Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Leviticus 15:3
(3) Whether his flesh run.—This verse defines more minutely the statement in the preceding verse. read more
(3) Whether his flesh run.—This verse defines more minutely the statement in the preceding verse. read more
OF THE UNCLEANNESS OF ISSUESLeviticus 15:1-33INASMUCH as the law concerning defilement from issues is presupposed and referred to in that concerning the defilement of child bearing, in chapter 12, it will be well to consider this before the latter. For this order there is the more reason, because, as will appear, although the two sections are separated, in the present arrangement of the book, by the law concerning defilement by leprosy (Leviticus 13:1-59; Leviticus 14:1-57), they both refer to... read more
5. Concerning Issues: Man’s Weakness and Defilement CHAPTER 15 1. The uncleanness of a man (Leviticus 15:1-18 ) 2. The uncleanness of a woman (Leviticus 15:19-33 ) The whole chapter shows the deplorable physical condition into which man has been plunged by sin. The issues mentioned were therefore an evidence of the presence of sin in man’s nature with the curse upon it, and constitutes man and woman unclean in the sight of God. “Not only actions, from which we can abstain, but operations... read more
15:3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it [is] {b} his uncleanness.(b) Of the thing of which he shall be unclean. read more
UNAVOIDABLE DISCHARGES (vv. 1-33) Because leprosy speaks of the outbreak of positive sin, it required rigorous treatment. Nothing like this is intimated in chapter 15, but rather the frailty of the human body in suffering the effects of the contamination of sin through Adam, our first father. We are not in any way responsible for the sinful nature we have inherited by birth, though we are responsible for allowing that nature to manifest itself in sinful actions. The discharges spoken of here... read more
Such are the natural consequences of our fallen state, that everything connected with it is unclean. The very desires of nature are corrupt, and the multiplying of our species is in sin. Psalms 51:5 . If we spiritualize this scripture and consider it as emblematical of the state of the soul; the running issues of evil from thence are innumerable. See those scriptures. Isaiah 1:4-6 ; Hosea 4:1-2 ; Matthew 15:19-20 . But what a precious relief to the soul, that is conscious of this, is that... read more
At every moment, is not in Hebrew, but something like it occurs in the Samaritan and Septuagint. According to the Hebrew, the uncleanness subsists for some time after the issue has ceased. Grotius pretends that these disorders were contagious; but the reason why God requires such purity in his people, is given [in] ver. 31. He dwelt among them, and would not allow of any disrespectful behaviour. There were to live like priests in his temple. The pagans in Egypt, Greece, and Italy, required the... read more
In the Case of Men v. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying, v. 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, either a catarrhal affection of the urethra or a latent flowing of semen with a continuous discharge, b ecause of his issue he is unclean, Levitically impure. v. 3. And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, that is, whether... read more
FOURTH SECTIONSexual Impurities and CleansingsLeviticus 15:1-331And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. 3And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue,1 it is his uncleanness. 4Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon... read more
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 15:1-33
Uncleanness connected with Sexual DischargesThe subject of this chapter is related to that of Leviticus 12 : see intro. there. Here three natural (Leviticus 15:16-17, Leviticus 15:18, Leviticus 15:19-24) and two abnormal (Leviticus 15:1-15, Leviticus 15:25-30) conditions are dealt with. Though not in themselves sinful, they render the person ceremonially unclean, and the enactments with respect to them would tend to purity of morals, being a reminder that all uncleanness is hateful to God, and... read more