Bible Glide

Leviticus 15 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Leviticus 15 gives instructions about uncleanness linked to bodily discharges in men and women. It describes what becomes unclean, how that impurity spreads, and what cleansing requires. The chapter shows Israel how to handle ordinary bodily conditions with care before a holy God.

What happens in Leviticus 15?

The chapter begins with laws for a man who has a bodily discharge. Anything he lies on, sits on, touches, or spits on can become unclean, and those who contact it must wash and wait until evening. After the discharge ends, he counts seven days, washes, and brings offerings on the eighth day. The chapter also addresses emissions of semen and contact between husband and wife. It then turns to a woman's menstrual impurity and other prolonged discharges, giving similar rules for washing, waiting, and sacrifice. The final verses stress protecting the sanctuary from uncleanness.

Leviticus 15 comes after laws about cleansing from skin disease and mold in the previous chapter. It continues the book's concern with holiness, impurity, and how Israel is to live near the tabernacle. These laws fit within the larger section that teaches the people how to approach God in a way that honors his presence among them.

  • Holiness and impurityThe chapter shows that bodily conditions could create ceremonial uncleanness and needed careful handling.
  • Containment of defilementUncleanness can spread through contact, so the law sets limits to protect the community.
  • Cleansing and atonementWashing, waiting, and sacrifices mark the way back to ceremonial cleanliness before the LORD.
  • What does this chapter teach about the seriousness of uncleanness in Israel's worship life?
  • Why do the laws focus so much on what a person touches or lies on?
  • How do washing, waiting, and sacrifice work together in the cleansing process?

Read the full text of Leviticus 15 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Leviticus 15

The Uncleanness of Men

1And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,2“Say to the Israelites, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean.3This uncleanness is from his discharge, whether his body allows the discharge to flow or blocks it. So his discharge will bring about uncleanness.

4Any bed on which the man with the discharge lies will be unclean, and any furniture on which he sits will be unclean.5Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.6Whoever sits on furniture on which the man with the discharge was sitting must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

7Whoever touches the body of the man with a discharge must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

8If the man with the discharge spits on one who is clean, that person must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

9Any saddle on which the man with the discharge rides will be unclean.10Whoever touches anything that was under him will be unclean until evening, and whoever carries such things must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

11If the man with the discharge touches anyone without first rinsing his hands with water, the one who was touched must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

12Any clay pot that the man with the discharge touches must be broken, and any wooden utensil must be rinsed with water.

The Cleansing of Men

13When the man has been cleansed from his discharge, he must count off seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe himself in fresh water, and he shall be clean.

14On the eighth day he is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, come before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest.15The priest is to sacrifice them, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the man before the LORD because of his discharge.

16When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean until evening.17Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.18If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both must bathe with water, and they will remain unclean until evening.

The Uncleanness of Women

19When a woman has a discharge consisting of blood from her body, she will be unclean due to her menstruation for seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening.

20Anything on which she lies or sits during her menstruation will be unclean,21and anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.22Whoever touches any furniture on which she was sitting must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.23And whether it is a bed or furniture on which she was sitting, whoever touches it will be unclean until evening.

24If a man lies with her and her menstrual flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days, and any bed on which he lies will become unclean.

25When a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days at a time other than her menstrual period, or if it continues beyond her period, she will be unclean all the days of her unclean discharge, just as she is during the days of her menstruation.26Any bed on which she lies or any furniture on which she sits during the days of her discharge will be unclean, like her bed during her menstrual period.27Anyone who touches these things will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

The Cleansing of Women

28When a woman is cleansed of her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean.29On the eighth day she is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.30The priest is to sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her before the LORD for her unclean discharge.

31You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.

32This is the law of him who has a discharge, of the man who has an emission of semen whereby he is unclean,33of a woman in her menstrual period, of any male or female who has a discharge, and of a man who lies with an unclean woman.’”

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