Leviticus 13:23 Meaning and Explanation
“But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If the spot remains stable and unchanging, it is scar tissue from the original boil and the person is clean.
The Context of Leviticus 13:23
Clean status for stable marks at healed boil sites.
What Does Leviticus 13:23 Mean?
The mark that does not spread during the seven-day observation period is stable. Its stability, combined with the absence of white hairs and depression observed earlier, indicates this is residual scar tissue or pigmentation from the original boil, not leprosy. The term 'burning boil' refers to the original inflammation that has now completely resolved.
The pronouncement of cleanness allows the person to return to community life. The observation period has provided the evidence needed to distinguish a healed boil's scar from an actual case of leprosy. The mark's stasis is its own declaration of harmlessness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 13:23
What does Leviticus 13:23 mean?
If the spot remains stable and unchanging, it is scar tissue from the original boil and the person is clean.
What is the context of Leviticus 13:23?
Clean status for stable marks at healed boil sites.