Leviticus 13

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

Yahweh said this to Aaron and Moses/me:

2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a swelling, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or to one of his sons the priests:

“When someone has on his skin a swelling or a rash or a shiny/bright spot that may become (contagious/a dreaded skin disease), he must be brought to Aaron or to one of his sons who are also priests.

3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight is deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

The priest must examine that part of the person’s skin. If the hair in that area has become white and it appears that the sore is deeper than just on the skin, it is a contagious skin disease. When the priest sees that, he must declare that the person must stay away from other people [MTY].

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

If the spot on the person’s skin is white but it does not appear that the sore is deeper than just on the skin, the priest must tell him to stay away from other people for seven days.

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

Then the priest must examine the person again. If the priest sees that the sore has not changed and has not spread, he must tell the person to stay away from people for seven more days.

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

Then the priest must examine him again. If the sore has faded and has not spread, the priest will allow him to be with other people again; it is only a rash. After the person washes his clothes, he will be allowed to be with other people again.

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

But if the sore spreads after the priest has examined him, he must go to the priest again.

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

The priest will examine him; and if the sore has spread to more of the skin, it is a contagious skin disease, and the priest will declare that he must stay away from other people.

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

When anyone has a contagious skin disease, he must be brought to the priest.

10 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the swelling is white in the skin, and it hath turned the hair white, and there is living raw flesh in the swelling;

The priest must examine him. And if there is a white swelling in the skin that has caused the hair in that swelling to become white, and if the flesh in that area is painful/sensitive,

11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.

it is a permanent skin disease, and the priest will declare that he must stay away from other people. The priest does not need to tell that person that he must avoid other people, because other people already are wanting to stay away from him.

12 And if a leprosy shall break out in the skin, and the leprosy shall cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wherever the priest looketh;

‘If the disease spreads all over someone’s body, and the priest examines that person and sees that it is covering his skin from his head to his feet,

13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy hath covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.

and it has caused all his skin to become white [which will indicate that the disease has ended], the priest will declare that the person does not have to stay away from other people.

14 But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.

But if the person has open sores and they are very painful/sensitive, he has a contagious skin disease,

15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy.

and when the priest sees that, he will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

16 Or if the raw flesh shall turn again, and be changed into white, he shall come to the priest;

But if the person’s flesh changes and becomes white, he must go to the priest again.

17 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague is turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.

The priest must examine him again; and if the sores have become white, the priest will declare that the person who had been infected is now permitted to be with other people again.

18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin of it, was a boil, and is healed,

‘Then someone has a boil on his skin and it has healed,

19 And in the place of the boil there shall be a white swelling, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be showed to the priest;

but in the place where the boil was a white swelling or a bright/shiny spot appears, he must go to the priest.

20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it is in sight lower than the skin, and the hair of it is turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.

The priest must examine it. And if it seems to be deeper than just on the skin, and if the hair in that spot has become white, it is a contagious skin disease that has appeared where the boil had been. And the priest will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

21 But if the priest shall look on it, and, behold, there are no white hairs in it, and if it is not lower than the skin, but somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

But when the priest examines it, if there is no white hair in that spot and it is only on the surface of the skin and has become less bright/shiny, then the priest will order him to stay away from other people for seven days.

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

But if it is spreading, it is contagious and the priest will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

23 But if the bright spot shall stay in its place, and not spread, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

But if that spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest will declare that the person is permitted to be with other people again.

24 Or if there is any flesh, in the skin of which there is a hot burning, and the live flesh that burneth hath a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;

‘Then someone has a burn on his skin and a bright/shiny or white spot appears, and the flesh in that area is sensitive/painful,

25 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot is turned white, and it is in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: therefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

the priest must examine the spot. If the hair in that spot has turned white and it seems to be deeper than just on the surface of the skin, it is a contagious skin disease that has appeared where the burn was, and that person must stay away from other people.

26 But if the priest shall look on it, and, behold, there is no white hair in the bright spot, and it is no lower than the other skin, but is somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

But when the priest examines it and sees that there is no white hair in that spot and it is only on the surface of the skin, and has faded, the priest will declare that the person must stay away from people for seven days.

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

On the seventh day, the priest will examine him again. If the sore is spreading, it is a contagious skin disease, and the priest will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

28 And if the bright spot shall stay in its place, and not spread in the skin, but be somewhat dark; it is a swelling of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.

However, if the spot is not changed and has not spread but has faded, it is only a scar from the burn, and the priest will declare that the person is permitted to be with other people again.

29 If a man or woman shall have a plague upon the head or the beard;

‘If a man or a woman has a sore on his head or on his chin,

30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it is in sight deeper than the skin; and there is in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.

the priest must examine it. If it appears to be deeper than [just on the surface of] the skin, and the hair in that spot has thinned out and has become yellowish, it is a contagious skin disease that causes itching. And the priest will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

31 And if the priest shall look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it is not in sight deeper than the skin, and no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:

But when the priest examines that kind of sore, if it seems to be only on the surface of the skin and there is no healthy hair in it, the priest will tell the person to stay away from other people for seven days.

32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spreadeth not, and there is in it no yellow hair, and the scall is not in sight deeper than the skin;

On the seventh day, the priest will examine the sore again. If it has not spread and if there is no yellow hair in that spot and if it appears to be only on the surface of the skin,

33 He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more:

the person must shave the hair near the sore but not the hair on the sore. And the priest will tell him to stay away from other people for seven more days.

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

On the seventh day, the priest will examine that spot again. If it has not spread and it appears to be only on the surface of the skin, the priest will declare that the person is permitted to be with people again. The person must wash his clothes, and then he can be with other people.

35 But if the scall shall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;

But if the sore later spreads,

36 Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall is spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean.

the priest must examine him again. If the itch/sore has spread, the priest does not need to look for yellow hair, because it is clear that the person has a contagious skin disease.

37 But if the scall shall be in his sight at a stay, and there is black hair grown in it; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

However, if the priest thinks that the spot has not changed, and healthy hair is growing in that area, it is clear that the itch has healed, and the priest will declare that the person is permitted to be with other people again.

38 If a man also or a woman shall have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;

‘Then a man or a woman has white spots on the skin,

39 Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh are darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.

the priest should examine them. But if the spots are dull white, it is only a rash, and [the priest will declare that] the person is permitted to be with other people.

40 And the man whose hair hath fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.

‘If a man loses the hair on any part of his head, he does not need to stay away from other people.

41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.

42 And if there is in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up on his bald head, or his bald forehead.

But if he gets a bright/shiny sore on his bald head or on his forehead, he has a contagious skin disease.

43 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the swelling of the sore is white reddish on his bald head, or on his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;

The priest must examine him. If the swollen sore is a bright spot like [the spot on someone who has] a contagious skin disease,

44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.

the priest will declare that the man has a contagious skin disease and must not be with other people.

45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be torn, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

‘Anyone who has a contagious skin disease must wear torn clothes and not comb his hair. [When he is near other people], he must cover the lower part to his face and call out, “Do not come near me! I have a contagious skin disease!”

46 All the days in which the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; outside the camp shall his habitation be.

He is not allowed to be with other people as long as he has the disease. He must live alone, outside the camp.’”

47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether a woollen garment, or a linen garment;

“Sometimes a person’s clothing gets mildew on it. It may be clothing that is woven from wool or made from linen or from leather.

48 Whether in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;

49 And if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest:

If the contaminated/mildewed part is greenish or reddish, it is a spreading mildew, and it must be shown to the priest.

50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up that which hath the plague seven days:

The priest will examine it, and then put it in a separate place by itself for seven days.

51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague is spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is an active leprosy; it is unclean.

On the seventh day he must examine it again. If the mildew has spread, it is clear that it is a type of mildew that destroys clothing, and that clothing must not be worn again.

52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, in which the plague is: for it is an active leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.

The owner must burn completely the item that has the mildew in it, whatever kind of item it is.

53 And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague is not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin;

But when the priest examines it, if the mildew has not spread,

54 Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:

he will tell the person [who owns it] to wash it. Then he must put it in a separate place for another seven days.

55 And the priest shall look on the plague, after it is washed: and, behold, if the plague hath not changed its colour, and the plague hath not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it eateth away inward, whether it is bare within or without.

Then the priest will examine it again. If the color of the mildew has not changed, even though it has not spread, that item must not be worn again. It does not matter if the mildew is on the inside of the clothing or on the outside; it must be burned.

56 And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague is somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:

But when the priest examines it [after it has been washed], if the mildew has faded, he must tear out that part that had the mildew in it.

57 And if it shall appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that in which the plague is with fire.

But if the mildew reappears in that item, it is clear that it is spreading, and the whole item must be burned.

58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which thou shalt wash, if the plague hath departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.

But after the clothing is washed and the mildew disappears, it must be washed again, and then it can be worn again.

59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

Those are the regulations concerning mildew on things made of wool or linen or leather, for deciding whether those things can continue to be worn or not.”