Bible Strands

Leviticus 22:5

or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be—

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The text addresses Aaron and his descendants regarding the consumption of sacred offerings. The instruction is delivered during the delineation of priestly purity regulations for those approaching holy duties.

The words — The verb יִגַּ֔ע (yi.Ga') means "he will touch," paired with the noun שֶׁ֖רֶץ (She.retz), which literally denotes a "swarming thing." These terms specify the exact physical contact that transfers ritual impurity.

The thread — This prohibition against contact with unclean sources recurs in Leviticus 11:43 and Leviticus 15:7. The text consistently links touching crawling creatures or bodily discharges to an immediate state of defilement.

Why it lands — The verse requires priests to maintain ritual separation before partaking in holy food. It establishes that contact with specified sources of impurity immediately disqualifies a person from sacred duties until cleansing occurs.

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

אוֹ־'ov-orאִישׁ֙'ishanyoneאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhoיִגַּ֔עyi.Ga'he will touchבְּכָל־be./khol<in>/ anyשֶׁ֖רֶץShe.retzswarming thingאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhichיִטְמָא־yit.ma'-it is uncleanל֑וֹl/oto <the>/ himא֤וֹ'oorבְאָדָם֙ve./'a.Dam<in>/ anyoneאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhoיִטְמָא־yit.ma'-he is uncleanל֔וֹl/oto <the>/ himלְכֹ֖לle./Kholto/ allטֻמְאָתֽוֹ׃tum.'a.T/ouncleanness/ his

King James Version

Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;

Cross-references