The Leper’s Bell

A solitary biblical leper stands in a barren, rocky place, his hands wrapped in stained cloth and a small brass bell hanging from his bound arm. The close framing centers attention on the wounds, the rough garment, and the sign of separation carried by those marked as unclean. In the world of the Law, skin disease brought not only physical suffering but also exclusion from the camp and the worshiping community. Leviticus 13 describes the afflicted person living apart, bearing visible signs of uncleanness and warning others of his condition. This artwork speaks to the weight of isolation before healing, making it useful for teaching on leprosy in Scripture, ceremonial uncleanness, compassion ministry, and the mercy shown by Christ to the outcast. by Erik Stenbakken