The Torah · Old Testament
Leviticus 15
Bodily discharges and sanctuary purity
General context
The Lord gives Moses and Aaron rules concerning bodily discharges and the uncleanness associated with them. The first section addresses a man's discharge and contact with his body, bedding, seats and other objects. After the discharge clears, seven days, washing and offerings on the eighth day are prescribed. Separate instructions concern semen and intercourse, with washing and uncleanness until evening. A woman's menstrual flow brings seven days of uncleanness, with related rules for contact with her bedding and seats. Bleeding outside or beyond that period has its own instructions, including seven days after it ceases and bird offerings on the eighth day. The closing warning links these distinctions to avoiding the defilement of the tabernacle among Israel.
Cited passages: Leviticus 15:1, Leviticus 15:2, Leviticus 15:3, Leviticus 15:4, Leviticus 15:5, Leviticus 15:6, Leviticus 15:7, Leviticus 15:8, Leviticus 15:9, Leviticus 15:10, Leviticus 15:11, Leviticus 15:12, Leviticus 15:13, Leviticus 15:14, Leviticus 15:15, Leviticus 15:16, Leviticus 15:17, Leviticus 15:18, Leviticus 15:19, Leviticus 15:20, Leviticus 15:21, Leviticus 15:22, Leviticus 15:23, Leviticus 15:24, Leviticus 15:25, Leviticus 15:26, Leviticus 15:27, Leviticus 15:28, Leviticus 15:29, Leviticus 15:30, Leviticus 15:31, Leviticus 15:32, Leviticus 15:33
Leviticus 15 (KJV)
1And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.
3And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.
4Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.
5And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
6And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
7And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
8And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
9And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.
10And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
11And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
12And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
13And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
14And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the Lord unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:
15And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord for his issue.
16And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
17And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
18The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.
19And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
20And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing 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 any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
23And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
24And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
25And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
26Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.
27And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
28But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
29And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
30And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the Lord for the issue of her uncleanness.
31Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
32This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;
33And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.
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Historical context
The rules give different periods and responses for different conditions. The bird offerings prescribed after a man's discharge or a woman's prolonged bleeding are not also required here after every emission of semen or every menstrual period. Earthen and wooden vessels receive different treatment, and contact can affect another person's status until evening. These instructions describe purity in relation to the sanctuary. The passage does not identify a specific moral offense for every bodily condition it names.
Cited passages: Leviticus 15:2, Leviticus 15:3, Leviticus 15:4, Leviticus 15:5, Leviticus 15:6, Leviticus 15:7, Leviticus 15:8, Leviticus 15:9, Leviticus 15:10, Leviticus 15:11, Leviticus 15:12, Leviticus 15:13, Leviticus 15:14, Leviticus 15:15, Leviticus 15:16, Leviticus 15:17, Leviticus 15:18, Leviticus 15:19, Leviticus 15:25, Leviticus 15:26, Leviticus 15:27, Leviticus 15:28, Leviticus 15:29, Leviticus 15:30, Leviticus 15:31, Leviticus 15:32, Leviticus 15:33
Literary context
The chapter moves through male and female cases, with shorter instructions on semen and intercourse between the longer discharge sections. Repeated references to washing, waiting and cleanness keep their procedures distinct. The final warning about the tabernacle gives the lists a stated purpose within Israel's worship.
Cited passages: Leviticus 15:2, Leviticus 15:3, Leviticus 15:13, Leviticus 15:14, Leviticus 15:15, Leviticus 15:16, Leviticus 15:17, Leviticus 15:18, Leviticus 15:19, Leviticus 15:25, Leviticus 15:26, Leviticus 15:27, Leviticus 15:28, Leviticus 15:29, Leviticus 15:30, Leviticus 15:31, Leviticus 15:32, Leviticus 15:33
Key moments
- Washing after a man's discharge clears (Leviticus 15:13). The man counts seven days, washes his clothes and bathes in running water.
- Bleeding beyond the usual period (Leviticus 15:25). The text distinguishes this condition from the regular period of separation.
- The tabernacle among Israel (Leviticus 15:31). The warning concerns defiling the tabernacle while unclean.
For reflection
How do the chapter's different waiting periods and remedies prevent uncleanness from being treated as one uniform condition?