Leviticus 13

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Yahweh said this to Aaron and Moses/me:

2 “When a man shall have a swelling in his body’s skin, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes in the skin of his body the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests.

“When someone has on his skin a swelling or a rash or a shiny/bright spot that may become (contagious/a dreaded skin disease), he must be brought to Aaron or to one of his sons who are also priests.

3 The priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the body. If the hair in the plague has turned white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body’s skin, it is the plague of leprosy; so the priest shall examine him and pronounce him unclean.

The priest must examine that part of the person’s skin. If the hair in that area has become white and it appears that the sore is deeper than just on the skin, it is a contagious skin disease. When the priest sees that, he must declare that the person must stay away from other people [MTY].

4 If the bright spot is white in the skin of his body, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and its hair hasn’t turned white, then the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days.

If the spot on the person’s skin is white but it does not appear that the sore is deeper than just on the skin, the priest must tell him to stay away from other people for seven days.

5 The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. Behold, if in his eyes the plague is arrested and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days.

Then the priest must examine the person again. If the priest sees that the sore has not changed and has not spread, he must tell the person to stay away from people for seven more days.

6 The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day. Behold, if the plague has faded and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

Then the priest must examine him again. If the sore has faded and has not spread, the priest will allow him to be with other people again; it is only a rash. After the person washes his clothes, he will be allowed to be with other people again.

7 But if the scab spreads on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again.

But if the sore spreads after the priest has examined him, he must go to the priest again.

8 The priest shall examine him; and behold, if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.

The priest will examine him; and if the sore has spread to more of the skin, it is a contagious skin disease, and the priest will declare that he must stay away from other people.

9 “When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought to the priest;

When anyone has a contagious skin disease, he must be brought to the priest.

10 and the priest shall examine him. Behold, if there is a white swelling in the skin, and it has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling,

The priest must examine him. And if there is a white swelling in the skin that has caused the hair in that swelling to become white, and if the flesh in that area is painful/sensitive,

11 it is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not isolate him, for he is already unclean.

it is a permanent skin disease, and the priest will declare that he must stay away from other people. The priest does not need to tell that person that he must avoid other people, because other people already are wanting to stay away from him.

12 “If the leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of the infected person from his head even to his feet, as far as it appears to the priest,

‘If the disease spreads all over someone’s body, and the priest examines that person and sees that it is covering his skin from his head to his feet,

13 then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the leprosy has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean of the plague. It has all turned white: he is clean.

and it has caused all his skin to become white [which will indicate that the disease has ended], the priest will declare that the person does not have to stay away from other people.

14 But whenever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean.

But if the person has open sores and they are very painful/sensitive, he has a contagious skin disease,

15 The priest shall examine the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean: the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy.

and when the priest sees that, he will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

16 Or if the raw flesh turns again, and is changed to white, then he shall come to the priest.

But if the person’s flesh changes and becomes white, he must go to the priest again.

17 The priest shall examine him. Behold, if the plague has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean of the plague. He is clean.

The priest must examine him again; and if the sores have become white, the priest will declare that the person who had been infected is now permitted to be with other people again.

18 “When the body has a boil on its skin, and it has healed,

‘Then someone has a boil on his skin and it has healed,

19 and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest.

but in the place where the boil was a white swelling or a bright/shiny spot appears, he must go to the priest.

20 The priest shall examine it. Behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. It has broken out in the boil.

The priest must examine it. And if it seems to be deeper than just on the skin, and if the hair in that spot has become white, it is a contagious skin disease that has appeared where the boil had been. And the priest will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

21 But if the priest examines it, and behold, there are no white hairs in it, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest shall isolate him seven days.

But when the priest examines it, if there is no white hair in that spot and it is only on the surface of the skin and has become less bright/shiny, then the priest will order him to stay away from other people for seven days.

22 If it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague.

But if it is spreading, it is contagious and the priest will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

23 But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

But if that spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest will declare that the person is permitted to be with other people again.

24 “Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white, or white,

‘Then someone has a burn on his skin and a bright/shiny or white spot appears, and the flesh in that area is sensitive/painful,

25 then the priest shall examine it; and behold, if the hair in the bright spot has turned white, and its appearance is deeper than the skin, it is leprosy. It has broken out in the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy.

the priest must examine the spot. If the hair in that spot has turned white and it seems to be deeper than just on the surface of the skin, it is a contagious skin disease that has appeared where the burn was, and that person must stay away from other people.

26 But if the priest examines it, and behold, there is no white hair in the bright spot, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall isolate him seven days.

But when the priest examines it and sees that there is no white hair in that spot and it is only on the surface of the skin, and has faded, the priest will declare that the person must stay away from people for seven days.

27 The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy.

On the seventh day, the priest will examine him again. If the sore is spreading, it is a contagious skin disease, and the priest will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

28 If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread in the skin, but is faded, it is the swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn.

However, if the spot is not changed and has not spread but has faded, it is only a scar from the burn, and the priest will declare that the person is permitted to be with other people again.

29 “When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the beard,

‘If a man or a woman has a sore on his head or on his chin,

30 then the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch. It is leprosy of the head or of the beard.

the priest must examine it. If it appears to be deeper than [just on the surface of] the skin, and the hair in that spot has thinned out and has become yellowish, it is a contagious skin disease that causes itching. And the priest will declare that the person must stay away from other people.

31 If the priest examines the plague of itching, and behold, its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person infected with itching seven days.

But when the priest examines that kind of sore, if it seems to be only on the surface of the skin and there is no healthy hair in it, the priest will tell the person to stay away from other people for seven days.

32 On the seventh day the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the appearance of the itch isn’t deeper than the skin,

On the seventh day, the priest will examine the sore again. If it has not spread and if there is no yellow hair in that spot and if it appears to be only on the surface of the skin,

33 then he shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the itch. Then the priest shall isolate the one who has the itch seven more days.

the person must shave the hair near the sore but not the hair on the sore. And the priest will tell him to stay away from other people for seven more days.

34 On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the itch; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread in the skin, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean.

On the seventh day, the priest will examine that spot again. If it has not spread and it appears to be only on the surface of the skin, the priest will declare that the person is permitted to be with people again. The person must wash his clothes, and then he can be with other people.

35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing,

But if the sore later spreads,

36 then the priest shall examine him; and behold, if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest shall not look for the yellow hair; he is unclean.

the priest must examine him again. If the itch/sore has spread, the priest does not need to look for yellow hair, because it is clear that the person has a contagious skin disease.

37 But if in his eyes the itch is arrested and black hair has grown in it, then the itch is healed. He is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean.

However, if the priest thinks that the spot has not changed, and healthy hair is growing in that area, it is clear that the itch has healed, and the priest will declare that the person is permitted to be with other people again.

38 “When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots,

‘Then a man or a woman has white spots on the skin,

39 then the priest shall examine them. Behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless rash. It has broken out in the skin. He is clean.

the priest should examine them. But if the spots are dull white, it is only a rash, and [the priest will declare that] the person is permitted to be with other people.

40 “If a man’s hair has fallen from his head, he is bald. He is clean.

‘If a man loses the hair on any part of his head, he does not need to stay away from other people.

41 If his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald. He is clean.

42 But if a reddish-white plague is in the bald head or the bald forehead, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head or his bald forehead.

But if he gets a bright/shiny sore on his bald head or on his forehead, he has a contagious skin disease.

43 Then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body,

The priest must examine him. If the swollen sore is a bright spot like [the spot on someone who has] a contagious skin disease,

44 he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean. His plague is on his head.

the priest will declare that the man has a contagious skin disease and must not be with other people.

45 “The leper in whom the plague is shall wear torn clothes, and the hair of his head shall hang loose. He shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’

‘Anyone who has a contagious skin disease must wear torn clothes and not comb his hair. [When he is near other people], he must cover the lower part to his face and call out, “Do not come near me! I have a contagious skin disease!”

46 All the days in which the plague is in him he shall be unclean. He is unclean. He shall dwell alone. His dwelling shall be outside of the camp.

He is not allowed to be with other people as long as he has the disease. He must live alone, outside the camp.’”

47 “The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it is a woolen garment, or a linen garment;

“Sometimes a person’s clothing gets mildew on it. It may be clothing that is woven from wool or made from linen or from leather.

48 whether it is in warp or woof; of linen or of wool; whether in a leather, or in anything made of leather;

49 if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the leather, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of leather; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest.

If the contaminated/mildewed part is greenish or reddish, it is a spreading mildew, and it must be shown to the priest.

50 The priest shall examine the plague, and isolate the plague seven days.

The priest will examine it, and then put it in a separate place by itself for seven days.

51 He shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever use the skin is used for, the plague is a destructive mildew. It is unclean.

On the seventh day he must examine it again. If the mildew has spread, it is clear that it is a type of mildew that destroys clothing, and that clothing must not be worn again.

52 He shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of leather, in which the plague is, for it is a destructive mildew. It shall be burned in the fire.

The owner must burn completely the item that has the mildew in it, whatever kind of item it is.

53 “If the priest examines it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin;

But when the priest examines it, if the mildew has not spread,

54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing that the plague is in, and he shall isolate it seven more days.

he will tell the person [who owns it] to wash it. Then he must put it in a separate place for another seven days.

55 Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn’t changed its color, and the plague hasn’t spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside.

Then the priest will examine it again. If the color of the mildew has not changed, even though it has not spread, that item must not be worn again. It does not matter if the mildew is on the inside of the clothing or on the outside; it must be burned.

56 If the priest looks, and behold, the plague has faded after it is washed, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof;

But when the priest examines it [after it has been washed], if the mildew has faded, he must tear out that part that had the mildew in it.

57 and if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn what the plague is in with fire.

But if the mildew reappears in that item, it is clear that it is spreading, and the whole item must be burned.

58 The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean.”

But after the clothing is washed and the mildew disappears, it must be washed again, and then it can be worn again.

59 This is the law of the plague of mildew in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

Those are the regulations concerning mildew on things made of wool or linen or leather, for deciding whether those things can continue to be worn or not.”