26 'And if the priest see it, and lo, there is no white hair on the bright spot, and it is not lower than the skin, and it is become weak, then the priest hath shut him up seven days; 27 and the priest hath seen him on the seventh day, if it spread greatly in the skin, then the priest hath pronounced him unclean; a plague of leprosy it 'is'. 28 'And if the bright spot stay in its place, it hath not spread in the skin, and is become weak; a rising of the burning it 'is', and the priest hath pronounced him clean; for it 'is' inflammation of the burning. 29 'And when a man (or a woman) hath in him a plague in the head or in the beard, 30 then hath the priest seen the plague, and lo, its appearance is deeper than the skin, and in it a thin shining hair, and the priest hath pronounced him unclean; it 'is' a scall—it 'is' a leprosy of the head or of the beard. 31 'And when the priest seeth the plague of the scall, and lo, its appearance is not deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then hath the priest shut up 'him who hath' the plague of the scall seven days. 32 'And the priest hath seen the plague on the seventh day, and lo, the scall hath not spread, and a shining hair hath not been in it, and the appearance of the scall is not deeper than the skin, 33 then he hath shaved himself, but the scall he doth not shave; and the priest hath shut up 'him who hath' the scall a second seven days. 34 And the priest hath seen the scall on the seventh day, and lo, the scall hath not spread in the skin, and its appearance is not deeper than the skin, and the priest hath pronounced him clean, and he hath washed his garments, and hath been clean. 35 'And if the scall spread greatly in the skin after his cleansing, 36 and the priest hath seen him, and lo, the scall hath spread in the skin, the priest seeketh not for the shining hair, he is unclean; 37 and if in his eyes the scall hath stayed, and black hair hath sprung up in it, the scall hath been healed—he 'is' clean—and the priest hath pronounced him clean.

38 'And when a man or woman hath in the skin of their flesh bright spots, white bright spots, 39 and the priest hath seen, and lo, in the skin of their flesh white weak bright spots, it 'is' a freckled spot broken out in the skin; he 'is' clean. 40 'And when a man's head 'is' polished, he 'is' bald, he 'is' clean; 41 and if from the corner of his face his head is polished, he 'is' bald of the forehead; he 'is' clean. 42 'And when there is in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead, a very red white plague, it 'is' a leprosy breaking out in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead; 43 and the priest hath seen him, and lo, the rising of the very red white plague in the bald back of the head, or in the bald forehead, 'is' as the appearance of leprosy, in the skin of the flesh, 44 he 'is' a leprous man, he 'is' unclean; the priest doth pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague 'is' in his head. 45 'As to the leper in whom 'is' the plague, his garments are rent, and his head is uncovered, and he covereth over the upper lip, and 'Unclean! unclean!' he calleth; 46 all the days that the plague 'is' in him he is unclean; he 'is' unclean, alone he doth dwell, at the outside of the camp 'is' his dwelling.

47 'And when there is in any garment a plague of leprosy,—in a garment of wool, or in a garment of linen, 48 or in the warp, or in the woof, of linen or of wool, or in a skin, or in any work of skin, 49 and the plague hath been very green or very red in the garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any vessel of skin, it 'is' a plague of leprosy, and it hath been shewn the priest. 50 'And the priest hath seen the plague, and hath shut up 'that which hath' the plague, 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.