King James Version

What Does Leviticus 15:24 Mean?

Leviticus 15:24 in the King James Version says “And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon... — study this verse from Leviticus chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

Leviticus 15:24 · KJV


Context

22

And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

23

And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.

24

And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

25

And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.

26

Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

This verse falls within the section on Bodily Discharges. Laws concerning various bodily discharges, emphasizing that approaching God's holy presence requires ritual purity.

Ritual purity laws taught Israel to distinguish between clean and unclean, holy and common, training them in discernment and reverence for God's presence.
Hebrews 9-10 explains how Christ's once-for-all sacrifice supersedes the repeated Levitical offerings, providing permanent cleansing from sin.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Laws concerning various bodily discharges, emphasizing that approaching God's holy presence requires ritual purity. Chapters 11-15 address ritual purity, teaching Israel to distinguish clean from unclean. These laws served multiple purposes: promoting health, teaching spiritual lessons about sin's defilement, and separating Israel from pagan practices. Archaeological evidence shows Canaanite worship involved practices Israel's laws explicitly prohibited. Israel received these laws while encamped at Sinai, before entering Canaan. The laws prepared them for life in the promised land, distinguishing them from Canaanite practices and establishing their identity as God's holy nation. The portable tabernacle, central to Levitical worship, accompanied them through wilderness wanderings and eventually found permanent form in Solomon's temple. The Israelite dietary laws in Leviticus 11 have no exact parallel in surrounding cultures, though some ancient cultures had food taboos, suggesting unique revelation rather than borrowed customs.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can you develop greater spiritual discernment in distinguishing what honors God from what defiles?
  2. In what practical ways should this verse influence your church life, family relationships, or personal integrity?
  3. What does this verse teach about the seriousness of sin, the cost of redemption, or the beauty of holiness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְאִ֡ם1 of 17
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

יִשְׁכַּ֥ב2 of 17

lie

H7901

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

יִשְׁכַּ֥ב3 of 17

lie

H7901

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

אִ֜ישׁ4 of 17

And if any man

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

אֹתָ֗הּ5 of 17
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

וּתְהִ֤י6 of 17
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

נִדָּתָהּ֙7 of 17

and her flowers

H5079

properly, rejection; by implication, impurity, especially personal (menstruation) or moral (idolatry, incest)

עָלָ֔יו8 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

יִטְמָֽא׃9 of 17

be upon him he shall be unclean

H2930

to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)

שִׁבְעַ֣ת10 of 17

seven

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

יָמִ֑ים11 of 17

days

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

וְכָל12 of 17
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ב13 of 17

and all the bed

H4904

a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse

אֲשֶׁר14 of 17
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יִשְׁכַּ֥ב15 of 17

lie

H7901

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

עָלָ֖יו16 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

יִטְמָֽא׃17 of 17

be upon him he shall be unclean

H2930

to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Leviticus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Leviticus 15:24 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Leviticus 15:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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