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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 13:1-17

I. Concerning the plague of leprosy we may observe in general, 1. That it was rather an uncleanness than a disease; or, at least, so the law considered it, and therefore employed not the physicians but the priests about it. Christ is said to cleanse lepers, not to cure them. We do not read of any that died of the leprosy, but it rather buried them alive, by rendering them unfit for conversation with any but such as were infected like themselves. Yet there is a tradition that Pharaoh, who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:9

When the plague of leprosy is in a man ,.... He has all the signs of it, and it is pretty manifest both to himself and others that it is upon him: then he shall be brought unto the priest ; by his friends and neighbours, if he is not willing to come of himself: a sinner insensible of the leprosy of sin, and of his unclean and miserable state through it, has no will to come to Christ the great High Priest for cleansing; but one that is sensible of it, and of Christ's ability to help and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:10

And the priest shall see him ,.... Look at him, and closely and narrowly inspect and examine his case: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin ; this is another appearance of the leprosy; the preceding were a bright spot, and the scab of it; but this a rising or white swelling in the skin, as white as pure wool, as the Targum of Jonathan: and it have turned the hair white ; to the whiteness of an egg shell, or the film of it, as the same Targum; that is, hath turned the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:11

It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh ,.... An inveterate one, of long standing and continuance, an obstinate one, not to be cured by medicine; as this sort of leprosy was, and therefore the person was sent not to a physician, but to the priest: the leprosy of sin is an old disease, brought by man into the world with him, and continues with him from his youth upwards, and nothing but the grace of God and blood of Christ can remove it: and the priest shall pronounce him unclean,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:12

And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin ,.... Or, if flowering it flowers F13 פרוח תפרח ανθουσα εξανθηση , Sept. "florendo floruerit", Montanus; so Drusius & Tigurine version. ; the man that has it on him looks like a plant or tree covered with white flowers, being spread all over him in white swellings, bright spots or scabs, as it follows: and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague, from his head even to his foot ; such an one as the leper... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:13

Then the priest shall consider ,.... Look wistly upon it, and well weigh the matter in his own mind, that he may make a true judgment and pronounce a right sentence: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh ; from head to foot, so that no quick, raw, or sound flesh appear in him: he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague ; not clean from a leprosy he is covered with; but that he is free from pollution by it, and under no obligation to bring his offering,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:14

But when raw flesh appeareth in him ,.... Between the white spots, scabs, or swellings, or in the midst of them: he shall be unclean ; be pronounced unclean, and be subject to all the prescriptions of the law concerning lepers. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:15

And the priest shall see the raw flesh ,.... Or when he sees it, the person being brought to him to be viewed: and pronounce him to be unclean ; or shall pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean ; made a man so in a ceremonial sense; See Gill on Leviticus 13:10 , it is a leprosy ; wherever any quick raw flesh appears in a swelling. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:16

Or if the raw flesh turn again ,.... Changes its colour, from redness, which is in raw flesh: and be changed unto white : and does not look ruddy as flesh in common does, nor red and fiery, as raw and proud flesh, but is white, of the same colour with the swelling or scab: he shall come unto the priest ; again, and show himself, even though he was before by him pronounced clean. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:17

And the priest shall see him ,.... Review him, and examine him thoroughly: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white ; the raw flesh in the swelling, which looked red, is become white: then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague ; that was supposed to have the plague of leprosy; but upon a review, and on this change of things, has not, he shall declare him free from it: he is clean ; and under no obligation to the laws and rites concerning it. read more

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