Numbers 5:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel must remove from the camp those with leprosy, bodily issues, or contact with the dead.
The Context of Numbers 5:2
God commands removal of those with ritual impurity.
What Does Numbers 5:2 Mean?
Three conditions require separation: leprosy (infectious skin disease), bodily discharge issues, and defilement from contact with death. These physical conditions represented a temporary state requiring ritual restoration, not permanent shame or exile.
The removal protects the camp's sanctity, treating ceremonial cleanliness as essential for communal worship. The separation was restorative—after appropriate rituals, the person could rejoin the community, demonstrating God's design for both holiness and restoration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 5:2
What does Numbers 5:2 mean?
Israel must remove from the camp those with leprosy, bodily issues, or contact with the dead.
What is the context of Numbers 5:2?
God commands removal of those with ritual impurity.