Bible Commentaries

spake. See note on Leviticus 5:14.

the plague = spot: mark too weak for person, though suited for house (Leviticus 14:34): "plague" and "stroke"would be too strong in every case.

leprosy. Hebrew. zar"ath, from zar"a, to strike down, a leper being one stricken of God. One of the four points which Christ endorses Leviticus as being written by Moses:
1. Circumcision, Leviticus 12:3 (John 7:22, John 7:23).
2. Law of leper, Leviticus 14:3-32 (Matthew 8:4).
3. The shewbread. Leviticus 24:5-9 (Matthew 12:4).
. Death penalty for cursing parents, Leviticus 20:9 (Mark 7:10).

Leprosy is the type of what man is by nature. (All the offerings relate to what man has done or not done.) It has reference to the evil "in" him (Leviticus 13:2, Leviticus 13:9), not to the outcome of it. See note on Leviticus 13:45.

pronounce. Hebrew "shall make him". Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject) = pronounce or declare him to be. App-6. Compare Ezekiel 43:3, &c.

plague = plagued person. Hebrew "shut up the plague". Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). App-6. The meaning is supplied in italics.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. (App-6.)

his sight = its appearance.

spread. This is the criterion here for persons, as for houses and garments (Compare Leviticus 13:55, &c. 14, 44, 48). This is the criterion for our judgment of the antitype "sin" our old nature, to which our attention is called by the Figure of speech Asterismos, "Behold" (see App-6).

white. See note on Leviticus 13:30.

quick = living.

shall not: or, need not.

is: i.e. is undoubtedly, no farther proof being needed.

break out abroad = cometh quite out. Type of the sinner confessing his totality of evil then he is clean, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 1:10.

when. Hebrew "in the day", same as Genesis 2:17; see App-18.

is = it [is].

be = it [be]. somewhat

dark = faint.

plague: better, "spot". See note on Leviticus 13:2.

thin = short. An infallible sign of leprosy. A long hair, even though "yellow", no sign. In other parts of the body the hairs would be short and white. Compare Leviticus 13:10.

scall = scab.

even = it [is].

darkish white = faintish, or dead white; a harmless eruption, or "tetter".

rent. See note on Leviticus 10:6.

covering = muffler.

"Unclean, unclean. "

Figure of speech Epizeuxis, App-6, to emphasize the condition. Leprosy is the great type of sin: and teaches that the sinner is not only lost and ruined on account of what he has done, but on account of what he is. The former needed atonement to procure judicial righteousness, but the latter requires a Divine act and cleansing to give him an imputed righteousness. The former we have through Christ's atonement, the latter we have from God in Christ. It is not enough to confess what we "have done "or "left undone"; there must be also the confession "there is no health in us". Compare Isaiah 6:5. Job 40:4; Job 42:6. Psalms 51:6. Luke 5:8, &c.

without the camp., Numbers 5:2; Numbers 12:10-15.

garment. Type of habits and ways seen by others. Compare Jude 1:23.

warp. A. S. wearpen, to cast or throw = the longitudinal lines in the loom, through which the shuttle passes. Hebrew. shathah, to drink in. So called because of its drinking in the thread thrown by the shuttle.

woof. A. S. to weave in. Heb "drab, to intermingle. Hence used of what is mingled or woven in by the shuttle.

fretting = rankling, only of what is malignant: occurs only here, Leviticus 13:52; Leviticus 14:14, and Ezekiel 28:24.

burnt. Hebrew. saraph. App-43.

colour = appearance. Hebrew eye. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6: eye put for appearance.