Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 15

Introduction

Overview

Leviticus 15:1, The uncleanness of men in their issues; Leviticus 15:13, The cleansing of them; Leviticus 15:19, The uncleanness of women in their issues; Leviticus 15:28, Their cleansing.

Verse 1

Aaron: Leviticus 11:1, Leviticus 13:1, Psalms 25:14, Amos 3:7, Hebrews 1:1

Reciprocal: Leviticus 5:3 - the uncleanness Leviticus 7:21 - the uncleanness Leviticus 15:32 - General

Verse 2

unto the: Deuteronomy 4:7, Deuteronomy 4:8, Nehemiah 9:13, Nehemiah 9:14, Psalms 78:5, Psalms 147:19, Psalms 147:20, Romans 3:2

when any man: It is not necessary to consider particularly the laws contained in this chapter, the letter of the text being in general sufficiently plain. It may, however, be observed, that from the pains which persons rendered unclean were obliged to take, the ablutions and separations which they must observe, and the privations to which they must in consequence be exposed, in the way of commerce, traffic, etc., these laws were admirably adapted to prevent contagion of every kind, by keeping the whole from the diseased, and to hinder licentious indulgences and excesses of every description. Leviticus 22:4, Numbers 5:2, 2 Samuel 3:29, Matthew 9:20, Mark 5:25, Mark 7:20-23, Luke 8:43

running issue: or, running of the reins

Reciprocal: Leviticus 7:20 - having Zechariah 13:1 - uncleanness

Verse 3

Leviticus 12:3, Ezekiel 16:26, Ezekiel 23:20

Reciprocal: Leviticus 7:20 - having Leviticus 22:4 - running issue

Verse 4

thing: Heb. vessel

be unclean: 1 Corinthians 15:33, Ephesians 5:11, Titus 1:15

Reciprocal: Leviticus 15:20 - General

Verse 5

Leviticus 11:25, Leviticus 11:28, Leviticus 11:32, Leviticus 13:6, Leviticus 13:34, Leviticus 14:8, Leviticus 14:9, Leviticus 14:27, Leviticus 14:46, Leviticus 14:47, Leviticus 16:26, Leviticus 16:28, Leviticus 17:15, Numbers 19:10, Numbers 19:22, Psalms 26:6, Psalms 51:2, Psalms 51:7, Isaiah 1:16, Isaiah 22:14, Ezekiel 36:25, Ezekiel 36:29, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 10:22, James 4:8, Revelation 7:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:2 - clean Exodus 19:10 - wash Leviticus 11:39 - General Leviticus 11:40 - shall wash Leviticus 15:10 - General Leviticus 15:13 - wash Leviticus 15:16 - General Leviticus 15:18 - the woman Leviticus 15:21 - General Leviticus 15:27 - General Leviticus 22:6 - General Numbers 19:7 - General Deuteronomy 23:11 - wash himself 1 Samuel 20:26 - he is not clean Isaiah 52:11 - touch

Verse 6

Isaiah 1:16, James 4:8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 15:21 - General Numbers 8:7 - wash their

Verse 7

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:25 - and be unclean Leviticus 11:39 - General Leviticus 22:5 - or a man

Verse 8

Isaiah 1:16, Galatians 1:8, Galatians 1:9, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Titus 1:9, Titus 1:10, 2 Peter 2:1-3, James 4:8, Jude 1:4

Reciprocal: Leviticus 15:10 - General

Verse 9

saddle: The word merchav, from rachav, to ride, here rendered by our translators saddle, and frequently chariot. Mr. Harmer thinks rather means a litter, or coune, of which we have already given a description in Genesis 31:34. Genesis 31:34

Verse 10

Leviticus 15:5, Leviticus 15:8, Psalms 26:6, James 4:8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:46 - shall be unclean Leviticus 15:13 - wash Leviticus 17:15 - both wash Numbers 8:7 - wash their

Verse 11

whomsoever: It is rather doubtful whether the words hath not rinsed his hands in water refer to him who was diseased, or to him who had his hands touched. Most understand it of the former, that if the person who had the issue rinsed his hands in water, just before he touched any one, he did not communicate any pollution; otherwise, he did. But the Syriac refers it to the person touched by him, though it seems strange that he should be cleansed by washing his hands, when perhaps some other part was touched.

Reciprocal: Leviticus 15:13 - wash Numbers 8:7 - wash their Deuteronomy 23:11 - wash himself

Verse 12

vessel: Leviticus 6:28, Leviticus 11:32, Leviticus 11:33, Proverbs 1:21, Proverbs 1:23, Proverbs 3:21, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Philippians 3:21

shall be broken: Psalms 2:9

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:35 - they shall be

Verse 13

seven days: Leviticus 15:28, Leviticus 8:33, Leviticus 9:1, Leviticus 14:8, Leviticus 14:10, Exodus 29:35, Exodus 29:37, Numbers 12:14, Numbers 19:11, Numbers 19:12

wash: Leviticus 15:5, Leviticus 15:10, Leviticus 15:11, Jeremiah 33:8, Ezekiel 36:25-29, 2 Corinthians 7:1, James 4:8, Revelation 1:5

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:25 - and be unclean Leviticus 15:27 - General Leviticus 22:4 - until Numbers 31:24 - General Deuteronomy 23:11 - wash himself

Verse 14

Leviticus 15:29, Leviticus 15:30, Leviticus 1:14, Leviticus 12:6, Leviticus 12:8, Leviticus 14:22-31, Numbers 6:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 7:26, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 5:7 - one Leviticus 9:1 - the eighth day Leviticus 14:10 - eighth day Leviticus 14:30 - General Matthew 21:12 - doves

Verse 15

the one: Leviticus 5:7-10, Leviticus 14:19, Leviticus 14:20, Leviticus 14:30, Leviticus 14:31

an atonement: Leviticus 4:20, Leviticus 4:26, Leviticus 4:31, Leviticus 4:35, Leviticus 12:7, Leviticus 14:18, Numbers 15:25, Numbers 25:13, Matthew 3:17, Ephesians 1:6, Hebrews 1:3

Verse 16

Leviticus 15:5, Leviticus 22:4, Deuteronomy 23:10, Deuteronomy 23:11, 2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 John 1:7

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 20:26 - he is not clean

Verse 17

skin: The poorer class of Arabs of our times make use of mats in their tents; and other inhabitants of these countries, who affect ancient simplicity of manners, make use of goat-skins. Dr. R. Chandler, in his Travels in Greece, tells us, that he saw some dervishes at Athens sitting on goat-skins; and that he was afterwards conducted into a room furnished in like manner, with the same kind of carpeting, where he was treated with a pipe and coffee by the chief dervish. Those that are at all acquainted with Oriental manners, in these later times, know that their dervishes - who are a sort of Mohammedan devotees, a good deal resembling the begging friars of the church or Rome affect great simplicity, and even sometimes austerity, in their dress and way of living. As these dervishes that Dr. Chandler visited sat on goat-skins, and used no other kind of carpet for the accommodation of those who visited them, so it should seem that the Israelites in the wilderness made use of skins for mattresses to lie upon, and consequently, we may equally suppose to sit upon in the day time, instead of a carpet.

Reciprocal: Leviticus 7:8 - even the priest Numbers 31:23 - ye shall make Deuteronomy 23:11 - when evening 1 Samuel 20:26 - he is not clean

Verse 18

the woman: Leviticus 15:5, Ephesians 4:17-19, Ephesians 5:3-11, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Peter 2:11

unclean: Exodus 19:15, 1 Samuel 21:4, 1 Samuel 21:5, Psalms 51:5, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, Hebrews 13:4

Verse 19

and her issue: Leviticus 12:2, Leviticus 12:4, Leviticus 20:18, Lamentations 1:8, Lamentations 1:9, Lamentations 1:17, Ezekiel 36:17, Matthew 15:19, Mark 5:25

put apart: Heb. in her separation

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:11 - the Genesis 31:35 - custom Leviticus 15:25 - General Leviticus 15:33 - of her Leviticus 18:19 - General Leviticus 22:5 - or a man 1 Samuel 20:26 - he is not clean 2 Samuel 11:4 - purified

Verse 20

Leviticus 15:4-9, Proverbs 2:16-19, Proverbs 5:3-13, Proverbs 6:24, Proverbs 6:35, Proverbs 7:10-27, Proverbs 9:13-18, Proverbs 22:27, Ecclesiastes 7:26, 1 Corinthians 15:33

Reciprocal: Numbers 18:20 - General Numbers 19:9 - a water of separation Mark 5:25 - an issue

Verse 21

Leviticus 15:5, Leviticus 15:6, Isaiah 22:14, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Hebrews 9:26, Revelation 7:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 15:27 - General Leviticus 17:15 - both wash

Verse 24

Leviticus 15:33, Leviticus 20:18, Ezekiel 18:6, Ezekiel 22:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Hebrews 13:4, 1 Peter 2:11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:19 - General

Verse 25

Leviticus 15:19-24, Matthew 9:20, Mark 5:25, Mark 7:20-23, Luke 8:43

Reciprocal: Leviticus 12:4 - General

Verse 27

Leviticus 15:5-8, Leviticus 15:13, Leviticus 15:21, Leviticus 17:15, Leviticus 17:16, Ezekiel 36:25, Ezekiel 36:29, Zechariah 13:1, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 10:22, 1 Peter 1:18, 1 Peter 1:19, 1 John 1:7

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:40 - shall wash Leviticus 16:26 - wash Numbers 8:7 - wash their

Verse 28

Leviticus 15:13-15, Matthew 1:21, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 4:4, Ephesians 1:6, Ephesians 1:7

Reciprocal: Leviticus 12:7 - be cleansed

Verse 29

Leviticus 15:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 9:1 - the eighth day Leviticus 12:6 - a lamb Leviticus 12:8 - she be not able to bring a lamb Numbers 6:10 - General 2 Samuel 11:4 - purified Matthew 21:12 - doves

Verse 30

Reciprocal: Leviticus 5:7 - one Leviticus 15:14 - General

Verse 31

Thus shall: Leviticus 11:47, Leviticus 13:59, Numbers 5:3, Deuteronomy 24:8, Psalms 66:18, Ezekiel 44:23, Hebrews 10:29, Hebrews 12:14, Hebrews 12:15, Jude 1:4

that they: Leviticus 19:30, Leviticus 21:23, Numbers 5:3, Numbers 19:13, Numbers 19:20, Ezekiel 5:11, Ezekiel 23:38, Ezekiel 44:5-7, Daniel 9:27, 1 Corinthians 3:17, These laws were principally intended to impress the minds of the Israelites with reverence for the sanctuary; and, on the one hand, to shew them what need they had of circumspection, and purity of heart and life, in order to worship the holy God with acceptance; and, on the other hand, that being sinners in a world full of temptations and defilements, they would continually need forgiveness, through the great atonement typified by all the sacrifices, and the sanctification of the Spirit, showed forth by all the purifications. While they were encamped in the desert, it would not be very burdensome to bring the prescribed oblations; but after they were settled in Canaan, many of them at a great distance from the tabernacle, this would become much more difficult. We may, however, observe, continues Mr. Scott, that many of the cases stated only required such washings as might any where be performed, and that those, respecting which sacrifices were appointed, would more rarely occur. We may also suppose, that provided these were brought, when the person who had been unclean first came to the sanctuary, it would suffice: though distance or other hindrances prevented its being done immediately, at the expiration of the seven days.

Reciprocal: Leviticus 22:2 - General 2 Chronicles 30:19 - though he be not

Verse 32

Leviticus 15:1-18, Leviticus 11:46, Leviticus 13:59, Leviticus 14:2, Leviticus 14:32, Leviticus 14:54-57, Numbers 5:29, Numbers 6:13, Numbers 19:14, Ezekiel 43:12

Reciprocal: Numbers 30:16 - General Numbers 36:13 - the commandments Galatians 3:19 - in

Verse 33

of her: Leviticus 15:19-30

and of him: Leviticus 15:24, Leviticus 20:18

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:29 - the law Numbers 30:16 - General Numbers 36:13 - the commandments