Moses receives divine instruction on bodily discharge laws alongside Aaron, marking one of only seven passages where both brothers jointly receive ceremonial purity regulations from Yahweh.
Leviticus 15
Male Bodily Discharges
1The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When any man has a discharge from his body, because of his discharge he is unclean.
3This shall be his uncleanness in his discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body has stopped from his discharge, it is his uncleanness.
4“‘Every bed on which he who has the discharge lies shall be unclean; and everything he sits on shall be unclean.
5Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
6He who sits on anything on which the man who has the discharge sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
7“‘He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
8“‘If he who has the discharge spits on him who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
9“‘Whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on shall be unclean.
10Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. He who carries those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
11“‘Whomever he who has the discharge touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
12“‘The earthen vessel, which he who has the discharge touches, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
13“‘When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
14“‘On the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest.
15The priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. The priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD for his discharge.
16“‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening.
17Every garment and every skin which the semen is on shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.
18If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.
Female Bodily Discharges
19“‘If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days. Whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.
20“‘Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be unclean. Everything also that she sits on shall be unclean.
21Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
22Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
23If it is on the bed, or on anything she sits on, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening.
24“‘If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed he lies on shall be unclean.
25“‘If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her period, all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness shall be as in the days of her period. She is unclean.
26Every bed she lies on all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her period. Everything she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her period.
27Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
28“‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
29On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting.
30The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before the LORD for the uncleanness of her discharge.
31“‘Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.’”
32This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean by it;
33and of her who has her period, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
Leviticus 15 establishes comprehensive purity laws regarding bodily discharges for both men and women, detailing the ritual uncleanness that results and the purification procedures required. The chapter addresses various types of discharges, specifying how they render individuals, objects, and other people temporarily unclean, along with the washing, waiting periods, and sacrificial offerings needed for restoration. These regulations emphasize the importance of ritual purity in maintaining proper relationship with God and community participation in worship.
Context
This chapter continues the purity laws begun in chapters 11-14, completing the comprehensive system of ritual cleanness before transitioning to the Day of Atonement in chapter 16.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2 Divine Command to Moses and Aaron God instructs Moses and Aaron to teach Israel about discharge-related uncleanness
- 3-12 Laws for Male Bodily Discharges Detailed regulations about uncleanness from male discharges and contamination of objects and people
- 13-15 Purification Process for Men Seven-day cleansing period followed by sacrificial offerings for restoration
- 16-18 Laws Regarding Semen Specific regulations for ritual uncleanness from seminal emissions
- 19-24 Laws for Female Menstrual Discharge Seven-day period of uncleanness during menstruation and contamination rules
- 25-30 Laws for Abnormal Female Discharge Extended uncleanness for irregular bleeding and required purification offerings
- 31-33 Summary and Purpose Concluding statement emphasizing separation from uncleanness to protect the tabernacle
Male Bodily Discharges
15:1–15:18 law instruction solemn
Laws concerning male bodily discharges and their effect on ritual purity, including contamination of objects and cleansing requirements. Establishes comprehensive purity standards for bodily functions.
person_contrast
Moses receives divine instruction on bodily discharge laws alongside Aaron, marking one of only seven passages where both brothers jointly receive ceremonial purity regulations from Yahweh.
Female Bodily Discharges
15:19–15:33 law instruction solemn
Laws regarding ritual purity for women's menstrual cycles and abnormal discharges, including purification procedures and required offerings. These regulations emphasize the separation between clean and unclean states in Israel's worship life.
structural
Positioned at Leviticus's structural center, this passage uniquely requires two birds for purification—the only female-specific ritual demanding the same offering as male genital discharges, emphasizing gender parity in sacred restoration.
Insights
Positioned at Leviticus's structural center, this passage uniquely requires two birds for purification—the only female-specific ritual demanding the same offering as male genital discharges, emphasizing gender parity in sacred restoration.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Leviticus 15:3 1 reference
Leviticus 15:5 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Leviticus 15:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Leviticus 11:28 Lexical
He who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean to you.
Leviticus 15:7 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Leviticus 22:6 Lexical
the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things unless he bath…
Leviticus 15:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Leviticus 15:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Leviticus 15:11 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Leviticus 15:12 1 reference
Leviticus 15:13 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 14:9 Lexical
It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows. He shall s…
Leviticus 14:8 Lexical
“He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall b…
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Leviticus 16:26 Lexical
“He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall c…
Leviticus 15:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 6:10 Lexical
On the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Leviticus 12:6 Lexical
“‘When the days of her purification are completed for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door…
Leviticus 14:23 Lexical
“On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, before the L…
Leviticus 5:7 Lexical
“‘If he can’t afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves,…
Leviticus 5:11 Lexical
“‘But if he can’t afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for that in which he…
Leviticus 15:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
Ezekiel 45:17 Lexical
It shall be the prince’s part to give the burnt offerings, the meal offerings, and the drink offerings, in the feasts, a…
Numbers 8:12 Lexical
“The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the oth…
Leviticus 9:7 Lexical
Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar, and offer your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make atonement f…
Leviticus 14:19 Lexical
“The priest shall offer the sin offering, and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness. A…
Numbers 6:11 Lexical
The priest shall offer one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because h…
Leviticus 15:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Leviticus 22:6 Lexical
the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things unless he bath…
Numbers 5:13 Lexical
and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and this is kept concealed, and she is d…
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Leviticus 15:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Leviticus 11:40 Lexical
He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries its carcass sha…
Leviticus 11:25 Lexical
Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:10 Lexical
He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. It shall be to the chil…
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Leviticus 15:18 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 5:13 Lexical
and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and this is kept concealed, and she is d…
Leviticus 19:20 Lexical
“‘If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl, pledged to be married to another man, and not ransomed or giv…
Leviticus 22:6 Lexical
the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things unless he bath…
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 15:19 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Leviticus 22:6 Lexical
the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things unless he bath…
Numbers 19:13 Lexical
Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn’t purify himself, defiles the LORD’s tabernacle…
Leviticus 12:5 Lexical
But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her period; and she shall continue in the bl…
Leviticus 12:2 Lexical
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a woman conceives, and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven…
Leviticus 15:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Leviticus 15:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Leviticus 15:23 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 11:32 Lexical
Anything they fall on when they are dead shall be unclean; whether it is any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sa…
Leviticus 11:24 Lexical
“‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 11:31 Lexical
These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean u…
Leviticus 11:27 Lexical
Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcas…
Leviticus 11:39 Lexical
“‘If any animal of which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 15:24 1 reference
Leviticus 15:25 3 references
Lexicals 3
Numbers 19:13 Lexical
Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn’t purify himself, defiles the LORD’s tabernacle…
Leviticus 7:21 Lexical
When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eat…
Leviticus 22:4 Lexical
“‘Whoever of the offspring of Aaron is a leper or has a discharge shall not eat of the holy things until he is clean. Wh…
Leviticus 15:26 1 reference
Leviticus 15:27 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 17:15 Lexical
“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner…
Numbers 19:8 Lexical
He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
Numbers 19:7 Lexical
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp…
Numbers 19:21 Lexical
It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touc…
Numbers 19:19 Lexical
The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall pu…
Leviticus 15:29 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 6:10 Lexical
On the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Leviticus 12:6 Lexical
“‘When the days of her purification are completed for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door…
Leviticus 14:23 Lexical
“On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, before the L…
Leviticus 5:7 Lexical
“‘If he can’t afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves,…
Leviticus 14:22 Lexical
and two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the ot…
Leviticus 15:30 5 references
Lexicals 5
Leviticus 14:19 Lexical
“The priest shall offer the sin offering, and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness. A…
Leviticus 16:16 Lexical
He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their t…
Ezekiel 45:17 Lexical
It shall be the prince’s part to give the burnt offerings, the meal offerings, and the drink offerings, in the feasts, a…
Leviticus 5:10 Lexical
He shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him…
Leviticus 12:8 Lexical
If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons: the one for a burnt offering, and…
Leviticus 15:31 1 reference
Leviticus 15:32 2 references
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
v. 24
v. 25
v. 26
v. 27
v. 28
v. 29
v. 30
v. 31
v. 32
v. 33
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages