Leviticus 13:40

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 13:40 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if a man`s hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; [yet] is he clean.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if a man`s hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; [yet] is he clean.
Leviticus 13:40 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
40And if a man`s hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; [yet] is he clean.

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 the man whose hair is fallen off his head, etc.] That is, from the back part of his head, from the crown of his head toward his neck behind: he [is] bald; in that spot of the head where the hair is fallen off; and it denotes such a baldness as is occasioned by that, for it signifies one that had hair, but it is fallen off; whereas the baldness after spoken of is thought by some to be of such who never had any hair; though others will have it, that this intends a person bald all over; but it seems plain from what follows, that it designs one whose hair was fallen off behind, and was bald on that part only; and it may be observed, that this is only said of a man, not of a woman, because,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“bald . . . forehead bald--The falling off of the hair, when the baldness commences in the back part of the head, is another symptom which creates a suspicion of leprosy. But it was not of itself a decisive sign unless taken in connection with other tokens, such as a "sore of a reddish white color" [Lev 13:43]. The Hebrews as well as other Orientals were accustomed to distinguish between the forehead baldness, which might be natural, and that baldness which might be the consequence of disease.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“hair is fallen off his head: Heb. head is pilled, Lev 13:41; Sol 5:11; Rom 6:12, Rom 6:19, Rom 8:10; Gal 4:13 Leviticus 13:44”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The leprosy of bald heads. - קרח is a head bald behind; גּבּח, in front, "bald from the side, or edge of his face, i.e., from the forehead and temples." Bald heads of both kinds were naturally clean. Leviticus 13:42”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification