What Is a “Kipaku” According to the Bible?

A “kipaku” is a small skin lesion or rash that appears on the skin of a human or animal. This rash can be caused by environmental changes, allergies, or various diseases.

In the Bible, this term appears frequently, especially in connection with the disease known as leprosy. Before leprosy fully manifests on the body, it begins as a small bright spot on the skin — this initial mark is what the Bible refers to as a “kipaku.” At this early stage, it is difficult to distinguish whether the lesion is from leprosy or a more common skin condition. To prevent further infection and protect the community, the person affected was quarantined for seven days.

After this period, a priest would examine the lesion again. If the lesion had spread and sunk deeper into the skin, it was confirmed as leprosy, and the person would be declared ceremonially unclean and isolated permanently unless cleansed.

Leviticus 13:1-6 (ESV) describes this examination process:

1 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
2 “When a person has a swelling or a rash or bright spot on the skin that may be a sign of leprosy, they shall be brought to Aaron the priest or one of his sons,
3 and the priest shall examine the affected area. If the hair in the affected area has turned white and the lesion appears deeper than the skin, it is leprosy, and the priest shall pronounce the person unclean.
4 But if the bright spot is white on the skin and does not appear to penetrate deeper than the skin and the hair has not turned white, the priest shall isolate the person for seven days.
5 On the seventh day, the priest shall reexamine the lesion; if it has not spread, the person shall be isolated for another seven days.
6 After this second examination, if the lesion has faded and not spread, the priest shall pronounce the person clean; they shall wash their clothes and be clean.”

The Spiritual Meaning Behind Leprosy’s “Kipaku”

In the Old Testament, leprosy symbolized a divine judgment or punishment from God. God often sends warnings before executing His judgment — the “kipaku,” a small mark or sign, serves as this initial warning. However, if no repentance follows within the given time (the seven days), the disease spreads, symbolizing the spread of sin and separation from God.

Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry, called people to repentance, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17 ESV). He warned that before the final judgment, there would be signs and tribulations — what He called “the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8 ESV). These include natural disasters, wars, plagues, and rumors of wars — the spiritual equivalent of the “kipaku” in our souls, early signs of the deeper spiritual decay and judgment to come.

God has granted humanity a period of grace — symbolized by these “seven days” or “seven times” — allowing people to repent before final judgment falls. This grace period corresponds to the church age, roughly 2,000 years, represented by the seven churches described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. We are currently in the final church era, Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22 ESV), which is marked by spiritual lukewarmness and warning.

Thus, these early “kipaku” signs are God’s merciful warnings. After the grace period ends, judgment will come decisively. Soon, the rapture will remove God’s people from the earth, and thereafter, the final wrath of God described in Revelation 16 will be poured out on the world.

Ask yourself: if you have experienced this spiritual “kipaku” — a warning sign of sin or spiritual disease — have you sought the cure? The only true remedy is Jesus Christ. Do not wait for the rapture or judgment to pass you by. Turn to Him now for cleansing and salvation.

In the days of the prophet Elisha, many lepers lived in Israel, but only Naaman, a foreigner, was healed because he obeyed God’s instructions and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5; Luke 4:27 ESV). This teaches us the importance of obedience and faith in God’s provision for healing.

Today, many shy away from reading the Book of Revelation with its clear warnings to the churches and the signs of the times. Yet understanding these messages helps us avoid the spiritual leprosy that God is warning about today. Instead, many prefer only to hear messages about health and prosperity, which is dangerous because it may leave them unprepared for God’s judgment or the coming rapture.

May the Lord help us love His Word and respond to His call to repentance.

Maranatha!