Mold in the Bible [All the Cited References]
Mold has existed since the dawn of time. Molds and other fungi are natural decomposers that are useful agents for cleaning up decaying items in nature. Mold becomes a serious issue however when it attempts to decompose your home and infiltrates your living space. While this is a common issue that people experience in modern times, how long has mankind been experiencing the negative effects of mold growing in places it shouldn’t? When did people first realize something was very wrong with the fuzzy invaders spreading through their homes? While it is nearly impossible to say when mold was first identified as an issue, certain ancient texts can give us clues as to the era in which people started to have concerns about microbial growth. One such ancient writing is the Bible. And there several references, mold in the Bible, are found.
References of Mold in the Bible:
There are a couple references in the Bible that address the issues of mold and fungi. The Bible even gives recommendations for removing the microbial hazard. The earliest mention of mold growth in the Scriptures appears in the book of Leviticus 14:35-42, which says,
“35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house:
36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house:
37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall;
38 Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days:
39 And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house;
40 Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city:
41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place:
42 And they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar and shall plaster the house.”
The word “plague” was exchanged for the word “mold” in the New International Version of the Bible. This shows the detailed process for identifying mold in a person’s house, and additionally, how one should go about removing the mold growth and disposing of the contaminated building materials.
The bible mentions the curse of mildew at least five other times. Mildew is a certain type of mold that frequently grows on plants such as grape vines. One such excerpt is from the book of Amos and it says, “’Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,’
declares the Lord.”
In these verses God describes His punishments for the Israelites when they disobeyed Him. As this passage states, mold was used as one of the punishments. It destroyed their fields and vineyards causing them to lose wealth and go hungry. The Bible mentions mildew and its devastation of the Israelites crops in a few other books including, Deuteronomy, Haggai, 1 Kings, and 2 Chronicles.
Conclusion
While it is impossible to determine the exact time or date that human beings began to show concern for mold growth and the effects it has in their homes, we know that as far back as during the time Leviticus was written (about 1400 BC) people were aware of the presence and dangers of mold growth in one’s living space, at least to a certain degree. The Bible mentions mold growth and its dangerous effects at least a few other times throughout scripture and it is evident that it was a significant enough issue that God provided specific instructions to address it. Mold has always been a part of the natural environment, and the mention of it in ancient texts, including the bible, is evidence that mankind has been dealing with its effects in their living spaces for most of recorded history. Mold is not a new issue, but as building materials and lifestyles change, we must continue to deepen our understanding of molds and how they interact with the environment.
