Deuteronomy 24:8

In cases of infectious skin diseases, be careful to diligently follow everything the Levitical priests instruct you. Be careful to do as I have commanded them.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the assembled Israelites on the plains of Moab, delivering final legal instructions before the conquest of Canaan.

The words — The text commands the people to take heed (הִשָּׁמֵר, hiššāmer) and take care exceedingly (לִשְׁמֹר מְאֹד, lišmōr məʾōd) regarding the plague of serious skin disease (בְּנֶגַע הַצָּרַעַת, be-negaʿ ha-tsaʿaraʿat). It further mandates doing exactly as the Levitical priests instruct (כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר, kəḵōl ʾăšer).

The thread — This directive echoes the priestly regulations for skin afflictions in Leviticus 13:1 and Leviticus 14:2, and directly precedes the reminder of Miriam’s affliction in Deuteronomy 24:9.

Why it lands — The text demands strict obedience to priestly diagnosis and treatment protocols for contagious skin conditions, prioritizing communal purity over individual discretion.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הִשָּׁ֧מֶרhi.Sha.mertake heed בְּנֶֽגַע־be./ne.ga'-to/ [the] plague of הַצָּרַ֛עַתha./tza.Ra.'at<the>/ serious skin disease לִשְׁמֹ֥רli/sh.Morto/ take care מְאֹ֖דme.'Odexceedingly וְלַעֲשׂ֑וֹתve./la./'a.Sotand/ to/ do כְּכֹל֩ke./Kholaccording to/ all אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-that יוֹר֨וּyo.Ruthey will instruct אֶתְכֶ֜ם'et./Khem<obj.>/ you הַכֹּהֲנִ֧יםha./ko.ha.Nimthe/ priests הַלְוִיִּ֛םha/l.vi.Yimthe/ Levites כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka./'a.Sherjust/ as צִוִּיתִ֖םtzi.vi.Ti/mI commanded/ them תִּשְׁמְר֥וּtish.me.Ruyou will take care לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ סla./'a.Sotto/ do

King James Version

Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.

Cross-references

Leviticus 14:2 “This is the law for the one afflicted with a skin disease on the day of his cleansing, when he is brought to the priest.
Leviticus 13:1 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
Leviticus 13:57 But if it reappears in the fabric, weave, or knit, or on any leather article, it is spreading. You must burn the contaminated article.
Leviticus 14:9 On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.
Matthew 8:4 Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
Mark 1:44 “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
Luke 5:14 “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
Luke 17:14 When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.