Leviticus 13:9-17

Leviticus 13:9-17

[9] When the plague  of leprosy  is in a man,  then he shall be brought  unto the priest;  [10] And the priest  shall see  him: and, behold, if the rising  be white  in the skin,  and it have turned  the hair  white,  and there be quick  raw  flesh  in the rising;  [11] It is an old  leprosy  in the skin  of his flesh,  and the priest  shall pronounce him unclean,  and shall not shut  him up: for he is unclean.  [12] And if a leprosy  break out  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;  [13] Then the priest  shall consider:  and, behold, if the leprosy  have covered  all his flesh,  he shall pronounce him clean  that hath the plague:  it is all turned  white:  he is clean.  [14] But when  raw  flesh  appeareth  in him, he shall be unclean.  [15] And the priest  shall see  the raw  flesh,  and pronounce him to be unclean:  for the raw  flesh  is unclean:  it is a leprosy.  [16] Or if the raw  flesh  turn again,  and be changed  unto white,  he shall come  unto the priest;  [17] And the priest  shall see  him: and, behold, if the plague  be turned  into white;  then the priest  shall pronounce him clean  that hath the plague:  he is clean. 

What does Leviticus 13:9-17 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

These tests were appropriate when raw flesh appeared in an infected area of the skin. White hair in the raw flesh area was a sure sign of serious skin disease.
If the afflicted person became completely white rather than blotchy, the priest was to consider him or her clean. Evidently it was the patchy condition of the skin that made the person unclean. Another explanation is that a totally white condition indicated that the disease was over or not contagious. [1]