Understanding Purity and Male Discharge in Leviticus 15

Leviticus 15

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When any man has a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.

3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.

4 Every bed, where on he lies that has the issue, is unclean: and every thing, where on he sits, shall be unclean.

5 And whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

6 And he that sits on any thing where on he sat that has the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

7 And he that touches the flesh of him that has the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

8 And if he that has the issue spit on him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

9 And what saddle soever he rides on that has the issue shall be unclean.

10 And whoever touches any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that bears any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

11 And whomsoever he touches that has the issue, and has not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

12 And the vessel of earth, that he touches which has the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

13 And when he that has an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them to the priest:

15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.

16 And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.

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

18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.

19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the even.

20 And every thing that she lies on in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sits on shall be unclean.

21 And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

22 And whoever touches any thing that she sat on 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 where on she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the even.

24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed where on he lies 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 where on she lies all the days of her issue shall be to her as the bed of her separation: and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.

27 And whoever touches those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.

29 And on the eighth day she shall take to her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

30 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.

31 Thus shall you separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.

32 This is the law of him that has an issue, and of him whose seed goes from him, and is defiled therewith;

33 And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that has an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lies with her that is unclean.

Leviticus 15 provides instruction regarding bodily discharges, emphasizing that physical and spiritual cleanliness are inseparable requirements for those who dwell in the presence of a holy GodCH 101.3+1. The law regarding male discharges specifically addresses the need for purification from issues that render a person ceremonially and physically unclean, reflecting a broader divine principle that nothing which defiles can enter into connection with the Holy OneCH 103.4+1.

The Principle of Cleanliness

God is particularly concerned that His people cherish habits of cleanliness in their homes and persons today, just as He was with the children of IsraelCH 101.3+1.

• Physical and Mental Health: Scrupulous cleanliness is essential to both physical and mental health because impurities are constantly thrown off through the skinCG 108.2.

• Clogged Pores: If the skin is not kept clean by frequent bathing, its millions of pores become clogged, and impurities that should pass off become an additional burden to other organsCG 108.2+1.

• Disease Prevention: Many suffer from fevers and diseases because they neglect personal cleanliness; when the body cannot escape its own waste, it absorbs that waste back into the bloodCH 61.2.

The Spiritual Lesson of Discharges

The regulations regarding uncleanness were not merely ceremonial or arbitrary; they were based on sanitary principles and designed to teach deeper spiritual truthsMR852 3.1+1.

• Condition of the Heart: While training in habits of physical cleanliness, parents and teachers should instruct youth that God desires them to be clean in heart as well as in bodyCG 496.2+1.

• Atonement and Purification: In the Mosaic law, sacred functions and sacrifices were required to purify the congregation from defilement and to denote the vicarious nature of atonement Leviticus 1:4+1BHOTV7 116.1.

• Separation from the Profane: The priesthood was specifically charged to put a difference between the holy and the unholy, and between the unclean and the clean Leviticus 10:10 Eze 22:26.

Cooperating with God for Restoration

When dealing with infirmities and uncleanness, humans are called to act as rational, accountable beings who cooperate with God in the work of restorationSpM 7.1.

• Hygienic Measures: It is no denial of faith to use hygienic measures and all possible advantages in the recovery of health, as God has given special light concerning these principlesSpM 7.1+1.

• Internal and External Purity: Those who pass through the gates of the City of God must be clothed with both inward and outward purity, as the grace of God must sweep through the chambers of the mind to purify every element of natureCG 496.2+1.

• The Power of the Word: Just as the Israelites were to wash their clothes and be sanctified to meet God, we must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God Exodus 19:10-14+1.

Ultimately, these laws remind us that the blood of Christ is the only true remedy that can cleanse from all uncleanness and restore the soul to infinite purityAA 193.1+1. Any violation of these principles, if done willfully, is an offense against the moral law, which requires spiritual obedience and a heart of love toward the CreatorARSH October 10, 1865, page 145.12.

Leviticus 15

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

2 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When any man has a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.

3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.

4 Every bed, where on he lies that has the issue, is unclean: and every thing, where on he sits, shall be unclean.

5 And whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

6 And he that sits on any thing where on he sat that has the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

7 And he that touches the flesh of him that has the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

8 And if he that has the issue spit on him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

9 And what saddle soever he rides on that has the issue shall be unclean.

10 And whoever touches any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that bears any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

11 And whomsoever he touches that has the issue, and has not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

12 And the vessel of earth, that he touches which has the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

13 And when he that has an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them to the priest:

15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.

16 And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.

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

18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.

19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the even.

20 And every thing that she lies on in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sits on shall be unclean.

21 And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

22 And whoever touches any thing that she sat on 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 where on she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the even.

24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed where on he lies 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 where on she lies all the days of her issue shall be to her as the bed of her separation: and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.

27 And whoever touches those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.

29 And on the eighth day she shall take to her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

30 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.

31 Thus shall you separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.

32 This is the law of him that has an issue, and of him whose seed goes from him, and is defiled therewith;

33 And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that has an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lies with her that is unclean.

Yes, the term discharge in Leviticus 15 refers specifically to semen when discussing the "seed of copulation" or involuntary emissions Leviticus 15:16NWAD POLLUTION.4+1. The scriptures provide clear instructions for purification when a man's seed goes out from him, requiring him to wash his entire body in water and remain ceremonially unclean until evening Leviticus 15:16KJV — Leviticus 15:16.

The Nature of the Discharge

In the biblical context, several types of male issues are addressed as forms of uncleanness.

• Semen and Copulation: The "seed of copulation" refers to the animal seed by which the species is propagated Leviticus 15:16NWAD SPERM.2+1. Any garment or skin that comes into contact with this substance must be washed with water and is considered unclean until evening Leviticus 15:17KJV — Leviticus 15:16.

• Involuntary Emissions: In a medical and legal sense, this also includes the involuntary emission of semen, often occurring during sleepNWAD POLLUTION.4+1.

• Running Issues: The law also distinguishes between a "seed of copulation" and a "running issue," which refers to a morbid discharge from the flesh that renders a man continually unclean Leviticus 15:2-3KJV — Leviticus 15:3.

Health and Vitality

The physiological impact of losing this substance is treated with great seriousness, as it is considered a concentrated life force.

• Drain on the System: Semen is a highly refined material, and its loss—especially through repeated or unnatural means—is viewed as a significant drain on the body's vitalitySOAP 82.1+1.

• Nutritional Depletion: Modern observations note that a single ejaculation can deplete significant amounts of zinc, an element essential for brain function and overall healthTSB 269.6.

• Constitutional Impact: Chronic exhaustion of this life-force through sexual abuses or "self-abuse" can lead to a breakdown in physical, mental, and spiritual strengthSOAP 93.2.

Spiritual and Moral Significance

Beyond the physical requirements, these laws were designed to impress upon the mind the necessity of purity in every aspect of life.

• Ceremonial vs. Moral: While these regulations were part of the ceremonial law of types and uncleanness, they point toward the moral requirement of the seventh commandment, which prohibits all degrees of impuritySLH 122.2+2.

• Sanctification of the Body: God requires His people to cleanse themselves from all "filthiness of the flesh and spirit," recognizing that physical uncleanness and gross passions pervert the judgment and pervert the soul 2 Corinthians 7:1TSDF 189.1+1.

• A Lesson in Holiness: The rigorous standards for purification taught the Israelites the infinite holiness of God and the fact that nothing defiled by sin or its consequences can enter His presence without being cleansed Revelation 21:27SBBS 280.3+1.