Leviticus 15:10

Authorized King James Version

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And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Original Language Analysis

וְכָל H3605
וְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 1 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַנֹּגֵ֗עַ And whosoever toucheth H5060
הַנֹּגֵ֗עַ And whosoever toucheth
Strong's: H5060
Word #: 2 of 18
properly, to touch, i.e., lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive
בְּכֹל֙ H3605
בְּכֹל֙
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 3 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 4 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה H1961
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 5 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
תַחְתָּ֔יו H8478
תַחְתָּ֔יו
Strong's: H8478
Word #: 6 of 18
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
וְטָמֵ֥א and be unclean H2930
וְטָמֵ֥א and be unclean
Strong's: H2930
Word #: 7 of 18
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
עַד H5704
עַד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 8 of 18
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
הָעָֽרֶב׃ until the even H6153
הָעָֽרֶב׃ until the even
Strong's: H6153
Word #: 9 of 18
dusk
וְהַנּוֹשֵׂ֣א and he that beareth H5375
וְהַנּוֹשֵׂ֣א and he that beareth
Strong's: H5375
Word #: 10 of 18
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
אוֹתָ֔ם H853
אוֹתָ֔ם
Strong's: H853
Word #: 11 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְכַבֵּ֧ס any of those things shall wash H3526
יְכַבֵּ֧ס any of those things shall wash
Strong's: H3526
Word #: 12 of 18
to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative
בְּגָדָ֛יו his clothes H899
בְּגָדָ֛יו his clothes
Strong's: H899
Word #: 13 of 18
a covering, i.e., clothing
וְרָחַ֥ץ and bathe H7364
וְרָחַ֥ץ and bathe
Strong's: H7364
Word #: 14 of 18
to lave (the whole or a part of a thing)
בַּמַּ֖יִם himself in water H4325
בַּמַּ֖יִם himself in water
Strong's: H4325
Word #: 15 of 18
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְטָמֵ֥א and be unclean H2930
וְטָמֵ֥א and be unclean
Strong's: H2930
Word #: 16 of 18
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
עַד H5704
עַד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 17 of 18
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
הָעָֽרֶב׃ until the even H6153
הָעָֽרֶב׃ until the even
Strong's: H6153
Word #: 18 of 18
dusk

Analysis & Commentary

And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

This verse falls within the section on Bodily Discharges. Laws concerning various bodily discharges, emphasizing that approaching God's holy presence requires ritual purity.

Ritual purity laws taught Israel to distinguish between clean and unclean, holy and common, training them in discernment and reverence for God's presence.
Hebrews 9-10 explains how Christ's once-for-all sacrifice supersedes the repeated Levitical offerings, providing permanent cleansing from sin.

Historical Context

Laws concerning various bodily discharges, emphasizing that approaching God's holy presence requires ritual purity. Chapters 11-15 address ritual purity, teaching Israel to distinguish clean from unclean. These laws served multiple purposes: promoting health, teaching spiritual lessons about sin's defilement, and separating Israel from pagan practices. Archaeological evidence shows Canaanite worship involved practices Israel's laws explicitly prohibited. Israel received these laws while encamped at Sinai, before entering Canaan. The laws prepared them for life in the promised land, distinguishing them from Canaanite practices and establishing their identity as God's holy nation. The portable tabernacle, central to Levitical worship, accompanied them through wilderness wanderings and eventually found permanent form in Solomon's temple. The tabernacle's design parallels ancient Near Eastern temple architecture, yet its portable nature and absence of divine images distinguished it from pagan temples.

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