Lev 15:1-31 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Lev 15:1-33: 15:1-33 The principle of normal and abnormal and the created order again aids the interpretation of these regulations (see thematic note for Clean, Unclean, and Holy at end of chapter). Bodily discharges, such as infections (see study note on 13:1-46), were not “normal” because they weakened the vitality of the person, so the person was not seen as whole. Whether male (15:1-18 ) or female (15:19-33 ), such a person became unclean.

Summary for Lev 15:1-33: 15:1-33 ^a The principle of normal and abnormal and the created order again aids the interpretation of these regulations (see thematic note for Clean, Unclean, and Holy at end of chapter). Bodily discharges, such as infections (see study note on 13:1-46), were not “normal” because they weakened the vitality of the person, so the person was not seen as whole. Whether male (15:1-18 ^b) or female (15:19-33 ^c), such a person became unclean.
15:2 ^d bodily discharge (literally a flowing from his flesh): Most scholars interpret the word flesh as a euphemism for sexual organs and the symptoms described here as indicating an infection of gonorrhea. Others suggest that it refers to a discharge of semen or even diarrhea. A discharge of semen is unlikely, however, because that is singled out in 15:16-17 ^e and required only washing with water. It is clear that this bodily discharge proceeded from “under the man” (15:10 ^f) and contaminated anything he sat on or lay upon (15:4 ^g, 6 ^h, 9 ⁱ).
Summary for Lev 15:13-15: 15:13-15 ^j In contrast to the man with a skin disease (see 13:46 ^k), a man with a bodily discharge was apparently allowed to live at home. He did not have to undergo the more elaborate cleansing ritual described in ch 14 ^l. He simply had to wait seven days after the discharge ceased, wash (15:13 ^m), and present the least expensive animal sacrifice of two birds—one as a sin offering and the other as a whole burnt offering.
Summary for Lev 15:16-17: 15:16-17 ⁿ In the case of an emission of semen, the discharge was not a sign of illness (see study note on 15:1-33). Still, the same rule applied; the man must wash and be considered unclean until the next evening.
15:18 ^o If the seminal emission involved sexual intercourse, both the man and the woman became unclean and had to wash and remain unclean until the next evening. Although it involved a bodily emission, sexual intercourse was not an infection or abnormality, and it required no sacrifices.
Summary for Lev 15:19-23: 15:19-23 ^p There is nothing wrong or diseased about a woman’s menstrual period. However, because it is accompanied by a bloody discharge, the woman was considered ceremonially unclean (see 15:32-33 ^q). The restrictions were similar to the restrictions on the man with the bodily discharge (15:2-12 ^r): She was allowed to live at home, but whatever she sat on became unclean. Anyone who touched her had to wash, and presumably she also did so at the end of the seven-day quarantine. However, no animal sacrifice was required.
15:24 ^s Sexual intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period will later be forbidden and given a harsh penalty (18:19 ^t). This verse probably describes a case in which the woman’s menstrual flow went unnoticed when the sexual activity began or in which the woman’s period began during intercourse. The regulations required the man who came into contact with her blood to share the woman’s seven-day quarantine.
Summary for Lev 15:25-29: 15:25-29 ^u Normal menstruation required no offering from the woman (15:19-24 ^v). A discharge of blood that exceeded seven days required a cleansing ceremony similar to that for the man cleansed of a bodily discharge (15:13-15 ^w; see also Matt 9:20-22 ^x).