(11) It is an old leprosy.—Either of these symptoms showed that it was the re-appearance of the old distemper, and rendered quarantine needless. The priest is, therefore, to pronounce him unclean at once. read more
(12, 13) And if a leprosy break out abroad.—There were, however, two phases of this returned distemper which exempted the patient from uncleanness. If the leprosy suddenly covered the whole body so that the patient became perfectly white, in which case there could be no appearance of live flesh, then he was clean. This indicated the crisis, as the whole evil matter thus brought to the surface formed itself into a scale, which dried and peeled off. read more
(14) But when raw flesh appeareth.—Rather, but in the day when sound flesh appeareth again, that is, whenever patches of natural flesh appear intermingled with the white scurf, he forthwith becomes unclean, since this showed that the disease had not exhausted itself. Because it is here said, “But in the day when sound flesh,” &c, and not simply “but when sound flesh,” &c., the administrators of the law in the time of Christ concluded that there were days on which the examination of this... read more
(15) And the priest shall see the raw flesh.—Rather, the sound flesh. It will be seen that it is the sound flesh only, and not the white hair, which renders the patient unclean. read more
(16, 17) Or if the raw flesh turn again.—Rather, yet if the sound flesh changeth again and becometh, &c. As soon, however, as the patches of sound flesh resume the white colour, so that the whole body is again white, without exhibiting any spots, the patient is to betake himself to the priest, who, after assuring himself of the fact, will pronounce him clean. read more
THE UNCLEANNESS OF LEPROSYLeviticus 13:1-46THE interpretation of this chapter presents no little difficulty. The description of the diseases with which the law here deals is not given in a scientific form; the point of view, as the purpose of all, is strictly practical. As for the Hebrew word rendered "leprosy," it does not itself give any light as to the nature of the disease thus designated. The word simply means "a stroke," as also does the generic term used in Leviticus 13:2 and elsewhere,... read more
3. Leprosy: Type of Indwelling Sin CHAPTER 13 1. Leprosy in a person (Leviticus 13:1-46 ) 2. The infected garment. (Leviticus 13:47-57 ) 3. The cleansing of the garment (Leviticus 13:58-59 ) The entire chapter treats of leprosy. It has been argued from the side of critics that the disease described here is not the one we know as leprosy, but only a similar disease of the skin. The arguments advanced to support this objection are silenced by Matthew 8:1-4 . The man who came to our Lord... read more
13:13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, [if] the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce [him] {e} clean [that hath] the plague: it is all turned white: he [is] clean.(e) For it is not that contagious leprosy that infects, but a form of scales which does not leave the skin raw as leprosy does. read more
13:15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: [for] the raw flesh [is] {f} unclean: it [is] a leprosy.(f) That is, declares that the flesh is not found, but is in danger of being leprous. read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Leviticus 13:10
(10) If the rising be white.—If the distemper actually returns, one of two symptoms indicates it. A white rising will be noticed in the skin, which changes the black hair into white. The white hair only then indicates the disorder when it co-exists with the white rising or swelling which produced it. If the original white swelling, which discoloured the hair, disappears, and a fresh white swelling forms itself around the existing white hair, it is no indication of uncleanness.And there be quick... read more