The Niddah Laws--Still in Effect Today?
The Question of Niddah
One question that seems to pop-up a lot from members of our Faith Community has to do with the Laws related to Niddah. Are the laws of Niddah still valid for today’s Torah Observant Disciples of Yeshua Messiah?
And in case you aren’t familiar with this Hebrew term, “Niddah” (“separated”) has to do with ordinances or statutes in Torah that governed Hebrew behavior in the midst of a woman’s menstrual periods.
Consequently, many (especially women) who transition into our Faith Community inevitably come across this issue.
So the purpose of this installment of the Messianic Torah Observer is to:
(1) Biblically define what it means to be Niddah.
(2) Distinguish between what is biblical and what is Rabbinic in regards to Niddah.
And (3), clarify whether or not the laws (the mitzvoth) pertaining to Niddah remains in effect for Netzari/Messianics/Hebrew Rooters today.
Father’s Torah
As true Torah Observant Disciples of Yeshua Messiah, we must always remain vigilant and diligent in keeping our Father’s commandments or instructions. We refer to those instructions and commandments as Torah. These are contained in the first 5-books of the Old Testament. And these make-up the basis by which we live and walk out our Faith.
Types of Torah Instructions
Despite our belief in the whole of content and context of Scripture, it is vitally important that every Netzarim/Messianic/Hebrew Rooter recognize the classes of commandments and instructions contained therein.
Father Himself differentiated the elements of His Torah into specific classes (cf. Nehemiah 9:14):
(1) Commandments—Mitzvah; the root being Tsavah, which means to lay a charge upon; to command; to give an order; to appoint. (These tend to include universal instructions related to righteousness, Godly behavior such as seen in the 10-Commandments.)
(2) Statutes or Ordinances—Choq or Chuqqah; decrees; requirements; boundaries that are set by the Creator. Even the customs and manners that make up our Faith (e.g., Niddah). (These tend to include instructions surrounding Tabernacle/Temple worship.)
(3) Judgments—Mishpat; a decision in Law; a legal right or provision; what to do when something happens. (These are provisions that are situational and may or may not apply to us today. It just depends on the situation. Such as cases of negligence.)
(4) Laws—Torah, which tends to be inclusive of all the above.
Just Because It’s In Torah Doesn’t Mean It is Still Applicable
So when it comes to certain provisions in Torah such as Niddah, we must ascertain what the provision actually means and when and how it is applicable. Unfortunately, Niddah is one of those provisions that are contradictory as it relates to its applicability and validity to our Faith Community today.
What I mean is that there are certain aspects of the statute or ordinance of Niddah that are applicable today, as well as other aspects that do not apply today. Don’t worry. I’ll elaborate in just a moment.
Considerations When Addressing the Issue of Niddah
There are a few things we must be cognizant of when we’re addressing the issue of Niddah.
The first thing is determining exactly what Niddah is biblically about (i.e., how Scripture defines the ordinance).
Secondly, we need to determine, biblically, whether the whole ordinance or just aspects of the ordinance apply to us today. In particular, we want to determine the essential balance of Ruach (I.e., Spirit) and Truth.
Lastly, we then need to simply walk out the Word with joy, peace, reverence and steadfastness; in Spirit and in Truth.
Determining Current Day Applicability of Niddah
Despite Niddah being one of those hybrid Torah ordinances (ie., aspects of the ordinance still apply while other aspect don’t apply), biblically determining the applicability of these ordinances is quite easy. It simply requires we look at this thing from a biblically holistic standpoint. That is, we are compelled to consider the whole of Scripture within the scope of history, culture, and internal textual context. As well as, we must be of the mind to accept and obey the Truth of Yah’s Word when it is made known to us.
Niddah and The Cepher of Leviticus
Let’s first define the ordinances/statutes related to Niddah. These ordinances or statutes are found in the Cepher (i.e., Book) of Leviticus or Vayikra. And take note that whenever we are studying Leviticus, we must keep in mind that this cepher or book is primarily dealing with the rites associated with Tabernacle and Temple Worship.
In particular, we’re talking about instructions governing:
- Sacrifices and offerings;
- How the Levitical Priests were to conduct worship;
- Purity regulations for men and women;
- Regulations for the Feasts and seasons of YHVH.
Purity and Tabernacle Worship
These all relate in some way or another to Tabernacle and Temple worship. Although, mind you, these and other elements contained in the Book of Leviticus are NOT solely restricted to Tabernacle and Temple worship.
For example, in we find in Leviticus 23, Father provides us His appointed Feasts and Seasons. Within this chapter, Father gives us specifics regarding the keeping of the Feasts as it relates to Tabernacle worship (such as the required sacrifices and offerings for each occasion). Also contained within this chapter are specific instructions for us to do certain things for each occasion (such as do not servile work and convene a holy convocation) that are not necessarily tied to Tabernacle worship.
So we must be able to place each instruction into its proper biblical context.
Niddah and Worship at the Tabernacle/Temple
And as it relates to the ordinances surrounding Niddah, we’re primarily (and I stress primarily) looking at how a woman’s monthly cycle affects her (and in some cases, her husband’s) ability to worship at the Tabernacle or Temple.
The Torah passages that define and address Niddah are contained in Leviticus (Vayikra) chapters 15 and 20.
Leviticus 15 Overview
Leviticus 15 addresses regulations concerning bodily discharges which places affected man or woman into the ritually “impure” or “unclean” (Heb is tame’) category as it relates to his or her eligibility to worship at the Tabernacle or Temple. The first 18-verses of the chapter address the statutes related specifically to bodily discharges of men.
Then in verses 19-33, Father instructs that both the affected woman and anyone else who comes in physical contact with her during the time of her menstrual period be deemed as unclean for specified periods of time. In particular, the woman is in a state of ritual impurity from the start of her period until it ends. And when that period ends, she remains in a state of impurity for 7-days thereafter. Then, she is to wash her clothes and bathe (i.e., mikvahed). Afterward she was required to present 2-turtle doves or 2-pigeons to a Levitical Priest at the door of the Tabernacle. One of the birds would serve as a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. And upon the completion of these things, the woman would no longer be Niddah. Instead, the woman would be deemed ritually “pure” or “clean (taher).”
(This was only a rough overview of the chapter. For specifics, please study the chapter for yourself.)
Niddah From the Perspective of Ritual Purity
Now, bear in mind that we have just looked at Niddah from the biblical perspective of the woman (and anyone who comes in physical contact with her at the time) being in a state of ritual impurity or uncleanness. This is very important to understand. For understanding the concept of taher and tame (purity/cleanness versus impurity/uncleanness) helps us recognize which Torah statutes and ordinances are still in effect today.
Niddah: A Case For Context and History
How so? Because at the time these ordinances or statutes were given, the Tabernacle, soon to be Temple was in existence and in operation. And if you were deemed unclean/impure, you were not permitted to worship at the Tabernacle or Temple. As it relates to us today, the Temple no longer exists nor is it in operation. Thus, those statutes or ordinances defining the cleanliness or purity of a person of Faith for purposes of Tabernacle or Temple worship no longer applies to us.
So then, does this mean that all of the biblical statutes or ordinances surrounding Niddah do not apply to Messianics today? Well, from a ritual purity standpoint, the ordinances regarding Niddah do not apply to us today. Why? Because our purity is now determined by the shed blood of our Master Yahoshua Messiah. We are deemed pure in the sight of our Creator because of the work and agency of Yeshua our Master.
Cleansed From Our Impurities
The Apostle Yochanan wrote in his first general epistle:
“If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Yeshua Messiah His Son cleanseth us from all sin…Therefore, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1:7; KJV).
The Applicable Side to the Niddah Question
However, we are not in the least done with the subject of Niddah. Because there is at least one aspect of Niddah, that still applies to us today. And we’ll see here very quickly, what that applicable aspect is.
Let’s go back briefly to the Cepher of Leviticus, chapter 20. And we will see in this chapter Father addresses certain behaviors that violate the Holiness Laws of Torah.
(Now keep this in mind. When we’re talking about being in a state of Holiness, we’re talking about being set-apart unto Yehovah for His special purposes; to be used of Yah; to be loved by Yah as His special possession.)
And yes, there are several things covered in this chapter that disqualified the Hebrew from being holy unto YHVH.
Niddah and Holiness
One of those disqualifying things has to do with Hebrew couples engaging in sexual intercourse during the time of a woman’s menstrual period.
We find in verse 18 the following:
“If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness (i.e., he engages in sexual intercourse with her), he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people (i.e., tossed out of the community)” (ESV).
What we see in this single verse is a prohibition from married couples engaging in sexual relations during the time of the wife’s menstrual period. Although such an instruction touches on ritualistic purity concerns, the true application of this ordinance or statute is an abstinence from intimacy during the menstrual period.
Obvious Concern For Health
The concern here is the exposure of both the husband and woman to blood.
One aspect that must be factored into our understanding of this ordinance has to do with sanitation and health concerns for the congregation. And this one of many instructions concerned with keeping the congregation of Israel in pristine health. For Yah placed within the woman this biological process to accomplish a purpose. And certain activities such as intimacy are not to interfere with this process.
Rabbinic Influences Related to Niddah
Now, the one thing that we must be cognizant of when it comes to our obedience to certain biblical ordinances is the ever-present influence of Rabbinic laws and traditions that surround those ordinances. For indeed, Rabbinic laws and traditions have completely placed a hedge around the biblical ordinances of Niddah. This means, of course, that those of us who do not have a solid contextual, Yeshua-focused understanding of the various ordinances of Torah, are easy prey for such Rabbinic laws.
Indeed, mainstream Judaism added extra-biblical commandments to the Niddah ordinances. Thus, Rabbinic traditions and laws in effect violate Deuteronomy 4:2:
“You shall not add to the Word that I command you…”
Yes indeed, Rabbinic Judaism has not disappointed in their incessant tinkering of Yah’s Torah. For she has put into effect a whole set of detailed laws and teachings surrounding the ordinances of Niddah. And their laws and traditions in many places supersede or override the simple instructions of Father’s Torah.
For instance, Rabbinic Judaism has added detailed, robust instructions on the ritual bathing (mikveh) that Niddah women must undergo. As well as their laws stipulate the requirement for spouses to take up residence in separate quarters during the time of the woman’s menstrual period.
I won’t magnify the teachings of the Rabbis here by going anymore into detail.
So What Now?
Suffice to say brethren: the ritualistic aspects of the Niddah ordinances no longer apply to today’s Messianics. Such that if anyone comes into physical contact with a Netzari woman during her menstrual period, he or she will not lose their purity in the sight of our Creator. That purity is cemented through the sacrifice of Yeshua Messiah.
However, what this ritualistic ordinance does remind us is that we must always be on guard to live holy and righteous lives so that we do not sully our spiritual garments and taint our presence before the Almighty.
Suffice to say brethren: the ordinance prohibiting intimacy during the spouse’s menstrual period is still very much in effect. There are obvious sanitation concerns and general deportment issues that make this aspect of Niddah of relevance today.
It was the Jerusalem Council that wrote that gentle Messianics were to abstain from “things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled and from blood” (Act. 15:20). Thus, we are required to not engage in marital intimacy at the time of our spouse’s menstrual period.
I pray that this brief discussion has clarified things for you and that you will conduct your own in-depth study on this and other subjects related to our set-apart walk with Yeshua Messiah.
And then it behooves us as Torah Observant Disciples of Yeshua Messiah to trust and obey.
Until next time, may you be most blessed, fellows Saints in Training. Shalom.