Jesus And The Hemorrhaging Woman In Mark 5:24–34: Insights From Purity Laws From The Dead Sea Scrolls

Abstract

Numerous studies examine the story of Jesus and the hemorrhaging woman in Mark 5:25-34 in light of purity laws concerning the woman with an abnormal bleeding described in Lev 15: 25-30. This chapter addresses the claim that transmission of ritual impurity is a core issue in the passage by examining the detailed and complex purity laws from the Second Temple period, with particular focus on the purity prescriptions from the Dead Sea Scrolls. It argues that according to the system of purity laws in the Scrolls, the hemorrhaging woman in the Markan story would not have transmitted impurity. The chapter describes the Markan narrative of the healing of the hemorrhaging woman and the purity laws on genital discharges in Leviticus 15. Subsequently, it examines the laws concerning transmission of impurity in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Finally, it considers the implications of the Qumranic halakhah for understanding Mark's story. Keywords: Dead Sea Scrolls; genital discharges; hemorrhaging woman; Jesus; Mark 5:25-34; purity laws; Qumranic halakhah; ritual impurity