KJV ORIGINAL
And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Anyone who has leprosy must tear their clothes, leave their head uncovered, cover their mouth, and call out 'Unclean, unclean!'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes how people with leprosy were required to identify themselves publicly so others would know to keep their distance.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, leprosy referred to various serious skin diseases that were both medically dangerous and ritually unclean. These public identification requirements served as early public health measures to prevent disease spread in a time before modern medicine. The torn clothes and uncovered head were signs of mourning and separation from the community.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.
Share or Save