Bible Strands
Leviticus 17:16
But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, then he shall bear his iniquity.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses issues this command to the Israelite assembly and any foreigner living among them following the regulation about eating carrion or animals torn by wild beasts. The directive addresses the ritual procedure required after contact with defiling food.
The words — יִרְחָץ (yir.Chatz) literally means "he will wash," specifying the required ritual bathing. נָשׂא (na.Sa') translates as "he will bear," indicating the assumption of guilt or penalty for neglecting the command.
The thread — The formulation "bear his iniquity" appears in Leviticus 5:1 regarding failure to testify and Leviticus 19:8 concerning the profaning of holy food. It also occurs in Leviticus 7:18 when peace offering meat is consumed past the appointed day.
Why it lands — The text mandates immediate physical cleansing after handling ritually unclean meat to prevent the accumulation of guilt. It requires strict compliance with ritual boundaries to maintain the community's standing before God.
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
But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 5:1 “If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity.
- Leviticus 7:18 If any of the meat from his peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not be credited to the one who presented it; it shall be an abomination, and the one who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
- Leviticus 19:8 Whoever eats it will bear his iniquity, for he has profaned what is holy to the LORD. That person must be cut off from his people.
- Leviticus 20:17 If a man marries his sister, whether the daughter of his father or of his mother, and they have sexual relations, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister; he shall bear his iniquity.
- Leviticus 20:19 You must not have sexual relations with the sister of your mother or your father, for it is exposing one’s own kin; both shall bear their iniquity.
- Numbers 19:19 The man who is ceremonially clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and that evening he will be clean.
- Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
- John 13:8 “Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”
- Hebrews 9:28 so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
- 1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”