Open English Translation LEV Chapter 13

13 Then Yahweh told Mosheh and Aharon:

2 If someone discovers a raised area on their skin, or a scab or a bright spot, and it seems like an infectious skin disease, then that person should be taken to a priest (Aharon or one of his sons), 3 and the priest must examine their skin. If the hair in the infected spot has turned white and the infection appears to be deeper under the skin, then it’s confirmed as an infectious skin disease and so the priest must pronounce the person as ‘unclean’. 4 However, if it’s a white spot that doesn’t seem to be deep, and the hair hasn’t turned white, then the priest must order the person to be quarantined for seven days. 5 Then on the seventh day, if the infection is still there but hasn’t spread, then the priest must order a further seven days of quarantine. 6 After that next seven days, if the infection has faded and not spread, the priest must pronounce the person as ‘clean’—it was just a sore so the person must wash their clothes and then they’ll be ‘clean’. 7 However, if the spot does spread across the skin after the priest has pronounced the person to be ‘clean’, then they must return to the priest a second time. 8 The priest must re-examine that person and if the spot on the skin has spread, then the priest must pronounce them ‘unclean’ because they have a skin disease.

9 Anyone who develops an infectious skin disease must be taken to a priest 10 to be examined. If it’s a white spot on the skin and the hair has turned white, and there’s raw flesh visible in the swelling, 11 then it’s a chronic skin disease, and the priest must pronounce that person as ‘unclean’ and can’t just be temporarily quarantined. 12 However, if the disease has broken out and spread across the entire body from head to toe as far as can be observed by the priest, 13 then after the priest’s confirmation that it covers the entire body, that person can be pronounced as ‘clean’ again as all of it has turned white. 14 However, if any raw flesh shows itself, then they’ll become ‘unclean’ that same day. 15 The priest must examine that raw flesh and must pronounce that person as ‘unclean’ due to their skin disease. 16 Afterwards, if it heals over and goes white, then they can return to the priest 17 to be reexamined, and if the infection has indeed gone white, then the priest can pronounce it as not being infectious and the person as ‘clean’ again.

18 When someone has a boil on their skin, but it heals 19 leaving behind a white swelling or a reddish-white bright spot, then that person must show themself to the priest. 20 The priest will examine it, and if it is indeed more than just skin deep and its hair has turned white, then the priest must pronounce that person as ‘unclean’ because an infectious skin disease has broken out from the original boil. 21 However, if the priest’s examination finds not white hair on it, and it’s not more than skin deep, and it’s fading, then he will order that person quarantined for seven days, 22 and if it spreads further on their skin, then the priest must declare that person as ‘unclean’ because it’s infectious. 23 But if the bright spot hasn’t spread during the quarantine, then it’s just the scar from the boil and the priest can pronounce the person as ‘clean’.

24 If someone gets a burn on their skin, and the burn area becomes reddish-white or a white spot, 25 then the priest must examine it, and if the hair on the spot has turned white and the infection looks more than skin deep, then a skin disease has broken out in the burn, and the priest must pronounce that person as ‘unclean’ because it’s infectious. 26 However, if the priest sees that there’s no white hair in the spot, and it’s not more than skin deep, and it’s fading, then he will order that person quarantined for seven days. 27 On the seventh day, the priest will re-examine the person, and if it’s spread further, he must pronounce that person as ‘unclean’ because it’s an infectious skin disease. 28 But if the bright spot hasn’t spread on the skin, and it faded more, then it was just swelling from the burn. Then the priest will pronounce that person to be ‘clean’ because it was just the scar caused by their burn.

29 If a man or woman has an infection in their scalp or under their beard, 30 then the priest should inspect the infection. If it appears to be more than skin deep, and there’s any thin yellow hairs in it, then the priest must pronounce that person as ‘unclean’ because it’s a itchy and infectious skin infection on the scalp or face. 31 However, if the priest notices an itchy infection yet it’s only skin deep and there’s no black hair on it, then he should quarantine that person for seven days. 32 On the seventh day, the priest will re-examine that person and if the spot hasn’t widened and still only appears to be skin deep, 33 then that person should shave their head, and then the priest should quarantine them for a further seven days. 34 Then again on the seventh day, the priest will inspect it, and if the spot hasn’t widened after being shaved and it doesn’t seem to be more than skin deep, then the priest can pronounce that person as ‘clean’ once they’ve washed their clothes. 35 However, it is did spread on their skin after that, 36 then the priest must inspect it again, and if it’s spread then that person is ‘unclean’ (whether or not there’s any yellow hair). 37 But if it seems that the spot hasn’t spread and dark hair is growing in it again, then that person’s not infectious and the priest can pronounce them as ‘clean’.

38 If a man or woman finds very white spots on their skin, 39 then the priest must examine them. If the spots on their skin are dull white, then it’s a skin rash that’s broken out and they are ‘clean’.

40 If a man’s head has become bare, then he’s gone bald and is still ‘clean’. 41 Similarly, if the hair is receding from the front corners, he’s going bald and is still ‘clean’. 42 However, if there’s a balding spot with a reddish-white infection, it’s a skin disease breaking out via that spot 43 and the priest must examine him. If it’s a balding spot with a reddish-white infection that looks like a contagious skin disease, 44 then he’s contagious and ‘unclean’. The priest must pronounce his as ‘unclean’ because of that infection on his head.

45 Anyone who’s developed an infectious skin disease must tear their clothes and leave their hair loose, and must cover their mouth and call out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 46 They will remain ‘unclean’ as long as they still have that infection, and must live alone outside the camp.

47 When a piece of clothing has a mould growing on it, whether it’s made of wool or linen, 48 or whether it’s something woven from wool or linen, or something made from leather, 49 if the growth is greenish or reddish in colour, then it’s something that can spread and it must be shown to the priest. 50 The priest must examine the growth, and quarantine the article for seven days. 51 On the seventh day, if the growth has spread on that piece of material or leather equipment, and it’s confirmed as spreadable and is ‘unclean’. 52 The owner must burn the piece of clothing or equipment that contains the infection because it’s contagious, so it must be completely burnt up.

53 However if the priest notices that the growth hasn’t spread on the clothing or on the woven or leather material, 54 then the priest must order that the material be washed and then quarantined for a further seven days. 55 On the seventh day, the priest must inspect that washed material, and if the growth hasn’t changed its appearance, even if it hasn’t spread, then it’s ‘unclean’ and must be burnt in the fire—it’s a mildew that’s on the front or back of the material. 56 However, if the priest notices that the growth has faded after being washed, then it can be torn out of the clothing or piece of leather or woven material. 57 If it then reappears on that clothing or material, then it’s breaking out, so then that article must be burnt in the fire. 58 On the other hand, if the growth vanished after being washed, then it must be washed a second time and then it will be ‘clean’.

59 The above are the regulations concerning any growth on a piece of woollen or linen clothing or fabric, or any leather article, to pronounce it ‘clean’ or ‘unclean’.