Leviticus 13:12
New International Version
“If the disease breaks out all over their skin and, so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin of the affected person from head to foot,

New Living Translation
“Now suppose the disease has spread all over the person’s skin, covering the body from head to foot.

English Standard Version
And if the leprous disease breaks out in the skin, so that the leprous disease covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see,

Berean Standard Bible
But if the skin disease breaks out all over his skin so that it covers all the skin of the infected person from head to foot, as far as the priest can see,

King James Bible
And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;

New King James Version
“And if leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of the one who has the sore, from his head to his foot, wherever the priest looks,

New American Standard Bible
If the leprosy breaks out farther on the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of the person who has the infection from his head even to his feet, as far as the priest can see,

NASB 1995
“If the leprosy breaks out farther on the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of him who has the infection from his head even to his feet, as far as the priest can see,

NASB 1977
“And if the leprosy breaks out farther on the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of him who has the infection from his head even to his feet, as far as the priest can see,

Legacy Standard Bible
But if the leprosy breaks out farther on the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of him who has the infection from his head even to his feet, as far as the priest can see,

Amplified Bible
But if the [suspected] leprosy breaks out farther on the skin, and it covers all of the skin of the one who has the outbreak—from his head to his foot—wherever the priest looks,

Christian Standard Bible
But if the skin disease breaks out all over the skin so that it covers all the skin of the stricken person from his head to his feet so far as the priest can see,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if the skin disease breaks out all over the skin so that it covers all the skin of the infected person from his head to his feet so far as the priest can see,

American Standard Version
And if the leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his feet, as far as appeareth to the priest;

English Revised Version
And if the leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his feet, as far as appeareth to the priest;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If skin disease develops and covers the whole person from head to foot (so far as the priest can see),

Good News Translation
If the skin disease spreads and covers you from head to foot,

International Standard Version
If the infectious skin disease spreads in the skin so that it covers his entire body from head to foot (as the priest examines it),

Majority Standard Bible
But if the skin disease breaks out all over his skin so that it covers all the skin of the infected person from head to foot, as far as the priest can see,

NET Bible
If, however, the disease breaks out on the skin so that the disease covers all the skin of the person with the infection from his head to his feet, as far as the priest can see,

New Heart English Bible
"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;

Webster's Bible Translation
And if a leprosy shall break out in the skin, and the leprosy shall cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wherever the priest looketh;

World English Bible
“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,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if the leprosy breaks out greatly in the skin, and the leprosy has covered all the skin of [him who has] the plague, from his head even to his feet, to all that appears to the eyes of the priest,

Young's Literal Translation
And if the leprosy break out greatly in the skin, and the leprosy hath covered all the skin of him who hath the plague, from his head even unto his feet, to all that appeareth to the eyes of the priest,

Smith's Literal Translation
And if breaking out, the leprosy shall break out in the skin, and the leprosy covered all the skin, the stroke from his head and even to his feet, to all the sight of the eyes of the priest:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if the leprosy spring out running about in the skin, and cover all the skin from the head to the feet, whatsoever falleth under the sight of the eyes,

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if the leprosy will have flourished, coursing through the skin, and will have covered all the skin from the head even to the feet, whatever falls under the sight of the eyes,

New American Bible
If the scaly infection breaks out on the skin and, as far as the priest can see, covers all the skin of the afflicted person from head to foot,

New Revised Standard Version
But if the disease breaks out in the skin, so that it covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if the leprosy breaks out all over his skin, so that the leprosy covers all of the skin of him who has the plague from his head to his feet, wherever the priest looks,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if the leprosy will spread in his skin and the leprosy will cover all his skin from his head and unto his feet, everywhere that the eyes of the Priest see;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And if the leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his feet, as far as appeareth to the priest;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if the leprosy should have come out very evidently in the skin, and the leprosy should cover all the skin of the patient from the head to the feet, wheresoever the priest shall look;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Laws about Skin Diseases
11it is a chronic skin disease and the priest must pronounce him unclean. He need not isolate him, for he is unclean. 12But if the skin disease breaks out all over his skin so that it covers all the skin of the infected person from head to foot, as far as the priest can see, 13the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has covered his entire body, he is to pronounce the infected person clean. Since it has all turned white, he is clean.…

Cross References
Numbers 12:10-15
As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous, / and said to Moses, “My lord, please do not hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed. / Please do not let her be like a stillborn infant whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” ...

2 Kings 5:1-14
Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. / At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. / She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.” ...

2 Chronicles 26:19-21
Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead. / When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him. / So King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolation, leprous and cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham had charge of the royal palace and governed the people of the land.

Matthew 8:2-4
Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. / Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”

Luke 17:12-19
As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance / and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” / When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed. ...

Mark 1:40-45
Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” / And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed. ...

Luke 5:12-16
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. / “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ...

Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Luke 7:22
So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Isaiah 1:5-6
Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted. / From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.

Job 2:7-8
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. / And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.

Isaiah 53:4
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

Matthew 11:5
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

2 Kings 7:3-10
Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die? / If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.” / So they arose at twilight and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the outskirts of the camp, there was not a man to be found. ...

Deuteronomy 24:8-9
In cases of infectious skin diseases, be careful to diligently follow everything the Levitical priests instruct you. Be careful to do as I have commanded them. / Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the journey after you came out of Egypt.


Treasury of Scripture

And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that has the plague from his head even to his foot, wherever the priest looks;

cover all

1 Kings 8:38
What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

Job 40:4
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Job 42:6
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Jump to Previous
Able Abroad Appeareth Appears Break Breaks Cover Covered Covers Eyes Far Farther Feet Foot Greatly Head Infected Infection Plague Priest Skin Sore Wheresoever Wherever
Jump to Next
Able Abroad Appeareth Appears Break Breaks Cover Covered Covers Eyes Far Farther Feet Foot Greatly Head Infected Infection Plague Priest Skin Sore Wheresoever Wherever
Leviticus 13
1. The laws whereby the priest is to be guided in discerning the leprosy.














But if the skin disease breaks out
The Hebrew term for "skin disease" here is "tzaraath," often translated as "leprosy" in older versions, though it encompasses a range of skin conditions. The phrase "breaks out" suggests an uncontrolled spread, indicating a condition that is not merely superficial but pervasive. In the ancient context, such diseases were not only physical ailments but also carried significant social and religious implications, often seen as a manifestation of spiritual impurity or divine judgment.

all over his skin
The phrase "all over his skin" emphasizes the totality of the affliction. In the Hebrew context, the skin was seen as a boundary between the individual and the world, and a disease that covered the entire skin symbolized a complete breach of this boundary. This total coverage could paradoxically lead to a declaration of purity, as the complete spread indicated a non-contagious state, reflecting the complex interplay between physical and spiritual health in Levitical law.

so that it covers all the skin
The repetition of the idea of total coverage underscores the severity and completeness of the condition. In the Levitical system, the priest's role was to discern the nature of the disease, and a condition that covered "all the skin" required careful examination. This reflects the meticulous nature of the Levitical laws, which sought to maintain the holiness and purity of the community through detailed regulations.

of the infected person
The term "infected person" highlights the individual's state of impurity. In the Hebrew tradition, impurity was not merely a physical state but had profound spiritual and communal implications. The infected person was often isolated from the community, symbolizing the separation that sin and impurity create between individuals and God. This separation underscores the need for divine intervention and purification.

from head to foot
This phrase indicates the comprehensive nature of the affliction, leaving no part of the body untouched. In biblical symbolism, the head often represents authority and the foot represents one's walk or way of life. Thus, a disease covering "from head to foot" suggests a total impact on the person's life and status, necessitating a holistic approach to healing and restoration.

as far as the priest can see
The role of the priest as an observer and judge is crucial in this context. The priest's ability to "see" signifies not only physical sight but also spiritual discernment. In the Levitical system, priests acted as mediators between God and the people, and their judgment was essential in determining the state of purity or impurity. This highlights the importance of spiritual leadership and discernment in maintaining the holiness of the community.

(12, 13) And if a leprosy break out abroad.--There were, however, two phases of this returned distemper which exempted the patient from uncleanness. If the leprosy suddenly covered the whole body so that the patient became perfectly white, in which case there could be no appearance of live flesh, then he was clean. This indicated the crisis, as the whole evil matter thus brought to the surface formed itself into a scale, which dried and peeled off.

Verses 12-17. - If a leprosy break out abroad... and cover all the skin. There was a form of disease similar to true leprosy, and bearing the name of leprosy, and by some thought to be the final phase of true leprosy, which was yet not to cause legal uncleanness. It was distinguishable from the leprosy which caused uncleanness by a diffusion of the white flakes over the whole body, and by the absence of any patches bearing the appearance of raw flesh (verses 12, 13). Real leprosy might pass into this harmless kind or phase, and it was known to have done so as soon as the raw patches of flesh had disappeared (verses 16, 17). When this had taken place, the priest pronounced him clean.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

the skin disease
הַצָּרַ֙עַת֙ (haṣ·ṣā·ra·‘aṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6883: Leprosy

breaks out
פָּר֨וֹחַ (pā·rō·w·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 6524: To break forth as a, bud, bloom, to spread, to fly, to flourish

all over his skin
בָּע֔וֹר (bā·‘ō·wr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5785: Skin, hide, leather

so that it
הַצָּרַ֗עַת (haṣ·ṣā·ra·‘aṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6883: Leprosy

covers
וְכִסְּתָ֣ה (wə·ḵis·sə·ṯāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the skin
ע֣וֹר (‘ō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5785: Skin, hide, leather

of the infected person
הַנֶּ֔גַע (han·ne·ḡa‘)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5061: Mark -- a blow, a spot

from head
מֵרֹאשׁ֖וֹ (mê·rō·šōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head

to
וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

foot,
רַגְלָ֑יו (raḡ·lāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

as far as the priest
הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

can see,
מַרְאֵ֖ה (mar·’êh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4758: Sight, appearance, vision


Links
Leviticus 13:12 NIV
Leviticus 13:12 NLT
Leviticus 13:12 ESV
Leviticus 13:12 NASB
Leviticus 13:12 KJV

Leviticus 13:12 BibleApps.com
Leviticus 13:12 Biblia Paralela
Leviticus 13:12 Chinese Bible
Leviticus 13:12 French Bible
Leviticus 13:12 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Leviticus 13:12 If the leprosy breaks out all over (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 13:11
Top of Page
Top of Page