Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 13:40
And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he [is] bald; [yet is] he clean.
Baldness in the back or front part of the head (40 44)
This is not in itself a sign of uncleanness, but if in either part a reddish white plague ( white reddish sore A. V.) appears, he must be seen by the priest. The word ‘bald’ in Lev 13:40 means bald at the back of the head, as distinguished from forehead bald in Lev 13:41.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
40, 41. bald . . . forehead baldThefalling off of the hair, when the baldness commences in the back partof the head, is another symptom which creates a suspicion of leprosy.But it was not of itself a decisive sign unless taken in connectionwith other tokens, such as a “sore of a reddish white color”[Le 13:43]. The Hebrews as wellas other Orientals were accustomed to distinguish between theforehead baldness, which might be natural, and that baldness whichmight be the consequence of disease.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the man whose hair is fallen off his head,…. 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, as Aben Ezra remarks, she has much moisture in her, and therefore her head does not become bald; hair being like to grass, which flourishes in moist places:
[yet is] he clean; from the leprosy, or from the scalls, as Jarchi observes, because he is not judged by the signs of the head and beard, which are the place of hair, but by the signs of leprosy in the skin of the flesh, i.e. by the raw flesh and spreading.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The leprosy of bald heads. – is a head bald behind; , 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.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 40-44:
Leprosy causes the hair to fall from around the infected area. However, baldness, either total or partial, was not in itself considered unclean. Any eruption which appeared on a bald head was to be observed for leprosy after the manner previously prescribed.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
g. THE SEVENTH CASE 13:4044
TEXT 13:4044
40
And if a mans hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; yet he is clean.
41
And if his hair be fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald; yet he is clean.
42
But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.
43
Then the priest shall look upon him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh;
44
he is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall surely pronounce him unclean; his plague is in his head.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 13:4044
261.
Is the lack of hair a punishment from God?
262.
Two types of baldness are here described. What are they?
263.
This would seem to be the simplest type of examination and diagnosis. Why?
PARAPHRASE 13:4044
If a mans hair is gone, this does not make him a leper even though he is bald! If the hair is gone from the front part of his head, he simply has a bald forehead, but this is not leprosy. However, if in the baldness there is a reddish white spot, it may be leprosy breaking out. In that case the priest shall examine him, and if there is a reddish white lump that looks like leprosy, then he is a leper, and the priest must pronounce him such.
COMMENT 13:4044
Lev. 13:40-44 Read 2Ki. 2:23; Isa. 3:17; Jer. 48:37 and discuss the whole subject of baldness as a sign of punishment. The case before us is one of simple falling out of the hair, either from the crown of the head backwards or from the crown of the head forwards, and in either case the fact of baldness is no sign of uncleanness.
Some commentators feel the usual seven-day examination is inferred in this case and should so be read into the text. However the only clear symptom is a reddish-white eruption on either the fore or back portion of the head. The priest was evidently able to make a diagnosis from this simple but careful examination.
FACT QUESTIONS 13:4044
312.
What conclusions can be drawn from a study of baldness?
313.
Are we to understand this form of leprosy would affect the brain? Discuss.
THE TREATMENT OF LEPERS 13:45, 46
TEXT 13:45, 46
45
And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
46
All the days wherein the plague is in him he shall be unclean; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his dwelling be.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 13:45, 46
264.
Are we to understand there are moral implications in all leprosy, i.e. that all lepers have leprosy because of their sin? Discuss.
265.
What was the meaning of tearing ones clothes and not combing his hair?
266.
Unclean in what regard?
267.
Why live alone? With other lepers? Was this observed in the days of our Lord?
PARAPHRASE 13:45, 46
Anyone who is discovered to have leprosy must tear his clothes and let his hair grow in wild disarray, and cover his upper lip and call out as he goes, I am a leper, I am a leper. As long as the disease lasts, he is defiled and must live outside the camp.
COMMENT 13:45, 46
Lev. 13:45-46 Of the several comments on these verses we feel Keil has done such an admirable job of condensing into a paragraph all pertinent information: With regard to the treatment of lepers, the lawgiver prescribed that they should wear mourning costume, rend their clothes, leave their hair in disorder (Cf. Lev. 10:6), keep the beard covered (Cf. Eze. 24:17; Eze. 24:22) and cry unclean, unclean, that everyone might avoid them for fear of being defiled (Lam. 4:15); and as long as the disease lasted they were to dwell apart outside the camp (Num. 5:2; Num. 12:10; Cf. 2Ki. 15:5; 2Ki. 7:3), a rule which implies that the leper rendered others unclean by contact.
In the case of priests, which is the subject considered in Leviticus, we would almost conclude that leprosy was a form of punishmentalthough the inferences are not conclusive.
FACT QUESTIONS 13:45, 46
314.
Was the mourning for sin or suffering?
315.
Tearing clothes was a sign of grief and repentance. Which is involved here?
316.
Why not groom the hair? Why cover the beard?
317.
To cry, unclean, unclean was an admission of need. What was it?
318.
Leprosy is called a living death. Why?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(40) And the man whose hair is fallen offBetter, And if a man loseth the hair of his head. The sixth and last case, discussed in Lev. 13:40-44, is leprosy either at the back or in the front of the head. Though baldness in itself was regarded as a disgrace, and often looked upon as a Divine punishment (2Ki. 2:23; Isa. 3:17; Jer. 48:37), yet the simple fact of the mere falling of the hair is not to be taken as a sign of leprosy.
He is bald; yet is he clean.Better, if he is backhead bald, he is clean. The baldness mentioned in the first part of the verse in general terms is now more minutely specified as consisting of two kinds of baldness.
Lev. 13:41-42 distinctly show that the word (krach), here translated simply bald in the Authorised Version, denotes a person who has lost hair from the crown of his head downwards towards the channel of his neck, as the administrators of the law during the second Temple rightly define it, in contradistinction to the fore baldness which immediately follows.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
40. Bald yet clean Literally, hind bald. Natural baldness was so uncommon among the Israelites that it subjected men to an unpleasant suspicion and public derision. It is perpetually alluded to as a mark of squalor and misery. 2Ki 2:23; Isa 3:24. Herodotus says that “one would see the fewest bald Egyptians of all men.” He attributes this immunity to their construct shaving. It is here carefully distinguished from the methek, or scall, of Lev 13:29-39.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Dealing With Baldness ( Lev 13:40-44 ).
Lev 13:40-41
“And if a man’s hair has fallen off his head, he is bald; yet he is clean. And if his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald; yet he is clean.”
The falling out of the hair, which some might have seen as disastrous, is nothing to be concerned about as far as cleanness is concerned. The bald man is as ‘clean’ as the man with plenty of hair.
Lev 13:42-44
“But if there is on the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague, it is a suspicious skin disease breaking out on his bald head, or his bald forehead. Then the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white on his bald head, or on his bald forehead, as the appearance of a suspicious skin disease in the skin of the flesh, he is a diseased man, he is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean. His plague is in his head.”
On the other hand if there is a reddish-white plague on his head or forehead, it is a suspicious skin disease. Then the priest must examine him and if the reddish-white plague on his head has the same appearance as the suspicious skin disease on the skin of the flesh elsewhere (compare Lev 13:19), he is a diseased man. He is unclean. The plague is in his head and he will be pronounced unclean.
Baldness is a reminder of things that we might have in our lives and can do nothing about. We wish they were not there but we have to endure them. But we can be sure that such things, if we can do nothing about it, do not prevent our fellowship with God. But let those things once become signs of a plague and they must be dealt with instantly. Then must we do what the Israelite could not do, turn to the Great Physician. Then we can be sure that He will sustain and heal us, putting right any wrong within and making us whole.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Lev 13:40-41. The man whose hair is fallen off his head, &c. The sacred writer intends in these words to instruct the priest, that the loss of hair by sickness, or age, was not to be esteemed a token of leprosy.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
hair is fallen off his head: Heb. head is pilled, Lev 13:41, Son 5:11, Rom 6:12, Rom 6:19, Rom 8:10, Gal 4:13
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Baldness did not result in uncleanness, but serious skin disease on the head did. Psoriasis may be in view here. [Note: Ibid.]