“‘If
a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her period; all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness shall be as in the days of her period: she is unclean.
Leviticus 15:25
Leviticus 15 [24.] “‘If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lies shall be unclean.
Leviticus 15 [25.] “‘If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her period; all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness shall be as in the days of her period: she is unclean. Every bed whereon she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her period: and everything whereon she sits shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her period. Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 15 [28.] “‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting. The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Yahweh for the uncleanness of her discharge.
Meaning:
Leviticus 15 deals with bodily discharges that made a man or woman ritually unclean. Verse 25 covers a painful situation: a woman whose bleeding continues for many days outside her normal period, or goes on beyond it. For as long as the discharge lasted she was considered unclean, just as during her monthly period. This law is the key background to one of the most tender healings in the Gospels, the woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years (Mark 5:25-29).
- What the Law Required
A normal period made a woman unclean for seven days. An abnormal discharge kept her unclean for the whole time it lasted, which might be months or years. Every bed she lay on and every seat she sat on became unclean, and anyone who touched those things had to wash his clothes, bathe, and remain unclean until the evening. When the bleeding stopped she counted seven days, and on the eighth day brought two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, who made atonement “for the uncleanness of her discharge.”
It is important to see that this was ritual uncleanness, not moral guilt. The woman had not sinned by being ill. The chapter closes by explaining that these laws protected God’s dwelling among his people, so that Israel would not defile his tabernacle. They taught that the holy God must be approached on his terms, and that bodily life in a fallen world is marked by weakness and decay.
- The Human Cost
For a woman with a chronic condition, this law meant long-term exclusion. She could not enter the temple courts to worship. Her home life and marriage were deeply affected, as the verse before shows. Neighbours would be wary of contact with her or her furniture. Mark adds that the woman in the Gospel had “suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had” (Mark 5:26). Her illness had taken her health, her money, her community and her place in worship.
- Jesus Reverses the Flow
Under the Law, touching an unclean person passed on uncleanness. Yet when this woman touched Jesus’ clothes, the flow went the other way: “Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up” (Mark 5:29). Jesus did not become unclean; she became clean. The same pattern appears when Jesus touched a leper: “Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him” (Mark 1:41).
Jesus then called her forward, not to shame her but to restore her publicly, calling her “Daughter” and sending her away in peace (Mark 5:34). The one whom the Law had to keep at a distance was welcomed into the family of God.
The Significance of Leviticus 15:25
- Christ Is Our Cleansing
The offerings of Leviticus 15 pointed forward to a greater cleansing. Hebrews asks, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14). No shame, illness or past can keep us from God when we come through Jesus.
- Welcoming Those Others Avoid
This law reminds the church how isolating illness and shame can be, especially for women whose suffering is hidden or considered embarrassing. In Christ “there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Believers today should treat the chronically ill with dignity, offer practical help and fellowship, and never add shame to suffering.
Cross-References:
Mark 5:25-27: "A certain woman, who had an issue of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes." Leviticus 15:25 explains why this woman approached Jesus secretly.
Mark 1:41: "Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”" Jesus’ touch cleanses rather than being defiled.
Hebrews 4:15-16: "For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need." Through Jesus every believer may draw near to God with confidence.
Psalm 34:18: "Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit." God draws near to those whom suffering has crushed.
Conclusion: Leviticus 15:25 describes a woman cut off by an illness she could not control. The Law rightly taught God’s holiness, but it could not heal her. Jesus could. When a woman like this touched him, his purity overcame her uncleanness, and he called her “Daughter.” The same Saviour welcomes everyone who comes to him in weakness, cleansing what the Law could only expose.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible