Reference

Leviticus 13:7

Symbolic / Spiritual Interpretation Pre-Law Clean/Unclean Distinction

“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 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.

When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;

Counter-Arguments

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

Symbolic / Spiritual Interpretation

The verse is part of a detailed set of instructions for diagnosing and managing skin diseases, specifically concerning ritual purity and impurity. The language used ("scab spread much abroad in the skin," "seen of the priest for his cleansing") is consistently literal and medical in its immediate context within Leviticus 13. There is no explicit or implicit indication within this specific verse that "scab" or "cleansing" are being used symbolically for spiritual purity or moral holiness. The pri

Pre-Law Clean/Unclean Distinction

This verse is from Leviticus, a book within the Mosaic Law, and describes a procedure for a priest to follow regarding a skin condition, thus it inherently operates within the framework of the Law given at Sinai, not prior to it. The verse itself does not contain any temporal indicators suggesting a distinction existed before the Mosaic Law.

Symbolic / Spiritual Interpretation

Related Verses

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 13:6

“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.”

Leviticus 13:35

“But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;”

Leviticus 13:8

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

Leviticus 13:22

“And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.”

Thematic Connections

Symbolic / Spiritual Interpretation Pre-Law Clean/Unclean Distinction

Private Study Note

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