Laws of Clean and Unclean

Question: Do the laws of clean and unclean mentioned in Lev. 15, for example, apply today? If so, how about Lev. 15:19? Does this mean the woman must be removed outside the city during her menstrual cycle? Also, how are items she touches cleansed?

Answer: There is no evidence these laws of clean and unclean have been rescinded. In the N.T. the term "unclean" (Gr. akathartos) is used 30 times, and the term "uncleanness" (Gr. akatharsia) is used 10 times. Akathartos is used in II Cor. 6:17: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, saith Yahweh, and touch not the unclean thing;..." This is a quote of Isaiah 52:11 where the Hebrew word "tame" is translated "unclean" (Used 103 times in the Law). Therefore, "tame" and "akathartos" are equivalent terms, and akathartos/sia (same root word) refers to the unclean as spelled out in the Law. Those laws regulating clean and unclean still hold.

The subject is listed along with other obvious sins such as fornication, adultery, etc. See Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3, etc. Paul said, "For Yahweh has not called us to uncleanness (akatharsia), but to holiness."

As to Lev. 15:19, the matter of separation during the menstrual period is clarified in v. 26: "...the BED of her separation..." This does not say the house, city, or camp, but bed of her separation (See Lev. 18:19; Ezk. 18:6). The reference in Num. 5:1-3 clearly holds only when Yahweh actually dwells among the people (v. 3: "...camp where I dwell...").

Also [v.19], the term "whosoever" should be translated "whatsoever", so anything touching her is unclean until evening. -ICY