Leviticus 13:29-37
Scall on the Head or in the Beard
29 “When a man or a woman has an infection on the head or in the beard, ▼▼ Heb “And a man or a woman if there is in him an infection in head or in beard.”
▼▼ The shift here is from diseases that are on the (relatively) bare skin of the body to the scalp area of the male or female head or the bearded area of the male face.
30the priest is to examine the infection, ▼▼ Heb “and the priest shall see the infection.”
and if ▼▼ Heb “and behold.”
it appears to be deeper than the skin ▼▼ Heb “its appearance is deep ‘from’ (comparative מִן, min, “deeper than”) the skin.”
and the hair in it is reddish yellow and thin, then the priest is to pronounce the person unclean. ▼ It is scall, ▼▼ The exact identification of this disease is unknown. Cf. KJV “dry scall”; NASB “a scale”; NIV, NCV, NRSV “an itch”; NLT “a contagious skin disease.” For a discussion of “scall” disease in the hair, which is a crusty scabby disease of the skin under the hair that also affects the hair itself, see J. E. Hartley, Leviticus (WBC), 192-93, and J. Milgrom, Leviticus (AB), 1:793–94. The Hebrew word rendered “scall” (נֶתֶק, neteq) is related to a verb meaning “to tear; to tear out; to tear apart.” It may derive from the scratching and/or the tearing out of the hair or the scales of the skin in response to the itching sensation caused by the disease.
a disease of the head or the beard. ▼▼ Heb “It is scall. It is the disease of the head or the beard.”
31But if the priest examines the scall infection and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, ▼▼ Heb “and behold there is not its appearance deep ‘from’ (comparative מִן, min, meaning “deeper than”) the skin.”
and there is no black hair in it, then the priest is to quarantine the person with the scall infection for seven days. ▼▼ Heb “and the priest will shut up the infection of the scall seven days.”
32The priest must then examine the infection on the seventh day, and if ▼▼ Heb “and behold” (so KJV, ASV).
the scall has not spread, there is no reddish yellow hair in it, and the scall does not appear to be deeper than the skin, ▼▼ Heb “and the appearance of the scall is not deep ‘from’ (comparative מִן, min, meaning “deeper than”) the skin.”
33then the individual is to shave himself, ▼▼ The shaving is done by the one who has the infection. Although KJV, ASV have the passive “he shall be shaven” here, most modern English versions have the reflexive “shall shave himself” (so NAB).
but he must not shave the area affected by the scall, ▼▼ Heb “but the scall shall he not shave” (so KJV, ASV); NIV “except for the diseased area.”
and the priest is to quarantine the person with the scall for another seven days. ▼▼ Heb “and the priest will shut up the scall a second seven days.”
34The priest must then examine the scall on the seventh day, and if ▼▼ Heb “and behold” (so KJV, ASV).
the scall has not spread on the skin and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, ▼▼ Heb “and its appearance is not deep ‘from’ (comparative מִן, min, meaning “deeper than”) the skin.”
then the priest is to pronounce him clean. ▼ So he is to wash his clothes and be clean. 35If, however, the scall spreads further ▼▼ Heb “And if spreading (infinitive absolute) it spreads further (finite verb).” For the infinitive absolute used to highlight contrast rather than emphasis see GKC 343 #113.p.
on the skin after his purification, 36then the priest is to examine it, and if ▼▼ Heb “and behold.”
the scall has spread on the skin the priest is not to search further for reddish yellow hair. ▼▼ Heb “the priest shall not search to the reddish yellow hair.”
The person ▼▼ Heb “he”; the referent (the affected person) is specified in the translation for clarity (likewise in the following verse).
is unclean. 37If, as far as the priest can see, the scall has stayed the same ▼▼ Heb “and if in his eyes the infection has stood.”
and black hair has sprouted in it, the scall has been healed; the person is clean. So the priest is to pronounce him clean. ▼
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