Leviticus 14:9

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 14:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.
Leviticus 14:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be 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
“But it shall be on the seventh day, etc.] After he was first brought to the priest, and cleansed by the two birds, taken and used for him as directed, and he had been shaved and washed: that he shall shave all his hair; a second time, whatsoever was grown in those seven days: all off his head, and his beard, and his eyebrows; even all his hair he shall shave off; not only the hair of the parts mentioned, but all other, the hair of his feet also, as Aben Ezra notes, who observes, that some say, the hair of his arms, and thighs, and breast; and so according to the Misnah f489, this was a second shaving, for it is said, “in the seventh day he shaves a second time, according to the first…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The best of all types of the healing of the Spirit, was the healing of the leper. In his formal cleansing, consecration, and atonement by sacrifice (see the notes at Leviticus 14:9-20), the ministers of the sanctuary bore public witness that he was restored to the blessing of communion with his brethren and with Yahweh. Hence, when the Son of God proved His divine mission by healing the lepers Matthew 11:5, He did not excuse them from going to the priest to “offer for the cleansing those things which Moses commanded” Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14 “for a testimony to the people” Matthew 8:4. return to 'Top of Page'”
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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 - Which began to grow again, and now for more caution is shaved again. Leviticus 14:10”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shave all: Num 6:9, Num 8:7 wash his flesh: Lictenstein states that "among the Koossas (a nation of South Africa), there are certain prevailing notions respecting moral (ceremonial) uncleanness. All children are unclean till they are admitted among grown-up persons (which happens with the males through the various ceremonies attending circumcision); all lying-in women are unclean for the first month; all men who have lost their wives, for a fortnight, and all widows for a month; a mother who has lost a child, for two days; all persons who have been present at a death, the men returning from a battle, etc. No one may have intercourse with such an unclean person, till he has washed himself,…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification