What Does Leviticus 13:21 Mean in the King James?
But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
A faint mark does not become a verdict here; it becomes a reason to wait seven days and look again.
THE MEANING
When a sign is faint and its decisive markers are absent, its meaning remains unresolved. The person is kept within a seven-day interval while the condition is observed again. Uncertainty receives a boundary and a time instead of being mistaken for certainty.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A suspicious mark already proves the feared condition.
THE ROOT
כֵהָה
kehah
GROWS FROM
כהה
To be dim, dull, or faint.
“somewhat dark” in this verse is kehah. This root describes diminished clarity or force, not only a dark color. Here the subdued appearance leaves the condition unresolved, so the verse gives it time to be seen again.
ALSO GROWS
tikhēnā: Isaac’s eyes grew dim.
תִּכְהֶיןָ
The same root describes sight losing clarity, echoing how a faint sign can leave what is happening uncertain.
yikhheh: The servant will not grow dim or fail.
יִכְהֶה
The root can describe a loss of force as well as dimness; here the sign’s subdued appearance prompts continued observation rather than a settled conclusion.
וְהִסְגִּירוֹ
vehisgiro
GROWS FROM
סגר
To close, shut in, or enclose; in some forms, to hand over.
“shut him up” in this verse is vehisgiro. The Hebrew verb places the person within a defined interval of custody. Its other uses include shutting someone in and handing someone over, giving this closure the weight of containment while the signs are still being examined.
ALSO GROWS
vayisgor: The LORD shut Noah into the ark.
וַיִּסְגֹּר
The same root marks an enclosing boundary; here that boundary lasts seven days while the condition is watched.
tasgir: To hand an escaped servant over to his master.
תַּסְגִּיר
This form shows the root can describe placing someone into another’s custody, illuminating the bounded, temporary custody in this verse.
THE PATTERN
When signs remain inconclusive, judgment waits for another observation.
And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.THE THREAD
And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:Leviticus 13:5 repeats the Hebrew verb וְהִסְגִּירוֹ (vehisgiro, shut him in), from סגר (sagar, close or enclose). If the sign remains unchanged, the interval continues: the boundary holds while the evidence is observed again.
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