Leviticus 15:17
New International Version
Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening.

New Living Translation
Any clothing or leather with semen on it must be washed in water, and it will remain unclean until evening.

English Standard Version
And every garment and every skin on which the semen comes shall be washed with water and be unclean until the evening.

Berean Standard Bible
Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.

King James Bible
And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

New King James Version
And any garment and any leather on which there is semen, it shall be washed with water, and be unclean until evening.

New American Standard Bible
As for any garment or any leather on which there is a seminal emission, it shall be washed with water and be unclean until evening.

NASB 1995
‘As for any garment or any leather on which there is seminal emission, it shall be washed with water and be unclean until evening.

NASB 1977
‘As for any garment or any leather on which there is seminal emission, it shall be washed with water and be unclean until evening.

Legacy Standard Bible
As for any garment or any leather on which there is seminal emission, it shall be washed with water and be unclean until evening.

Amplified Bible
Every garment and every leather on which there is semen shall be washed with water, and shall be unclean until evening.

Christian Standard Bible
Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen is to be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.

American Standard Version
And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

Contemporary English Version
If the semen touches anything made of cloth or leather, these must be washed, but they still remain unclean until evening.

English Revised Version
And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Any clothes or any leather with semen on it must be washed. It will be unclean until evening.

Good News Translation
Anything made of cloth or leather on which the semen falls must be washed, and it remains unclean until evening.

International Standard Version
Every garment (including leather) on which the semen is found is to be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.

Majority Standard Bible
Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening.

NET Bible
and he must wash in water any clothing or leather that has semen on it, and it will be unclean until evening.

New Heart English Bible
Every garment, and every skin, whereon the semen is, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.

Webster's Bible Translation
And every garment, and every skin on which is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.

World English Bible
Every garment and every skin which the semen is on shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And any garment, or any skin on which there is seed [from] intercourse, has also been washed with water, and been unclean until the evening.

Young's Literal Translation
'And any garment, or any skin on which there is seed of copulation, hath also been washed with water, and been unclean till the evening.

Smith's Literal Translation
And every garment and every akin, which shall be upon it the effusion of seed, and it was washed in water, and was unclean till the evening.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The garment or skin that he weareth, he shall wash with water, and it shall be unclean until the evening.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The garment or skin which he will have, he shall wash with water, and it shall be unclean until evening.

New American Bible
Any piece of cloth or leather with semen on it shall be washed with water and be unclean until evening.

New Revised Standard Version
Everything made of cloth or of skin on which the semen falls shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And every garment or bed on which the semen has fallen shall be washed with water and be unclean until the evening.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And every cloak or couch upon which fell the seed of sleep shall be washed in water and he will be defiled until evening.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the flow of seed, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And every garment, and every skin on which there shall be the seed of copulation shall both be washed with water, and be unclean until evening.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cleansing of Men
16When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean until evening. 17Any clothing or leather on which there is an emission of semen must be washed with water, and it will remain unclean until evening. 18If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both must bathe with water, and they will remain unclean until evening.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 23:10-11
If any man among you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he must leave the camp and stay outside. / When evening approaches, he must wash with water, and when the sun sets he may return to the camp.

Numbers 5:2-3
“Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body. / You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”

Leviticus 22:4-6
If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen, / or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be— / the man who touches any of these will remain unclean until evening. He must not eat from the sacred offerings unless he has bathed himself with water.

Leviticus 11:24-25
These creatures will make you unclean. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening, / and whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening.

Leviticus 7:20-21
But if anyone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people. / If one touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable thing, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.”

Leviticus 14:8-9
The one being cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe with water; then he will be ceremonially clean. Afterward, he may enter the camp, but he must remain outside his tent for seven days. / On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair—his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and he will be clean.

Leviticus 16:28
The one who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and afterward he may reenter the camp.

Leviticus 22:3-7
Tell them that for the generations to come, if any of their descendants in a state of uncleanness approaches the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the LORD, that person must be cut off from My presence. I am the LORD. / If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen, / or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be— ...

1 Samuel 21:4-5
“There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.” / David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the bodies of the young men are holy even on common missions. How much more so today!”

2 Samuel 11:4
Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home.

Ezekiel 18:6
He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.

Ezekiel 22:10
In you they have uncovered the nakedness of their fathers; in you they violate women during their menstrual impurity.

Matthew 15:18-20
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. / For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. / These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”

Mark 7:20-23
He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. / For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. ...

1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. / Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.


Treasury of Scripture

And every garment, and every skin, where on is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

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Clothing Copulation Emission Evening Flow Garment Leather Seed Semen Seminal Skin Unclean Washed Water Whereon
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Clothing Copulation Emission Evening Flow Garment Leather Seed Semen Seminal Skin Unclean Washed Water Whereon
Leviticus 15
1. The uncleanness of men in their issues
13. The cleansing of them
19. The uncleanness of women in their issues
28. Their cleansing














And any clothing or leather
This phrase indicates the inclusivity of the law, covering both clothing and leather items. In ancient Israel, clothing and leather were valuable commodities, often handmade and essential for daily life. The Hebrew word for "clothing" is "בֶּגֶד" (beged), which can refer to garments in general. "Leather" is "עוֹר" (or), emphasizing the practical aspects of daily life that the law touches. This reflects the comprehensive nature of God's commandments, which extend to all areas of life, symbolizing purity and holiness in every aspect.

on which there is an emission of semen
The phrase addresses a natural bodily function, highlighting the importance of ritual purity in the Israelite community. The Hebrew word for "emission" is "שִׁכְבַת" (shikhvat), which specifically refers to a discharge. This reflects the broader biblical theme of distinguishing between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. The focus on semen, a life-giving substance, underscores the sanctity of life and the need for reverence in matters of procreation and sexuality.

must be washed with water
Washing with water is a recurring theme in Levitical law, symbolizing purification and renewal. The Hebrew verb "כָּבַס" (kabas) means to wash or launder, indicating a thorough cleansing process. Water, a symbol of life and purity, is used to remove impurity, pointing to the spiritual cleansing that God desires for His people. This act of washing signifies repentance and the desire to be made clean before God, foreshadowing the New Testament concept of baptism as a sign of spiritual cleansing.

and it will remain unclean until evening
The concept of remaining unclean until evening reflects the temporal nature of ritual impurity. The Hebrew word "טָמֵא" (tamei) means unclean, and the stipulation of "until evening" suggests a period of waiting and reflection. Evening, marking the end of the day, symbolizes a new beginning and the restoration of purity. This temporal aspect of uncleanness teaches patience and the hope of renewal, reminding believers of the grace and mercy of God, who provides a way for restoration and holiness.

(17) And every skin.--That is, everything which a man wears or lies upon made of skin, in contradistinction to the ordinary garments made of stuffs (see Leviticus 13:48) with which it is associated. Any one of these thus defiled was cleansed by washing. It is from this circumstance that the apostle borrows the expression "hating even the garments spotted by the flesh" (Jude 1:23).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Any
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

clothing
בֶּ֣גֶד (be·ḡeḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage

or leather
ע֔וֹר (‘ō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5785: Skin, hide, leather

on
עָלָ֖יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

which
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

there is
יִהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

an emission
שִׁכְבַת־ (šiḵ·ḇaṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7902: (act of) lying, a layer

of semen
זָ֑רַע (zā·ra‘)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

must be washed
וְכֻבַּ֥ס (wə·ḵub·bas)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3526: To trample, to wash

with water,
בַּמַּ֖יִם (bam·ma·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

and it will remain unclean
וְטָמֵ֥א (wə·ṭā·mê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

evening.
הָעָֽרֶב׃ (hā·‘ā·reḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6153: Evening


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OT Law: Leviticus 15:17 Every garment and every skin whereon (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 15:16
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