26 "But if the priest looks at it, and indeed , there is no white hair in the bright spot and it is no deeper than the skin , but is dim , then the priest shall isolate him for seven days ; 27 and the priest shall look at him on the seventh day . If it spreads farther in the skin , then the priest shall pronounce him unclean ; it is an infection of leprosy . 28 "But if the bright spot remains in its place and has not spread in the skin , but is dim , it is the swelling from the burn ; and the priest shall pronounce him clean , for it is only the scar of the burn . 29 "Now if a man or woman has an infection on the head or on the beard , 30 then the priest shall look at the infection , and if it appears to be deeper than the skin and there is thin yellowish hair in it, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean ; it is a scale , it is leprosy of the head or of the beard . 31 "But if the priest looks at the infection of the scale , and indeed , it appears to be no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person with the scaly infection for seven days . 32 "On the seventh day the priest shall look at the infection , and if the scale has not spread and no yellowish hair has grown in it, and the appearance of the scale is no deeper than the skin , 33 then he shall shave himself, but he shall not shave the scale ; and the priest shall isolate the person with the scale seven more days . 34 "Then on the seventh day the priest shall look at the scale , and if the scale has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin , the priest shall pronounce him clean ; and he shall wash his clothes and be clean . 35 "But if the scale spreads farther in the skin after his cleansing , 36 then the priest shall look at him, and if the scale has spread in the skin , the priest need not seek for the yellowish hair ; he is unclean . 37 "If in his sight the scale has remained , however, and black hair has grown in it, the scale has healed , he is clean ; and the priest shall pronounce him clean .
38 "When a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body , even white bright spots , 39 then the priest shall look , and if the bright spots on the skin of their bodies are a faint white , it is eczema that has broken out on the skin ; he is clean . 40 "Now if a man loses the hair of his head , he is bald ; he is clean . 41 "If his head becomes bald at the front and sides , he is bald on the forehead ; he is clean . 42 "But if on the bald head or the bald forehead , there occurs a reddish-white infection , it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or on his bald forehead . 43 "Then the priest shall look at him; and if the swelling of the infection is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead , like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body , 44 he is a leprous man , he is unclean . The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean ; his infection is on his head . 45 "As for the leper who has the infection , his clothes shall be torn , and the hair of his head shall be uncovered , and he shall cover his mustache and cry , ' Unclean ! Unclean !' 46 "He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection ; he is unclean . He shall live alone ; his dwelling shall be outside e the camp .
47 "When a garment has a mark of leprosy in it, whether it is a wool garment or a linen garment , 48 whether in warp or woof , of linen or of wool , whether in leather or in any article made of leather , 49 if the mark is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather , or in the warp or in the woof , or in any article of leather , it is a leprous mark and shall be shown to the priest . 50 "Then the priest shall look at the mark and shall quarantine the article with the mark for seven days .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 13:26-50
Commentary on Leviticus 13:18-44
(Read Leviticus 13:18-44)
The priest is told what judgment to make, if there were any appearance of a leprosy in old sores; and such is the danger of those who having escaped the pollutions of the world are again entangled therein. Or, in a burn by accident, verse 24. The burning of strife and contention often occasions the rising and breaking out of that corruption, which proves that men are unclean. Human life lies exposed to many grievances. With what troops of diseases are we beset on every side; and thy all entered by sin! If the constitution be healthy, and the body lively and easy, we are bound to glorify God with our bodies. Particular note was taken of the leprosy, if in the head. If the leprosy of sin has seized the head; if the judgment be corrupted, and wicked principles, which support wicked practices, are embraced, it is utter uncleanness, from which few are cleansed. Soundness in the faith keeps leprosy from the head.
Commentary on Leviticus 13:45-46
(Read Leviticus 13:45-46)
When the priest had pronounced the leper unclean, it put a stop to his business in the world, cut him off from his friends and relations, and ruined all the comfort he could have in the world. He must humble himself under the mighty hand of God, not insisting upon his cleanness, when the priest had pronounced him unclean, but accepting the punishment. Thus must we take to ourselves the shame that belongs to us, and with broken hearts call ourselves "Unclean, unclean;" heart unclean, life unclean; unclean by original corruption, unclean by actual transgression; unclean, therefore deserving to be for ever shut out from communion with God, and all hope of happiness in him; unclean, therefore undone, if infinite mercy do not interpose. The leper must warn others to take heed of coming near him. He must then be shut out of the camp, and afterward, when they came to Canaan, be shut out of the city, town, or village where he lived, and dwell with none but those that were lepers like himself. This typified the purity which ought to be in the gospel church.
Commentary on Leviticus 13:47-59
(Read Leviticus 13:47-59)
The garment suspected to be tainted with leprosy was not to be burned immediately. If, upon search, it was found that there was a leprous spot, it must be burned, or at least that part of it. If it proved to be free, it must be washed, and then might be used. This also sets forth the great evil there is in sin. It not only defiles the sinner's conscience, but it brings a stain upon all he has and all that he does. And those who make their clothes servants to their pride and lust, may see them thereby tainted with leprosy. But the robes of righteousness never fret, nor are moth-eaten.