What Does Leviticus 13:2 Mean in the King James?

When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:

Leviticus 13:2 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

A visible mark becomes a question to be examined, not a verdict already contained in the skin.

THE MEANING

A rising, scab, or bright spot makes a change visible, and the person is brought before a priest for examination. The sign matters, but its appearance does not finish the naming; it is examined before its status is declared.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The skin’s appearance alone tells the whole story of the condition.

THE ROOT

שְׂאֵת

se'et

GROWS FROM

נשא

nasa

to lift, carry, or bear

English “rising” sounds like a simple description of shape, but se’et belongs to the root nasa, whose range includes lifting and bearing. The raised mark is thus named through a word-family that also carries the sense of lifting and carrying.

ALSO GROWS

nasa: to lift, carry, or bear

נָשָׂא

This verb shares the seed of se’et and reveals the wider sense behind the visible rising.

nasi: a chief or prince; one elevated to prominence

נָשִׂיא

This related form carries the sense of being lifted up, extending the root’s language of elevation beyond the skin.

נֶגַע

nega

GROWS FROM

נגע

nagaʿ

to touch, reach, or strike

The phrase “plague of leprosy” includes nega, from a root whose range includes touching and striking. The wording names an affliction for examination, while the verse itself keeps the question open until the priest looks.

ALSO GROWS

nagaʿ: to touch, reach, or strike

נָגַע

The verb shows the root’s sense of contact that reaches or strikes.

nega: a blow, mark, or affliction

נֶגַע

This noun names the affliction presented for examination in the verse.

THE PATTERN

A visible sign is brought into examination before its status is declared.

And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

Leviticus 13:3 · KJVThe sign is examined by specific features before the priest declares its status.

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Mark 1:44 · KJVEven after cleansing, the condition is brought before the priest as testimony.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 · KJVThe same pattern widens into a call to test what is presented before settling what is true.

THE THREAD

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isaiah 53:4 · KJV

Isaiah uses nasa, “to bear,” for carrying griefs; Leviticus uses its related noun se’et for a rising. The shared root places the visible elevation within Hebrew’s wider language of lifting and bearing.

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