Leviticus 13:25

the priest must examine it. If the hair in the spot has turned white and the spot appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest must pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The text addresses the priest regarding a patient whose healed burn has developed a raw, reddish-white or white patch. The priest must examine the lesion to determine its nature and declare the person clean or unclean.

The words — נֶהְפַּךְ (neh.paKh) translates as "it has been turned," and שֵׂעָר (se.'Ar) means "hair." These terms describe the specific diagnostic sign of white hair appearing within the bright spot.

The thread — This diagnostic pattern recurs in Leviticus 13:4 regarding non-deep white spots and in Leviticus 13:18 concerning the healing phase of a boil. Both passages establish parallel criteria for priestly examination of skin lesions.

Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to recognize that ritual status depends on observable physical signs rather than subjective feeling. It demands strict adherence to the priest’s visual diagnosis for determining community purity.

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

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

Cross-references

Leviticus 13:4 If, however, the spot on his skin is white and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days.
Leviticus 13:18 When a boil appears on someone’s skin and it heals,