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Leviticus 15:23

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 15:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if it be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if it be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
Leviticus 15:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20And everything that she lieth upon in her impurity shall be unclean: everything also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
21And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
22And whosoever toucheth anything that she sitteth upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
23And if it be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
24And if any man lie with her, and her impurity be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
25And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days not in the time of her impurity, or if she have an issue beyond the time of her impurity; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness she shall be as in the days of her impurity: she is unclean.
26Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her impurity: and everything whereon she sitteth shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity.
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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 it [be] on [her] bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, etc.] That is, if any person or thing should be upon her bed or seat; a vessel on her bed, or a vessel upon a vessel, as Aben Ezra expresses it: when he toucheth it; that person or thing that should be on her bed or seat, as well as touch her bed or seat: shall be unclean until the even; in a ceremonial sense; so defiling was a woman in such circumstances, and to whom the Scriptures often compare unclean persons and things: and Pliny f534 speaks of menstrues as very infectious, or worse, to various creatures and things, in a natural way.”
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Related study paths

Read Leviticus 15 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification