Laws about Skin Diseases (Numbers 5:1–4)
1 DRA And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
2 DRA The man in whose skin or flesh shalt arise a different colour or a blister, or as it were something shining, that is, the stroke of the leprosy, shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or any one of his sons. BSB BSB: “When someone has a swelling or rash or bright spot on his skin that may be an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest.
3 DRA And if he see the leprosy in his skin, and the hair turned white, and the place where the leprosy appears lower than the skin and the rest of the flesh: it is the stroke of the leprosy, and upon his judgment he shall be separated. BSB BSB: The priest is to examine the infection on his skin, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a skin disease. After the priest examines him, he must pronounce him unclean.
4 DRA But if there be a shining whiteness in the skin, and not lower than the other flesh, and the hair be of the former colour, the priest shall shut him up seven days. BSB BSB: If, however, the spot on his skin is white and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days.
5 DRA And the seventh day he shall look on him: and if the leprosy be grown no farther, and hath not spread itself in the skin, he shall shut him up again other seven days. BSB BSB: On the seventh day the priest is to reexamine him, and if he sees that the infection is unchanged and has not spread on the skin, the priest must isolate him for another seven days.
6 DRA And on the seventh day, he shall look on him: if the leprosy be somewhat obscure, and not spread in the skin, he shall declare him clean, because it is but a scab: and the man shall wash his clothes, and shall be clean. BSB BSB: The priest will examine him again on the seventh day, and if the sore has faded and has not spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is a rash. The person must wash his clothes and be clean.
7 DRA But if the leprosy grow again, after he was seen by the priest and restored to cleanness, he shall be brought to him, BSB BSB: But if the rash spreads further on his skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he must present himself again to the priest.
8 DRA And shall be condemned of uncleanness. BSB BSB: The priest will reexamine him, and if the rash has spread on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is a skin disease.
9 DRA If the stroke of the leprosy be in a man, he shall be brought to the priest, BSB BSB: When anyone develops a skin disease, he must be brought to the priest.
10 DRA And he shall view him. And when there shall be a white colour in the skin, and it shall have changed the look of the hair, and the living flesh itself shall appear: BSB BSB: The priest will examine him, and if there is a white swelling on the skin that has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling,
11 DRA It shall be judged an inveterate leprosy, and grown into the skin. The priest therefore shall declare him unclean, and shall not shut him up, because he is evidently unclean. BSB BSB: it is a chronic skin disease and the priest must pronounce him unclean. He need not isolate him, for he is unclean.
12 DRA 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, BSB BSB: 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,
13 DRA The priest shall view him, and shall judge that the leprosy which he has is very clean: because it is all turned into whiteness, and therefore the man shall be clean. BSB BSB: the 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.
14 DRA But when the live flesh shall appear in him, BSB BSB: But whenever raw flesh appears on someone, he will be unclean.
15 DRA Then by the judgment of the priest he shall be defiled, and shall be reckoned among the unclean: for live flesh, if it be spotted with leprosy, is unclean. BSB BSB: When the priest sees the raw flesh, he must pronounce him unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; it is a skin disease.
16 DRA And if again it be turned into whiteness, and cover all the man, BSB BSB: But if the raw flesh changes and turns white, he must go to the priest.
17 DRA The priest shall view him, and shall judge him to be clean. BSB BSB: The priest will reexamine him, and if the infection has turned white, the priest is to pronounce the infected person clean; then he is clean.
18 DRA When also there has been an ulcer in the flesh and the skin, and it has been healed, BSB BSB: When a boil appears on someone’s skin and it heals,
19 DRA And in the place of the ulcer, there appeareth a white scar, or somewhat red, the man shall be brought to the priest: BSB BSB: and a white swelling or a reddish-white spot develops where the boil was, he must present himself to the priest.
20 DRA And when he shall see the place of the leprosy lower than the other flesh, and the hair turned white, he shall declare him unclean, for the plague of leprosy is broken out in the ulcer. BSB BSB: The priest shall examine it, and if it appears to be beneath the skin and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection that has broken out in the boil.
21 DRA But if the hair be of the former colour, and the scar somewhat obscure, and be not lower than the flesh that is near it, he shall shut him up seven days. BSB BSB: But when the priest examines it, if there is no white hair in it, and it is not beneath the skin and has faded, the priest shall isolate him for seven days.
22 DRA And if it spread, he shall judge him to have the leprosy: BSB BSB: If it spreads any further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is an infection.
23 DRA But if it stay in its place, it is but the scar of an ulcer, and the man shall be clean. BSB BSB: But if the spot remains unchanged and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
24 DRA The flesh also and skin that hath been burnt, and after it is healed hath a white or a red scar, BSB BSB: When there is a burn on someone’s skin and the raw area of the burn becomes reddish-white or white,
25 DRA The priest shall view it, and if he see it turned white, and the place thereof is lower than the other skin: he shall declare him unclean, because the evil of leprosy is broken out in the scar. BSB BSB: the priest must examine it. If the hair in the spot has turned white and the spot appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest must pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection.
26 DRA But if the colour of the hair be not changed, nor the blemish lower than the other flesh, and the appearance of the leprosy be somewhat obscure, he shall shut him up seven days, BSB BSB: But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot, and it is not beneath the skin but has faded, the priest shall isolate him for seven days.
27 DRA And on the seventh day he shall view him: if the leprosy be grown farther in the skin, he shall declare him unclean. BSB BSB: On the seventh day the priest is to reexamine him, and if it has spread further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is a diseased infection.
28 DRA But if the whiteness stay in its place, and be not very clear, it is the sore of a burning, and therefore he shall be cleansed, because it is only the scar of a burning. BSB BSB: But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread on the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest is to pronounce him clean; for it is only the scar from the burn.
29 DRA If the leprosy break out in the head or the beard of a man or woman, the Priest shall see them, BSB BSB: If a man or woman has an infection on the head or chin,
30 DRA And if the place be lower than the other flesh, and the hair yellow, and thinner than usual: he shall declare them unclean, because it is the leprosy of the head and the beard; BSB BSB: the priest shall examine the infection, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is a scaly outbreak, an infectious disease of the head or chin.
31 DRA But if he perceive the place of the spot is equal with the flesh that is near it, and the hair black: he shall shut him up seven days, BSB BSB: But if the priest examines the scaly infection and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days.
32 DRA And on the seventh day he shall look upon it. If the spot be not grown, and the hair keep its colour, and the place of the blemish be even with the other flesh: BSB BSB: On the seventh day the priest is to reexamine the infection, and if the scaly outbreak has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it, and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin,
33 DRA The man shall be shaven all but the place of the spot, and he shall be shut up other seven days: BSB BSB: then the person must shave himself except for the scaly area. Then the priest shall isolate him for another seven days.
34 DRA If on the seventh day the evil seem to have stayed in its place, and not lower than the other flesh, he shall cleanse him, and his clothes being washed he shall be clean. BSB BSB: On the seventh day the priest shall examine the scaly outbreak, and if it has not spread on the skin and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, the priest is to pronounce him clean. He must wash his clothes, and he will be clean.
35 DRA But if after his cleansing the spot spread again in the skin, BSB BSB: If, however, the scaly outbreak spreads further on the skin after his cleansing,
36 DRA He shall seek no more whether the hair be turned yellow, because he is evidently unclean. BSB BSB: the priest is to examine him, and if the scaly outbreak has spread on the skin, the priest need not look for yellow hair; the person is unclean.
37 DRA But if the spot be stayed, and the hair be black, let him know that the man is healed, and let him confidently pronounce him clean. BSB BSB: If, however, in his sight the scaly outbreak is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, then it has healed. He is clean, and the priest is to pronounce him clean.
38 DRA If a whiteness appear in the skin of a man or a woman, BSB BSB: When a man or a woman has white spots on the skin,
39 DRA The priest shall view them. If he find that a darkish whiteness shineth in the skin, let him know that it is not the leprosy, but a white blemish, and that the man is clean. BSB BSB: the priest shall examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; the person is clean.
40 DRA The man whose hair falleth off from his head, he is bald and clean: BSB BSB: Now if a man loses his hair and is bald, he is still clean.
41 DRA And if the hair fall from his forehead, he is bald before and clean. BSB BSB: Or if his hairline recedes and he is bald on his forehead, he is still clean.
42 DRA But if in the bald head or in the bald forehead there be risen a white or reddish colour, BSB BSB: But if there is a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on it.
43 DRA And the priest perceive this, he shall condemn him undoubtedly of leprosy which is risen in the bald part. BSB BSB: The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,
44 DRA Now whosoever shall be defiled with the leprosy, and is separated by the judgment of the priest, BSB BSB: the man is diseased; he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean because of the infection on his head.
45 DRA Shall have his clothes hanging loose, his head bare, his mouth covered with a cloth, and he shall cry out that he is defiled and unclean. BSB BSB: A diseased person must wear torn clothes and let his hair hang loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
46 DRA All the time that he is a leper and unclean, he shall dwell alone without the camp. BSB BSB: As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.
Laws about Mildew 47 DRA A woollen or linen garment that shall have the leprosy BSB BSB: If any fabric is contaminated with mildew—any wool or linen garment,
48 DRA In the warp, and the woof, or a skin. or whatsoever is made of a skin, BSB BSB: any weave or knit of linen or wool, or any article of leather—
49 DRA If it be infected with a white or red spot, it shall be accounted the leprosy, and shall be shewn to the priest. BSB BSB: and if the mark in the fabric, leather, weave, knit, or leather article is green or red, then it is contaminated with mildew and must be shown to the priest.
50 DRA And he shall look upon it and shall shut it up seven days: BSB BSB: And the priest is to examine the mildew and isolate the contaminated fabric for seven days.
51 DRA And on the seventh day when he looketh on it again, if he find that it if grown, it is a Axed leprosy: he shall judge the garment unclean, and every thing wherein it shall be found: BSB BSB: On the seventh day the priest shall reexamine it, and if the mildew has spread in the fabric, weave, knit, or leather, then regardless of how it is used, it is a harmful mildew; the article is unclean.
52 DRA And therefore it shall be burnt with fire. BSB BSB: He is to burn the fabric, weave, or knit, whether the contaminated item is wool or linen or leather. Since the mildew is harmful, the article must be burned up.
53 DRA But if he see that it is not grown, BSB BSB: But when the priest reexamines it, if the mildew has not spread in the fabric, weave, knit, or leather article,
54 DRA He shall give orders, and they shall wash that part wherein the leprosy is, and he shall shut it up other seven days. BSB BSB: the priest is to order the contaminated article to be washed and isolated for another seven days.
55 DRA And when he shall see that the former colour is not returned, nor yet the leprosy spread, he shall judge it unclean, and shall burn it with fire, for the leprosy has taken hold of the outside of the garment, or through the whole. BSB BSB: After it has been washed, the priest is to reexamine it, and if the mildewed article has not changed in appearance, it is unclean. Even though the mildew has not spread, you must burn it, whether the rot is on the front or back.
56 DRA But if the place of the leprosy be somewhat dark, after the garment is washed, he shall tear it off, and divide it from that which is sound. BSB BSB: If the priest examines it and the mildew has faded after it has been washed, he must cut the contaminated section out of the fabric, leather, weave, or knit.
57 DRA And if after this there appear in those places that before were without spot, a flying and wandering leprosy: it must be burnt with fire. BSB BSB: But if it reappears in the fabric, weave, or knit, or on any leather article, it is spreading. You must burn the contaminated article.
58 DRA If it cease, he shall wash with water the parts that are pure, the second time, and they shall be clean. BSB BSB: If the mildew disappears from the fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article after washing, then it is to be washed again, and it will be clean.
59 DRA This is the law touching the leprosy of any woollen or linen garment, either in the warp or woof, or any thing of skins, how it ought to be cleansed, or pronounced unclean. BSB BSB: This is the law concerning a mildew contamination in wool or linen fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article, for pronouncing it clean or unclean.”