Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, September 11th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Bible in Basic English

Leviticus 22:4

No man of the seed of Aaron who is a leper, or who has a flow from his body, may take of the holy food till he is clean. And any man touching anything which is unclean because of the dead, or any man whose seed goes from him;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Defilement;   Disease;   Leprosy;   Sanitation;   Uncleanness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Lepers;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Defilement;   Leprosy;   Priests;   Purifications or Baptisms;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Priest;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Clean, Unclean;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Baptism;   Issue Out of the Flesh;   Pharisees;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Birds of Abomination;   Clean, Cleanness;   Leviticus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Canon of the Old Testament;   Congregation, Assembly;   Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   Hexateuch;   Holiness;   Kidneys;   Law;   Leviticus;   Priests and Levites;   Sacrifice and Offering;   Sanctification, Sanctify;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Issue, Running;   Law of Moses;   Uncleanness;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ablution;   Atonement;   Crime;   Death;   Kidneys;   Priest, High;   Punishments;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ablution;   Cæsarea;   Commandments, the 613;   Shamir;   Yiẓḥaḳ B. Eleazar of Cæsarea;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Whatever man of the seed of Aharon is a leper, or has an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goes from him;
King James Version
What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
Lexham English Bible
"‘Anyone from Aaron's offspring, if he is afflicted with a skin disease or a fluid discharge, shall not eat in the sanctuary until he is clean; and the one who touches any unclean person or a man from whom an emission of semen goes out,
New Century Version
"‘If one of Aaron's descendants has a harmful skin disease, or if he discharges a body fluid, he cannot eat the holy offerings until he becomes clean. He could also become unclean from touching a dead body, from his own semen,
New English Translation
No man from the descendants of Aaron who is diseased or has a discharge may eat the holy offerings until he becomes clean. The one who touches anything made unclean by contact with a dead person, or a man who has a seminal emission,
Amplified Bible
'No man of the descendants of Aaron who is a leper or has a discharge may eat the holy things [the offerings and the showbread] until he is clean. And whoever touches any person or thing made unclean by contact with a corpse or a man who has had a seminal emission,
New American Standard Bible
'No man of the descendants of Aaron, who has leprosy or has a discharge, may eat of the holy gifts until he is clean. And one who touches anything made unclean by a corpse, or a man who has a seminal emission,
Geneva Bible (1587)
Whosoeuer also of the seede of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue, he shall not eate of the holy things vntill he be cleane: and who so toucheth any that is vncleane, by reason of the dead, or a man whose issue of seede runneth from him,
Legacy Standard Bible
No man of the seed of Aaron, who is a leper or who has a discharge, may eat of the holy gifts until he is clean. And if one touches anything made unclean by a corpse, or if a man has a seminal emission,
Contemporary English Version
None of you may take part in the sacred meals while you have a skin disease or an infected penis, or after you have been near a dead body or have had a flow of semen,
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘Any descendant of Aharon with tzara‘at or a discharge is not to eat the holy things until he is clean. Anyone who has touched a person made unclean by a dead body, or who has had a seminal emission,
Darby Translation
Whatsoever man of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a flux, he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. And he that toucheth any one that is unclean by a dead person, or a man whose seed of copulation hath passed from him;
Easy-to-Read Version
"If any of Aaron's descendants has a serious skin disease or a discharge, he cannot eat the holy food until he becomes clean. This rule is for any priest who becomes unclean. That priest can become unclean from a dead body or from his own semen.
English Standard Version
None of the offspring of Aaron who has a leprous disease or a discharge may eat of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean through contact with the dead or a man who has had an emission of semen,
George Lamsa Translation
Any man of the descendants of Aaron who is a leper or has a discharge, he shall not eat of the holy things until he is clean. And whosoever touches anything that is unclean through contact with the dead or a man who has an emission of semen,
Good News Translation
"None of the descendants of Aaron who has a dreaded skin disease or a discharge may eat any of the sacred offerings until he is ritually clean. Any priest is unclean if he touches anything which is unclean through contact with a corpse or if he has an emission of semen
Christian Standard Bible®
No man of Aaron’s descendants who has a skin disease or a discharge is to eat from the holy offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything made unclean by a dead person or by a man who has an emission of semen,
Literal Translation
Any man of the seed of Aaron that is leprous or has an issue, he shall not eat of the holy things until he is clean. And he who touches any uncleanness of a person, or a man whose semen has gone out of him;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Who so euer of the sede of Aaron is a leper, or hath a runnynge yssue, shall not eate of the holy thinges, tyll he be clensed. Who so toucheth eny vncleane thinge, or whose sede departeth from him by night,
American Standard Version
What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
What man soeuer of the seede of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue, he shall not eate of the holy thinges, vntyll he be cleane: And who so toucheth any man that is vncleane [by reason] of a dead body, or a man whose seede runneth from hym in his sleepe,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath an issue, he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any one that is unclean by the dead; or from whomsoever the flow of seed goeth out;
King James Version (1611)
What man soeuer of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue, he shall not eat of the holy things, vntill he be cleane. And who so toucheth any thing that is vncleane by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the man of the seed of Aaron the priest, if he should have leprosy or issue of the reins, shall not eat of the holy things, until he be cleansed; and he that touches any uncleanness of a dead body, or the man whose seed of copulation shall have gone out from him,
English Revised Version
What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
Berean Standard Bible
None of Aaron's descendants who has a skin disease or a discharge shall eat from the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
A man of the seed of Aaron, `which man is leprouse, ethir suffrith `fletyng out of seed, schal not ete of these thingis, that ben halewid to me, til he be heelid. He that touchith an vncleene thing on a deed bodi, and fro whom the seed as of leccherie goith out, and which touchith a crepynge beeste,
Young's Literal Translation
`Any man of the seed of Aaron, and is leprous or hath an issue -- of the holy things he doth not eat till that he is clean; and he who is coming against any uncleanness of a person, or a man whose seed of copulation goeth out from him,
Update Bible Version
Any man of the seed of Aaron who is a leper, or has a discharge; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. And whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man who has an emission of semen go out from him;
Webster's Bible Translation
Whatever man of the seed of Aaron [is] a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. And whoever toucheth any thing [that is] unclean [by] the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
World English Bible
Whatever man of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or has an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goes from him;
New King James Version
"Whatever man of the descendants of Aaron, who is a leper or has a discharge, shall not eat the holy offerings until he is clean. And whoever touches anything made unclean by a corpse, or a man who has had an emission of semen,
New Living Translation
"If any of Aaron's descendants has a skin disease or any kind of discharge that makes him ceremonially unclean, he may not eat from the sacred offerings until he has been pronounced clean. He also becomes unclean by touching a corpse, or by having an emission of semen,
New Life Bible
None of the children of Aaron who has a bad skin disease or something flowing from his body may eat of the holy gifts until he is clean. If one touches anything that is unclean because of a dead body, or has had his seed come from his sex part,
New Revised Standard
No one of Aaron's offspring who has a leprous disease or suffers a discharge may eat of the sacred donations until he is clean. Whoever touches anything made unclean by a corpse or a man who has had an emission of semen,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
No man soever of the seed of Aaron who is a leper, or hath a flux, shall eat of the holy things, until he be clean, - And as for him who toucheth anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
Douay-Rheims Bible
The man of the seed of Aaron, that is a leper, or that suffereth a running of the seed, shall not eat of those things that are sanctified to me, until he be healed. He that toucheth any thing unclean by occasion of the dead: and he whose seed goeth from him as in generation:
Revised Standard Version
None of the line of Aaron who is a leper or suffers a discharge may eat of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean through contact with the dead or a man who has had an emission of semen,
THE MESSAGE
"Each and every one of Aaron's descendants who has an infectious skin disease or a discharge may not eat any of the holy offerings until he is clean. Also, if he touches anything defiled by a corpse, or has an emission of semen, or is contaminated by touching a crawling creature, or touches a person who is contaminated for whatever reason—a person who touches any such thing will be ritually unclean until evening and may not eat any of the holy offerings unless he has washed well with water. After the sun goes down he is clean and may go ahead and eat the holy offerings; they are his food. But he must not contaminate himself by eating anything found dead or torn by wild animals. I am God .
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'No man of the descendants of Aaron, who is a leper or who has a discharge, may eat of the holy gifts until he is clean. And if one touches anything made unclean by a corpse or if a man has a seminal emission,

Contextual Overview

1 And the Lord said to Moses, 2 Give orders to Aaron and to his sons to keep themselves separate from the holy things of the children of Israel which they give to me, and not to make my holy name common: I am the Lord, 3 Say to them, If any man of all your seed through all your generations, being unclean, comes near the holy things which the children of Israel make holy to the Lord, he will be cut off from before me: I am the Lord. 4 No man of the seed of Aaron who is a leper, or who has a flow from his body, may take of the holy food till he is clean. And any man touching anything which is unclean because of the dead, or any man whose seed goes from him; 5 Or anyone touching any unclean thing which goes flat on the earth, or someone by whom he may be made unclean in any way whatever; 6 Any person touching any such unclean thing will be unclean till evening, and may not take of the holy food till his flesh has been bathed in water; 7 And when the sun has gone down he will be clean; and after that he may take part in the holy food, because it is his bread. 8 That which comes to a natural death, or is attacked by beasts, he may not take as food, for it will make him unclean: I am the Lord. 9 So then, let them keep what I have put into their care, for fear that sin may come on them because of it, so causing their death because they have made it common: I am the Lord, who make them holy.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the seed: These words include the daughters as well as the sons of Aaron.

a leper: Leviticus 13:2, Leviticus 13:3, Leviticus 13:44-46

running issue: Heb. running of the reins, Leviticus 15:2, Leviticus 15:3

holy things: Leviticus 2:3, Leviticus 2:10, Leviticus 6:25-29, Leviticus 21:22, Numbers 18:9, Numbers 18:19

until: Leviticus 14:2-32, Leviticus 15:13-15

unclean: Leviticus 21:1, Numbers 19:11-16

whose: Leviticus 15:16

Reciprocal: Leviticus 5:3 - the uncleanness Leviticus 7:21 - the uncleanness Ezekiel 44:25 - General

Cross-References

Exodus 5:3
And they said, The God of the Hebrews has come to us: let us then go three days' journey into the waste land to make an offering to the Lord our God, so that he may not send death on us by disease or the sword.
Exodus 15:22
Then Moses took Israel forward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the waste land of Shur; and for three days they were in the waste land where there was no water.
Exodus 19:11
And by the third day let them be ready: for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai, before the eyes of all the people.
Exodus 19:15
And he said to the people, Be ready by the third day: do not come near a woman.
Leviticus 7:17
But if any of the flesh of the offering is still unused on the third day, it is to be burned with fire.
Numbers 10:33
So they went forward three days' journey from the mountain of the Lord; and the ark of the Lord's agreement went three days' journey before them, looking for a resting-place for them;
Numbers 19:12
On the third day and on the seventh day he is to make himself clean with the water, and so he will be clean: but if he does not do this on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.
Numbers 19:19
Let the clean person do this to the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he is to make him clean; and after washing his clothing and bathing himself in water, he will be clean in the evening.
Numbers 31:19
You yourselves will have to keep outside the tent-circle for seven days, anyone of you who has put any person to death or come near a dead body; and on the third day and on the seventh day make yourselves and your prisoners clean.
Joshua 1:11
Go through the tents and give orders to the people, saying, Get ready a store of food; for in three days you are to go over this river Jordan and take for your heritage the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

What man soever of the seed of Aaron [is] a leper,.... A young, or an old man, as the Targum of Jonathan, and indeed man or woman; for the wives and daughters of the priests, if in this, and other circumstances following, might not eat of the holy things until cleansed, who otherwise might, see Leviticus 13:2;

or hath a running issue; a gonorrhoea, whether man or woman,

Leviticus 15:2;

he shall not eat of the holy things until he be clean; he might eat of the tithes, but not of the wave breast, or heave shoulder:

and whoso toucheth any [that is] unclean [by] the dead; not only that touched the dead, which made unclean, but that touched any person or thing that was made unclean by it:

or a man whose seed goeth from him; involuntarily when asleep, in a dream, and through a lustful imagination; see Leviticus 15:16.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See Leviticus 15:13-16.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Leviticus 22:4. Is a leper, or hath a running issue — See the case of the leper treated at large in the notes on Leviticus 13:1-57; and for other uncleannesses, see the notes on Leviticus 15:1-30.


 
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