Why Are Periods Unclean?

Why Are Periods Unclean?

In Leviticus 15, it says, "When a woman has a discharge, if her discharge in her body is blood, she shall continue in her menstrual impurity for seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening" (Leviticus 15:19 NASB). 

Now before we get into it, there is something we must note. This being, this law no longer applies as this is an old covenant law. Read on this here. So a woman can still do their normal schedule while being on her time of the month.

It should also be noted that being unclean isn't sinful, but it would prohibit going into the synagogue. Jesus for example, one who is sinless, touched a leper and made him clean(Matthew 8:3). Lepers were seen as unclean(Leviticus 13), but this trait clearly wasn't sinful as if being unclean was sinful, Jesus wouldn't have touched the leper.

It should also be noted, that a similar uncleanliness is true with men. "When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean. 3 This, moreover, shall be his uncleanness in his discharge: it is his uncleanness whether his body allows its discharge to flow or whether his body obstructs its discharge" (Leviticus 15:2-3 NASB).

Why is it Unclean?

The Bible is not specific over the reason on why it is so, but the best answer I have seen is that as periods are literally "unclean". As in, the blood and other substance that come out literally unclean things. 

It is also possible God made women unclean during their cycle simply so they didn't have to partake in the ceremonies, instead, being able to relax and make it through the event. One must remember that back then, they didn't have very good methods to deal with it as we do now, so this could be possible.

Many scholars have also noted that it is likely that if the mother has an infant who needs to be fed, he/she were likely exempted from becoming unclean through necessity. 

Work Cited:

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.