1    2   The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and said, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When any man has a discharge from his body, the discharge is ritually unclean. 3   This is the law concerning ^note the uncleanness due to his discharge whether it continues or has been stopped; in either case he is unclean.

4   Every bed on which the man with a discharge lies down shall be ritually unclean, and everything on which he sits shall be unclean. 5   Any man who touches the bed shall wash his clothes, bathe in water and remain unclean till evening. 6   Whoever sits on anything on which the man with a discharge has sat shall wash his clothes, bathe in water and remain unclean till evening. 7   Whoever touches the body of the man with a discharge shall wash his clothes, bathe in water and remain unclean till evening. 8   If the man spits on one who is ritually clean, the latter shall wash his clothes, bathe in water and remain unclean till evening. 9    10   Everything on which the man sits when riding shall be unclean. Whoever touches anything that has been under him shall be unclean till evening, and whoever handles such things shall wash his clothes, bathe in water and remain unclean till evening. 11   Anyone whom the man with a discharge touches without having rinsed his hands in water shall wash his clothes, bathe in water and remain unclean till evening. 12   Any earthenware bowl touched by the man shall be smashed, and every wooden bowl shall be rinsed with water.

13   When the man is cleansed from his discharge, he shall reckon seven days to his cleansing, wash his clothes, bathe his body in fresh water and be ritually clean. 14   On the eighth day he shall obtain two turtle-doves or two young pigeons and, coming before the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of the Presence, shall give them to the priest. 15   The priest shall deal with one as a sin-offering and the other as a whole-offering, and shall make for him before the Lord the expiation required by the discharge.

16   When a man has emitted semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean till evening. 17   Every piece of clothing or skin on which there is any semen shall be washed and remain unclean till

Laws of purification and atonement evening. 18   This applies also to the woman with whom a man has had intercourse; they shall both bathe themselves in water and remain unclean till evening.

19   When a woman has a discharge of blood, her impurity shall last for seven days; anyone who touches her shall be unclean till evening. 20   Everything on which she lies or sits during her impurity shall be unclean. 21   Anyone who touches her bed shall wash his clothes, bathe in water and remain unclean till evening. 22   Whoever touches anything on which she sits shall wash his clothes, bathe in water and remain unclean till evening. 23   If he is on the bed or seat where she is sitting, by touching it he shall become unclean till evening. 24   If a man goes so far as to have intercourse with her and any of her discharge gets on to him, then he shall be unclean for seven days, and every bed on which he lies down shall be unclean.

25   When a woman has a prolonged discharge of blood not at the time of her menstruation, or when her discharge continues beyond the period of menstruation, her impurity shall last all the time of her discharge; she shall be unclean as during the period of her menstruation. 26   Any bed on which she lies during the time of her discharge shall be like that which she used during menstruation, and everything on which she sits shall be unclean as in her menstrual uncleanness. 27   Every person who touches them shall be unclean; he shall wash his clothes, bathe in water and remain unclean till evening. 28   If she is cleansed from her discharge, she shall reckon seven days and after that she shall be ritually clean. 29   On the eighth day she shall obtain two turtle-doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of the Presence. 30   The priest shall deal with one as a sin-offering and with the other as a whole-offering, and make for her before the Lord the expiation required by her unclean discharge.

31   In this way you shall warn the Israelites against uncleanness, in order that they may not bring uncleanness upon the Tabernacle where I dwell among them, and so die.

32   This is the law for the man who has a discharge, or who has an emission of semen and is thereby unclean, 33   and for the woman who is suffering her menstruation—for everyone, male or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who has intercourse with a woman who is unclean.

Previous section

Next section