Leviticus 15 Study Notes

15:1-3 The word member here is a euphemism for the male genitalia. The word discharge occurs only in Leviticus. It probably refers to some chronic infection in men. The adjective unclean is used twenty-five times in Leviticus, and it can refer to either an ethical or a religious impurity.

15:4-12 In his grace, God made provision for the purification of affected people or objects.

15:8 Spitting was a gesture of extreme contempt, and it pointed not just to the outside uncleanness but to the man’s wicked heart.

15:13 The fact that an unclean man could be cured of the discharge points to the fact that the discharge refers to a medical condition.

15:14-15 The sin offering removed the impurity, while the burnt offering restored the man to the Israelite community. The animals needed for these offerings are the least costly, two turtledoves or two young pigeons (1:14; 5:11; 12:8; 14:22,30; Lk 2:24).

15:16-18 The phrase emission of semen can refer to a nocturnal ejaculation (vv. 16-17) as well as ejaculation in sexual intercourse (v. 18). This passage does not suggest that God considered sex sinful. Rather, God gave laws to ensure that sex must not be part of the sanctuary rites. These laws were a clear contrast with the ancient Near Eastern religions that portrayed gods and goddesses engaging in sexual relations and their followers imitating them as part of pagan temple worship.

15:19 The word body here (the same as “member” in vv. 1-3) is a euphemism for the female genitalia.

15:20 The idea that menstruation rendered a woman unclean was a common conception throughout the ancient Near East. Both the Egyptians and the Persians thought of menstruation as cultic uncleanness.

15:21-24 See vv. 4-12.

15:25 This discharge refers to a chronic condition that is not related to menstruation.

15:26-30 See Mk 5:25-34.

15:31 The verb keep comes from the Hebrew root nazar, which means “to refrain,” “to be a Nazirite.” Here it conveys the idea that the Israelites were to refrain from being unclean so they could enter God’s sanctuary. Defiling the sanctuary was grounds for the death penalty.