Leviticus 13:54

Study note

Setting — The text records God’s instruction to Moses and Aaron regarding the inspection of mildewed fabrics and leather. At this moment, the priest has just reexamined a contaminated article and found the plague has not spread.

The words — The Hebrew verb צִוָּה (tzi.Vah) translates literally as “he will command,” and הִסְגִּיר (his.gi.R) means “he will shut up” or confine. These terms frame the priest’s directive to wash the affected item and isolate it for a set period.

The thread — The pattern of washing followed by a seven-day isolation reappears in Leviticus 14:8 for cleansing from skin diseases and in Leviticus 14:51 for purifying houses.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that ritual impurity demands both a prescribed cleansing action and a waiting period for verification. It establishes a procedural standard where physical separation precedes final judgment.

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.