Every bed on which he sleepeth, shall be unclean, and every place on which he sitteth.
כָּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכַּ֥ב עָלָ֛יו הַזָּ֖ב יִטְמָ֑א וְכָֽל־הַכְּלִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־יֵשֵׁ֥ב עָלָ֖יו יִטְמָֽא׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
What constitutes impurity? It includes sin, iniquity, greed, and falsehood. The purifications described in the Old Testament serve as symbolic representations of genuine cleansing. Furthermore, ‘he that has a flow is unclean’ pertains to the inner soul; the act of pouring out seed refers to one who expels seed.
Furthermore, it is stated that any vessel touched by “he who pours out seed” becomes utterly loathsome and repugnant, even if one cleanses their hands with water; it remains tainted. If anyone lays a hand on his body, they too incur the guilt of impurity; similarly, those who are clean but draw near to him also become guilty of uncleanness. Consequently, he withdrew from the community along with the lepers, isolating himself and having no interaction with them, as even his touch could defile those who encountered him.
The law instructed that we should maintain our distance from one who pours out seed, emphasizing the importance of avoiding those inclined towards wickedness and bravely rejecting individuals that God Himself would despise due to their continual impurity; for it is certainly harmful to associate with evil individuals. It is indeed written, “He that toucheth the pitch shall be defiled” (Sir. 13:1). The one who pours out seed contaminates everything he comes into contact with—his bed, his body, bowls, water, and wooden vessels. This mysterious act illustrates that anyone who is spiritually aligned with him will share in his intrinsic uncleanness. For it is also written, “Keep thyself pure, and be not partaker of another man's sin” (1 Tim. 5:22).
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS