⁴⁷When there is mildew^e on clothing, whether wool or linen, ⁴⁸or on any piece of linen or wool cloth or on leather or anything made of leather, ⁴⁹if it is greenish or reddish, it is a spreading mildew and must be shown to the priest. ⁵⁰The priest shall examine it and put the object away for seven days. ⁵¹He shall examine it again on the seventh day, and if the mildew has spread, the object is unclean. ⁵²The priest shall burn it, because it is a spreading mildew which must be destroyed by fire.

⁵³But if, when he examines it, the priest finds that the mildew has not spread on the object, ⁵⁴he shall order it to be washed and put away for another seven days. ⁵⁵Then he shall examine it, and if the mildew has not changed colour, even though it has not spread, it is still unclean; you must burn the object, whether the rot is on the front or the back. ⁵⁶But if, when the priest examines it again, the mildew has faded, he shall tear it out of the clothing or leather. ⁵⁷Then, if the mildew reappears, it is spreading again, and the owner shall burn the object. ⁵⁸If he washes the object and the spot disappears, he shall wash it again, and it will be ritually clean.

⁵⁹This, then, is the law about mildew on clothing, whether it is wool or linen, or on linen or wool cloth or on anything made of leather; this is how the decision is made as to whether it is ritually clean or unclean.

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Footnotes

emildew: The Hebrew word for “dreaded skin disease” and “mildew” is the same.