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. 8:21b.
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.