Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 13:7
But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:
7. after that he hath shewn himself to the priest for his cleansing ] i.e. in order to be declared clean. Three inspections by the priest are ordered with a week’s interval between each. If during either week the rising spreads, the priest shall pronounce him unclean.
It will be noticed that the word ‘plague’ is used to denote the rising or scab which is a mark of the leprosy, and also the person afflicted (in Lev 13:4 ; Lev 13:12-13 ; Lev 13:17 him that hath is not in the Heb.), as well as the disease itself in the phrase ‘the plague of leprosy.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Seen of the priest for his cleansing – The purport of these words is doubtful. They probably mean seen by the priest and pronounced clean, and refer to the visit of the suspected leper to the priest at the end of the second week. But some have taken the words to mean seen by the priest with a view to be pronounced clean, and regard the sentence of the priest as provisional, holding good only until the symptoms may appear to resume their progress. Compare Lev 13:35.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
7, 8. But if the scab spread muchabroad in the skinThose doubtful cases, when they assumed amalignant character, appeared in one of two forms, apparentlyaccording to the particular constitution of the skin or of the habitgenerally. The one was “somewhat dark” [Le13:6] that is, the obscure or dusky leprosy, in which thenatural color of the hair (which in Egypt and Palestine is black) isnot changed, as is repeatedly said in the sacred code, nor is thereany depression in the dusky spot, while the patches, instead ofkeeping stationary to their first size, are perpetually enlargingtheir boundary. The patient laboring under this form was pronouncedunclean by the Hebrew priest or physician, and hereby sentenced to aseparation from his family and friendsa decisive proof of itsbeing contagious.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin,…. Or “in spreading spread” k; spreads, and proceeds to spread more and more:
after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing: even after he had been viewed upon the first presentation of him to him, and after he had been twice seen by him by the end of two weeks, in which he was shut up, and after he had been pronounced clean, and had washed his clothes for his purification:
he shall be seen of the priest again; either he shall go to him of himself, or be brought to him, to be reviewed and pass under afresh examination.
k “diffundendo diffuderit se”, Montanus, Drusius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7, 8) But if the scab spread.As Lev. 13:5 prescribes that the priest who examines the patient after seven days quarantine, and finds no spreading of the affected spot, is to give another seven days quarantine, the verses before us declare what the examining priest is to do when he notices that the spot has spread.
For his cleansing.That is, for the purpose of being declared clean. If, after he had appeared before the priest to be examined and declared not leprous, at the expiration of the first week of seclusion the priest finds that the spot has spread, he must pronounce him unclean, since the spreading indicates that it is leprosy.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. If the scab spread The white spot has now taken the form of a rapidly spreading scab. When the patient observes this he is under obligation to go to the priest to be examined again. According to Maimonides his neglect subjected him to the penalty of leprosy cleaving to him for life, as the leprosy of sin will cleave to the sinner who neglects to come to the great High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
It is worthy observation, that the priests under the law, being men of like passions with ourselves, might err: and therefore a precept is given, that they are to look again. How sweet is it to remark, that our great High Priest cannot be mistaken. Paul’s observation on this point is excellent. The law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath which was since the law, maketh the SON, who is consecrated forevermore. Heb 7:28 . And still more: the Jewish priest, though power and ability was given to him to know the leprosy, yet had neither power nor ability to heal it. But JESUS, our great High Priest, both knows what state of sin we are in, and can and will cleanse his people from it. Reader! If you and I go to JESUS, as the poor leper did, under the same conscious sense of our misery, and his competency to deliver, crying out, LORD, if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole; JESUS will say to us as he did to him, I will, be thou cleansed. Mat 8:2-3 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lev 13:7 But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:
Ver. 7. But if the scab spread. ] So if sin be gaining and growing still upon the sinner, even after admonition, or is scattered and spread to the infecting of others, it is a very ill sign.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lev 13:27, Lev 13:35, Lev 13:36, Psa 38:3, Isa 1:5, Isa 1:6, Rom 6:12-14, 2Ti 2:16, 2Ti 2:17
Reciprocal: Lev 14:39 – General