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And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
Leviticus 15:20 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB “‘Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be unclean. Everything also that she sits on shall be unclean.
  • BSB Anything on which she lies or sits during her menstruation will be unclean,
  • ESV And everything on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean. Everything also on which she sits shall be unclean.
  • NKJV Everything that she lies on during her impurity shall be unclean; also everything that she sits on shall be unclean.
  • NASB Everything also on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean, and everything on which she sits shall be unclean.
  • NLT Anything on which the woman lies or sits during the time of her period will be unclean.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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

Whatever she lies or sits on during her period becomes unclean. Her impurity transfers to her bed and seat.

Overview

As with the man's discharge, the woman's furniture becomes unclean during her period. The symmetry of these laws shows God's even-handed treatment of both sexes regarding ceremonial purity. The spreading defilement again pictures the reach of impurity and the corresponding completeness of the cleansing God supplies.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 10

  • Lev 15:4–9Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.
  • Eccl 7:26And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
  • Prov 2:16–19To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
  • 1 Cor 15:33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
  • Prov 7:10–27And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
  • Prov 22:27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
  • Prov 5:3–13For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
  • Prov 6:24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
  • Prov 9:13–18A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
  • Prov 6:35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Leviticus videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Leviticus 15:20YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on LeviticusMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 15:20 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.