Bible Strands
Leviticus 13:17
The priest will reexamine him, and if the infection has turned white, the priest is to pronounce the infected person clean; then he is clean.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses conveys divine protocol to Aaron and the priests during a skin disease inspection. The moment occurs when a previously raw flesh lesion visibly changes color and requires priestly evaluation.
The words — נֶהְפַּךְ (neh.Pakh) literally means "it has been turned," describing the physical alteration of the lesion. טִהַר (ti.Har) translates to "he will declare pure," marking the priest's authoritative ritual pronouncement.
The thread — The priest's role in declaring ritual purity recurs in Leviticus 14:2-7 and Numbers 12:14. The pattern of visible physical change dictating ritual status also appears in Leviticus 14:33-53 regarding mildew in dwellings.
Why it lands — The text states that a visible whitening triggers a priestly examination and official declaration of cleanliness. It asks the reader to accept that ritual status depends on observable signs and institutional verification rather than subjective assessment.
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
King James Version
And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.