Leviticus 14:8

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 14:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.
Leviticus 14:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.

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 he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, etc.] That there may be no remains of the infection in them, and that they might not convey an ill scent to others: so the conversation garments of the saints are to be washed in the blood of the Lamb, (<660714>Revelation 7:14); and shave off all his hair; what is here expressed in general is more particularly declared in (<031409>Leviticus 14:9); the hair of his head, beard, and eyebrows; according to Gersom, this was done by the priest, and so Maimonides says f484, that none but a priest might shave him; and yet the text seems plainly to ascribe this, as well as the washing of his clothes and himself, to the leper that was to be…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“All his hair - Partly to discover his perfect soundness; partly to preserve him from a relapse through any relicks of it which might remain in his hair or in his clothes. Out of his tent - Out of his former habitation, in some separate place, lest some of his leprosy yet lurking in him should break forth to the infection of his family. Leviticus 14:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“wash his: Lev 11:25, Lev 13:6, Lev 15:5-8; Exo 19:10, Exo 19:14; Num 8:7; Rev 7:14 wash himself: Lev 8:6; Pe1 3:21; Rev 1:5, Rev 1:6 and shall: Num 12:15 seven days: Lev 8:33-35, Lev 13:5 Leviticus 14:9”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification