What Does Leviticus 13:38 Mean in the King James?
If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;
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
The verse names the mark by what it looks like, not by what it means about the person who bears it.
THE MEANING
A visible difference enters awareness in specific terms: this person’s skin bears bright white marks. The verse names what can be seen while leaving its meaning open.
THE ROOT
בַּהֶרֶת
baheret
GROWS FROM
בהר
b-h-r
To shine or be bright.
“bright spots” in this verse is baheret. The Hebrew names the mark through its brightness, describing what catches the eye without making a claim about the person. The related word for something bright or clear keeps the focus on visible quality, not hidden guilt.
ALSO GROWS
bahir: Bright, clear.
בָּהִיר
It shares the brightness at the center of the skin mark’s name.
bohar: Brightness or a bright spot.
בֹּהַר
This related noun makes the link between the root’s brightness and the visible mark explicit.
THE PATTERN
A visible sign is not the full verdict until its particulars are discerned.
Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.THE THREAD
Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.The next verse repeats בַּהֶרֶת (baheret, “bright skin spot”) and specifies a darker white shade, naming the condition a freckled spot; the person is clean. That detail opens the present verse: a white mark is a description, while its meaning depends on its particular appearance.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us