In the Bible the head, especially the hair on the head, signifies man’s glory (1 Cor. 11:7, 15), and a beard is related to dignity, to one’s self-assumed honor. The fact that there can be an infection on the head and on the beard indicates that it is easy for leprosy, the sin of rebellion, to be hidden within human glory and dignity.

An infection on the head signifies something wrong in the subjection to authority and in the thinking of the mind (cf. 2 Cor. 10:5; 2 Tim. 3:8). An infection on the beard signifies being self-dignified, hunting for exaltation from others (cf. Matt. 6:1-6; Luke 11:43; 14:7-11).

The condition in vv. 24-25 signifies that a saved person’s acting by the flesh, e.g., his losing his temper, his justifying himself, and his not being willing to forgive others, is a sign of spiritual leprosy.

Leprosy breaking out in a boil that has healed (vv. 18-20) signifies that one becomes weak (the hair turning white) in his outward living after being saved and has new weak points manifested in his conduct.

This signifies that the old sin has come back again. However, the raw flesh turning white again and the leper being pronounced clean (vv. 16-17) signifies that if the repeated sin is confessed, it will be forgiven and cleansed (1 John 1:9).

The condition in vv. 12-13 signifies that one who is full of sin and who is willing to confess all his sin before God is forgiven and cleansed (1 John 1:9).

The appearing of white hair and living raw flesh signifies that the old sin has come back again through the weakening of the strength for behavior.

The infection having faded and having not spread in the skin signifies that one’s weakness has been swallowed up by life through Christ’s recovery work in him with grace. Such a person has been healed, recovered.

The infection being deeper than the skin signifies that one’s wrong behavior is covered and is not confessed. The infection not being deeper than the skin and the hair in it not having turned white (v. 4) signifies that one’s wrong behavior is confessed, not covered, and that his strength for behavior has not deteriorated.

The hair turning white signifies that the strength for behavior, the strength to live a normal life, is deteriorating. In contrast, black hair signifies that one is strong in the spirit to live a proper Christian life through one’s submission to God (S.S. 5:11 and note S.S. 5:11¹; cf. Rev. 1:14 and note Rev. 1:14^1a).

Being brought to the priest, being examined by him, and being shut up (isolated) for seven days (vv. 2-28) signify being brought, on the one hand, to the Lord and, on the other hand, to one who serves God, being examined by them, and being kept from contact with others for a complete course of time.

See note Lev. 13:2^1a.

Lit., flesh. So throughout this chapter.

Leprosy signifies the serious sin issuing from within man, such as willful sin, presumptuous sin, and opposing God with determination. As seen in the cases of Miriam (Num. 12:1-10), Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27), and Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:16-21), leprosy issues from rebellion against God’s authority, against God’s deputy authority, against God’s regulation, and against God’s economy. In the biblical sense, sin is rebellion (1 John 3:4 and note 1 John 3:4²). Thus, leprosy signifies sin. The first case of sin in the Bible was Satan’s rebellion against God (Ezek. 28:13-18; Isa. 14:12-15). Hence, sin as rebellion was invented, inaugurated, by the rebellious archangel Lucifer. Eventually, this sin, this leprosy, entered into mankind through Adam (Rom. 5:12, 19; 7:20), and having entered into man, it issues from within man as many kinds of sins, i.e., many manifestations of rebellion. Hence, a leper represents the fallen descendants of Adam, all of whom are lepers. See note Matt. 8:2^1b.

As signs of leprosy, a swelling, eruption, or a bright spot on the skin of one’s flesh signifies man’s outward expressions in unruliness, in friction with others, and in pride and self-exaltation.

The leper’s open confession of his leprosy to others (vv. 45-46) signifies that a sinner makes an open confession of his sin to others. Tearing one’s clothes is a sign of admitting one’s moral bankruptcy. Letting loose the hair signifies that one is utterly lacking in subjection to authority, being unruly and reckless. Covering the upper lip indicates that whatever issues out of a leper (a sinner) is filthy and contagious and that he should not be contacted. Crying “Unclean, unclean!” indicates self-condemnation without ceasing. Dwelling alone outside the camp (v. 46) signifies that, until he clears up his sinfulness, the one who has sinned should stay outside the church and be isolated from the fellowship among God’s people (1 Cor. 5:13).

The losing of the hair on the head or of the hair on the forehead and the temples (v. 41) (baldness) signifies the losing of subjection to authority, yet without being in rebellion before men, i.e., without the sign of leprosy (vv. 42-44).

White bright spots signify the disease of self-display (cf. Matt. 6:1-6). The dull whiteness of the bright spots (v. 39) signifies that one has humbled himself and has been recovered from the disease of self-display.

The growing of black hair in the scale signifies that the spiritual strength for one to live a normal Christian life is increasing at the point of one’s weakness.

Lit., his.

Clothes signify our conduct (Isa. 64:6). Washing one’s clothes signifies washing away the stains of weak points in conduct, offenses, defects, words of rebellion, and improper activities, first by the blood of Christ and then by the Spirit (Rev. 7:14; 1 Cor. 6:11).

Shaving the beard but not the hair signifies dealing with being self-dignified and seeking exaltation from others, but keeping the subjection to authority (cf. 1 Cor. 11:10, 15).

The infection not being deeper than the skin signifies that the person does not cover his sin, and there being no black hair in it signifies that he does not have the strength to resist it.

Thin yellowish hair signifies the deteriorating of the strength to live a normal Christian life because of one’s disobedience to God’s word. See note Lev. 13:3^1a.

Leprosy in a garment (vv. 47-59) signifies the filthiness in one’s outward living, conduct, contact with people, etc.

Since wool is soft, woolen garments signify one’s conduct, contact with people, etc., in meekness. Linen is pure, plain, and simple; thus, linen garments signify one’s conduct, contact with people, etc., in plainness. Clothing made from skins (v. 48) is warm; hence, garments made of skins signify one’s conduct, contact with people, etc., in warmness. As signified by these three kinds of garments, our conduct should be in meekness, in plainness, and in warmness, with no sign of leprosy — the expression of sin and rebellion.

The warp in the weave of a garment goes from top to bottom, and the woof, from left to right. Thus, the warp signifies our outward conduct toward God, our relationship with God, and the woof signifies our outward conduct toward others. Our conduct in our daily walk is an interweaving that involves both God and man. We need to be proper with both God and man; i.e., in our garments, our conduct, there should be no leprosy, rebellion, either in the warp or in the woof, either toward God or toward man.

The greenish or reddish infection in the garment signifies the abnormal and strange change in one’s living and conduct. The infection spreading in the garment, becoming a malignant leprosy (v. 51) of the kind that spreads by eating the flesh, signifies sin that is spreading within a person by devouring the person, becoming worse and worse in its malignancy.

Burning the garment in fire signifies eliminating the sinful and filthy living and conduct by dealing with it strongly by the cross of Christ (Gal. 5:19-24).

Washing the garment in which the infection has not spread signifies dealing with the suspected weakness in one’s living and conduct by the washing Spirit of God, who is likened to water for washing (1 Cor. 6:11; Titus 3:5).

A leprous decay is very serious; it signifies the corroding sin that is becoming worse and deeper, having no change in appearance through repentance and confession. This is the kind of sin that can take over a person, devouring and swallowing him up.

The tearing out of the faded infected part of a garment signifies the eliminating, through a thorough dealing, of the suspected weakness in one’s living and conduct. The reappearing of the infection in the garment (v. 57) signifies that one’s weakness, after being dealt with and eliminated, has come out again.

The washing of the garment a second time after the infection has departed through washing signifies that one’s weakness, having been dealt with, should be dealt with further, a second time.