52 'And he hath burnt the garment, or the warp, or the woof, in wool or in linen, or any vessel of skin in which the plague is; for it 'is' a fretting leprosy; with fire it is burnt. 53 'And if the priest see, and lo, the plague hath not spread in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any vessel of skin, 54 then hath the priest commanded, and they have washed that in which the plague 'is', and he hath shut it up a second seven days. 55 And the priest hath seen 'that which hath' the plague after it hath been washed, and lo, the plague hath not changed its aspect, and the plague hath not spread,—it 'is' unclean; with fire thou dost burn it; it 'is' a fretting in its back-part or in its front-part. 56 'And if the priest hath seen, and lo, the plague 'is' become weak after it hath been washed, then he hath rent it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof; 57 and if it still be seen in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any vessel of skin, it 'is' a fretting; with fire thou dost burn it—that in which the plague 'is'.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 13:52-57
Commentary on Leviticus 13:47-59
(Read Leviticus 13:47-59)
The garment suspected to be tainted with leprosy was not to be burned immediately. If, upon search, it was found that there was a leprous spot, it must be burned, or at least that part of it. If it proved to be free, it must be washed, and then might be used. This also sets forth the great evil there is in sin. It not only defiles the sinner's conscience, but it brings a stain upon all he has and all that he does. And those who make their clothes servants to their pride and lust, may see them thereby tainted with leprosy. But the robes of righteousness never fret, nor are moth-eaten.