction is fundamentally flawed.

Symbolic / Spiritual Interpretation

The verse explicitly deals with a physical skin condition ("plague," "scab") and the ritualistic pronouncement of physical cleanliness by a priest. The instruction to "wash his clothes" further emphasizes a physical, rather than purely spiritual, cleansing. There is no linguistic or contextual indicator within this specific verse that suggests a symbolic or spiritual interpretation of "clean/unclean" beyond its literal application to the physical state of the individual and their garments. The p

Seventh-Day Sabbath

Related Verses

Leviticus 13:34

“And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.”

Leviticus 13:7

“But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:”

Leviticus 13:27

“And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.”

Leviticus 13:5

“And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:”

Leviticus 13:32

“And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;”

Thematic Connections

Seventh-Day Sabbath Pre-Law Clean/Unclean Distinction Symbolic / Spiritual Interpretation

Private Study Note

Add your own reflections or cross-references for this verse.