Skin diseases

1The LORD told Moses and Aaron to say to the people:

2If sores or boils or a skin rash should break out and start spreading on your body, you must be brought to Aaron or to one of the other priests. 3If the priest discovers that the hair in the infected area has turned white and that the infection seems more than skin deep, he will say, “This is leprosy13.3 leprosy: The word translated “leprosy” was used for many different kinds of skin diseases.—you are unclean.”

4But if the infected area is white and only skin deep, and if the hair in it hasn't turned white, the priest will order you to stay away from everyone else for seven days. 5If the disease hasn't spread by that time, he will order you to stay away from everyone else for another seven days. 6Then if the disease hasn't got any worse or spread, the priest will say, “You are clean. It was only a sore. After you wash your clothes, you may go home.”

7However, if the disease comes back, you must return to the priest. 8If it is discovered that the disease has started spreading, he will say, “This is leprosy—you are unclean.”

9Any of you with a skin disease must be brought to a priest. 10If he discovers that the sore spot is white with pus and that the hair around it has also turned white, 11he will say, “This is leprosy. You are unclean and must stay away from everyone else.” 12-13But if the disease has run its course and only the scars remain, he will say, “You are clean.” 14-15If the sores come back and turn white with pus, he will say, “This is leprosy—you are unclean.”

16-17However, if the sores heal and only white spots remain, the priest will say, “You are now clean.”

18-19If you have a sore that either swells or turns reddish-white after it has healed, then you must show it to a priest. 20If he discovers that the hair in the infected area has turned white and that the infection seems more than skin deep, he will say, “This is leprosy—you are unclean.” 21But if the white area is only on the surface of the skin and hasn't got any worse, and if the hair in it hasn't turned white, he will make you stay away from everyone else for seven days.

22If the sore begins spreading during this time, the priest will say, “You are unclean because you have a disease.” 23But if it doesn't spread, and only a scar remains, he will say, “You are now clean.”

24If you have a burn that gets infected and turns red or reddish-white, 25a priest must examine it. Then if he discovers that the hair in the infected area has turned white and that the infection seems more than skin deep, he will say, “The burn has turned into leprosy, and you are unclean.” 26But if the priest finds that the hair in the infected area hasn't turned white and that the sore is only skin deep and it is healing, he will make you stay away from everyone else for seven days. 27On the seventh day the priest will examine you again, and if the infection is spreading, he will say, “This is leprosy—you are unclean.” 28However, if the infection hasn't spread and has begun to heal, and if only a scar remains, he will say, “Only a scar remains from the burn, and you are clean.”

29If you have a sore on your head or chin, 30it must be examined by a priest. If the infection seems more than skin deep, and the hair in it has thinned out and lost its colour, he will say, “This is leprosy—you are unclean.” 31On the other hand, if he discovers that the itchy spot is only skin deep, but that the hair still isn't healthy, he will order you to stay away from everyone else for seven days. 32By that time, if the itch hasn't spread, if the hairs seem healthy, and if the itch is only skin deep, 33you must shave off the hairs around the infection, but not those on it. Then the priest will tell you to stay away from everyone else for another seven days. 34By that time, if the itch hasn't spread and seems no more than skin deep, he will say, “You are clean; now you must wash your clothes.”

35-36Later, if the itch starts spreading, even though the hair is still healthy, the priest will say, “You are unclean.” 37But if he thinks you are completely well, he will say, “You are clean.”

38If white spots break out on your skin, 39but the priest discovers that it is only a rash, he will say, “You are clean.”

40-41If you become bald on any part of your head, you are still clean. 42-43But if a priest discovers that a reddish-white sore has broken out on the bald spot and looks like leprosy, he will say, 44“This is leprosy—you are unclean.”

45If you ever have leprosy, you must tear your clothes, leave your hair uncombed, cover the lower part of your face, and go around shouting, “I'm unclean! I'm unclean!” 46As long as you have the disease, you are unclean and must live alone outside the camp.

47-50If a greenish or reddish spot13.47-50 spot: The Hebrew word translated “spot” and “mildew” in verses 47-59 is the same one translated “leprosy” earlier in the chapter. appears anywhere on any of your clothing or on anything made of leather, you must let the priest examine the clothing or the leather. He will put it aside for seven days, 51and if the mildew has spread in that time, he will say, “This is unclean 52because the mildew has spread.” Then he will burn the clothing or the piece of leather.

53If the priest discovers that the mildew hasn't spread, 54he will tell you to wash the clothing or leather and put it aside for another seven days, 55after which he will examine it again. If the spot hasn't spread, but is still greenish or reddish, the clothing or leather is unclean and must be burnt. 56But if the spot has faded after being washed, he will tear away the spot. 57Later, if the spot reappears elsewhere on the clothing or the leather, you must burn it. 58Even if the spot completely disappears after being washed, it must be washed again before it is clean.

59These are the rules for deciding if clothing is clean or unclean after a spot appears on it.