Surprising details
Leprosy in the Bible
25 passages of the Berean Standard Bible, line by line, from Nave’s Topical Bible.
In the Law
- A priest examined any swelling, rash, or bright spot on the skinLev 13:2–3
The verses
Lev 13:2–3“When someone has a swelling or rash or bright spot on his skin that could become an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. The priest is to examine the infection on his skin, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a skin disease. After the priest examines him, he must pronounce him unclean.
- The diseased wore torn clothes and cried, 'Unclean, unclean!'Lev 13:45
The verses
Lev 13:45A diseased person must wear torn clothes and let his hair hang loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
- He had to live alone outside the campLev 13:46, Num 5:2
- The same law covered mildew in clothing and in housesLev 13:47, Lev 14:34
- Cleansing: two birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssopLev 14:4
The verses
Lev 14:4the priest shall order that two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed.
- The cleansed man shaved all his hair and washedLev 14:8–9
The verses
Lev 14:8–9The one being cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe with water; then he will be ceremonially clean. Afterward, he may enter the camp, but he must remain outside his tent for seven days. On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.
Examples
- Moses' hand became leprous, white as snowExod 4:6
The verses
Exod 4:6Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow.
- Miriam became leprous and was shut out of the camp seven daysNum 12:10, Num 12:15
- Naaman, an Aramean commander, was a leper2 Kgs 5:1
The verses
2 Kgs 5:1Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
- He dipped seven times in the Jordan and his skin was restored2 Kgs 5:14
The verses
2 Kgs 5:14So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean.
- Gehazi left Elisha leprous, white as snow2 Kgs 5:27
The verses
2 Kgs 5:27Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.
- Four lepers at Samaria's gate found the Aramean camp empty2 Kgs 7:3–8
The verses
2 Kgs 7:3–8Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die? If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.” So they arose at twilight and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the outskirts of the camp, there was not a man to be found. For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives. When the lepers reached the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they carried off the silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them. On returning, they entered another tent, carried off some items from there, and hid them.
- Leprosy broke out on King Uzziah's forehead in the temple2 Chr 26:19–20
The verses
2 Chr 26:19–20Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead. When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him.
- Uzziah lived in a separate house until he died2 Kgs 15:5, 2 Chr 26:21
The verses
2 Kgs 15:5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
2 Chr 26:21So King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolation, leprous and cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham had charge of the royal palace to govern the people of the land.
- He was buried in a field near the kings' tombs2 Chr 26:23
The verses
2 Chr 26:23And Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field of burial that belonged to the kings; for the people said, “He was a leper.” And his son Jotham reigned in his place.
- Jesus touched a leper and he was cleansedMark 1:40–42
The verses
Mark 1:40–42Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.
- He sent him to show himself to the priestMatt 8:4, Luke 5:14
The verses
Matt 8:4Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
Luke 5:14“Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
- Of ten lepers healed, only a Samaritan came back to thank himLuke 17:12–16
The verses
Luke 17:12–16As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed. When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
- Jesus ate in Bethany at the home of Simon the LeperMatt 26:6, Mark 14:3
Sources
From Nave’s Topical Bible (Orville J. Nave, 1896; public domain): subjects chosen, lines shortened and put into modern words, lines of interpretation left out; each verse checked.
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain