BibleWord.ai› Bible› Leviticus› Chapter 13› Verse 20

Leviticus 13:20

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 13:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken out in the boil.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken out in the boil.
Leviticus 13:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17and the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the plague be turned into white, then the priest shall pronounce [him] clean [that hath] the plague: he is clean.
18And when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a boil, and it is healed,
19and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then is shall be showed to the priest;
20and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken out in the boil.
21But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and it be not lower than the skin, but be dim; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:
22And if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.
23But if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
← Leviticus 13:19Leviticus 13:21 →
← Full Chapter 13 Leviticus Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And if, when the priest seeth it, etc.] And has thoroughly viewed it and considered it: behold, it [be] in sight lower than the skin; having eaten into and taken root in the flesh under the skin: and the hair thereof be turned white; which are the signs of leprosy before given, (<031303>Leviticus 13:3); the priest shall pronounce him unclean; not fit for company and conversation, but obliged to conform to the laws concerning leprosy: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil; which was there before: this is an emblem of apostates and apostasy, who having been seemingly healed and cleansed, return to their former course of life, and to all the impurity of it, like the dog to its vomit,…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Lower than the skin - Rather, reaching below the scarf skin. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“in sight: Lev 13:3; Mat 12:45; Joh 5:14; Pe2 2:20 Leviticus 13:21”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Leviticus 13 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification