But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
- BSB But if the spot remains unchanged and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
- NKJV But if the bright spot stays in one place, and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
- NASB But if the bright spot remains in its place and does not spread, it is only the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
- NLT But if the area grows no larger and does not spread, it is merely the scar from the boil, and the priest will pronounce the person ceremonially clean.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If the spot stays put and does not spread, it is only a scar, and the priest declares him clean. A stable mark is harmless.
Overview
When the bright spot remains in place and does not spread, it is merely the scar of the boil, and the priest pronounces the person clean. A healed scar, though visible, carries no defilement. The distinction between an active disease and a mere scar reminds us that God judges the living reality of our condition, not every old mark or wound.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Gal 6:1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
- 2 Cor 2:7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
- 2 Chr 19:2–3And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
- 1 Pet 4:2–3That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
- Job 34:31–32Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
- Gen 38:26And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
- Prov 28:13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
- Job 40:4–5Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
- Matt 26:75And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
- 2 Sam 12:13And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 13:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.