Article Sidebar

Submitted
August 4, 2025
Accepted
December 6, 2025
Published
December 29, 2025
Download
Download PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 77

Main Article Content

Abstract

The Torah/Pentateuch instituted health laws for the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt to Canaan around the 13th or 15th century BC. This literature review examines the Old Testament health laws and their contemporary relevance to public health. It analyses the Old Testament’s guidance on quarantine (Lev. 13–14), sanitation (Deut. 23), dietary restrictions (Lev. 11; Deut. 12:23), personal hygiene (Lev. 15; Num. 19), and sexual health (Lev. 18). These laws highlight early disease control principles that mirror modern public health concepts of isolation, sanitation, food safety, and behavioral change interventions. Communal responsibility was culturally and ethically emphasized, combined with a focus on spiritual values and stigma reduction. Although these laws are theocratic, their disease-prevention benefits extend beyond any religion. A limitation in implementing these laws within a pluralistic society is their theocratic orientation, which may restrict their adoption among those who do not follow Abrahamic religions. Therefore, this study recommends integrating faith-based and cultural perspectives into health policies to foster interdisciplinary dialogue. This suggests the need to deploy Old Testament laws to encourage the adoption of optimal health practices.

Keywords

Mosaic health laws public health infection control faith-based health promotion

Article Details

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Mjabuli Jamela, Simanga Bekezela Ndebele

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Mjabuli Jamela, Lefke Avrupa Üniversitesi, Turkey

Mjabuli Jamela recently earned a PhD in Health Management from the European University of Lefke in Cyprus. His research interests include public health, humanitarian health, and health promotion.

Simanga Bekezela Ndebele, Adventist University of Africa, Kenya

Simanga B. Ndebele is a PhD candidate in Leadership at the Adventist University of Africa. He holds a Master’s degree in Disaster Management, and his research interests focus on Humanitarian and Health Leadership, especially in fragile contexts.

How to Cite
Jamela, M., & Ndebele, S. B. (2025). The Relevance of Mosaic Health Laws in Contemporary Public Health Practice. Pan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science, 4(2), 19–36. https://doi.org/10.56893/ajhes2025v04i02.02
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX

References

  1. Abdoli, A., Shahbazi, R., Zoghi, G., Davoodian, P., Kheirandish, S., Azad, M., & Kheirandish, M. (2022). The effect of topical olive oil dressing on the healing of grade 1 and 2 diabetic foot ulcers: An assessor-blind randomized controlled trial in type 2 diabetes patients. Diabetes Metab Syndr.2022 Dec;16(12):102678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2022.102678
  2. Airhihenbuwa, C. O. (1995). Health and culture: Beyond the Western paradigm. Sage Publications.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270842559_Health_and_Culture_Beyond_the_Western_Paradigm
  3. Al-Sayaghi, A. M., Al-Kabsi, A. M., Abduh, M. S., Saghir, S. A. M., & Alshawsh, M. A. (2022). Antibacterial Mechanism of Action of Two Types of Honey against Escherichia coli through Interfering with Bacterial Membrane Permeability, Inhibiting Proteins, and Inducing Bacterial DNA Damage. Antibiotics, 11(9), 1182.https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11091182
  4. Al-Warhi, T., Zahran, E. M., Selim, S., Al-Sanea, M. M., Ghoneim, M. M., Maher, S. A., Mostafa, Y. A., Alsenani, F., Elrehany, M. A., Almuhayawi, M. S., Al Jaouni, S. K., Abdelmohsen, U. R., & Elmaidomy, A. H. (2022). Antioxidant and Wound Healing Potential of Vitis vinifera Seeds Supported by Phytochemical Characterization and Docking Studies. Antioxidants, 11(5), 881. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11050881
  5. Aliyu, A. (2021). Public Health Ethics and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Annals of African Medicine 20(3):p 157-163, | DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_80_20
  6. Althurwi, H. N., Salkini, M. A. A., Soliman, G. A., Ansari, M. N., Ibnouf, E. O., & Abdel-Kader, M. S. (2022). Wound Healing Potential of Commiphora gileadensis Stems Essential Oil and Chloroform Extract. Separations, 9(9), 254. https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9090254
  7. Answers in Genesis. (2023). The First Book of Public Hygiene. https://answersingenesis.org/biology/disease/the-first-book-of-public-hygiene
  8. Atazhanova, G., Ishmuratova, M., Levaya, Y., Smagulov, M., & Lakomkina, Y. (2024). The Genus Hyssopus: Traditional Use, Phytochemicals, and Pharmacological
  9. Balasubramanian, S., Kapera, O., Chandrasekhar, A., & Syed, U. (2023). The role of faith-based organizations in improving vaccination confidence and coverage: A global perspective. Vaccines, 11(2), 449. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020449
  10. Barclay, W. (2014). The Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of Mark. Westminster John Knox Press.
  11. Barrett, C. K. (2016). The New Testament Background: Selected Documents. Harper One.
  12. Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. (2022). Faith and vaccination: Global lessons on religious engagement during pandemics. Georgetown University. https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/posts/religious-responses-to-covid-19-project-tracks-shares-resources-on-faith-engagement-in-global-pandemic
  13. Blevins, S. M., & Bronze, M. S. (2010). Robert Koch and the “golden age” of bacteriology. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 14(9), e744–e751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2009.12.003
  14. Bloom, D. E., & Cadarette, D. (2019). Infectious disease threats in the twenty-first century: Strengthening the global response. Frontiers in Immunology, 10, 549.https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00549
  15. Braveman, P., Arkin, E., & Proctor, D. (2022). Equity in public health: Moving from rhetoric to action. American Journal of Public Health, 112(S3), S263–S271. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306978
  16. Butazimbaine, B. (2024). Evaluation of antibacterial potential of wood ash against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (Doctoral dissertation, Makerere University).
  17. Cawood, A. L., Burden, S. T., Smith, T., & Stratton, R. J. (2023). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of community use of oral nutritional supplements on clinical outcomes. Ageing Research Reviews, 88, 101953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2023.101953
  18. Chen, C.-C., Chen, Y.-N., Liou, J.-M., & Wu, M.-S. (2019). From germ theory to germ therapy. Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences, 35(2), 73–82. https://doi.org/10.1002/kjm2.12011
  19. Chen, C., Yang, X., Li, S.-j., Ma, F.-j., Yan, X., Ma, Y.-n., Ma, Y.-x., Ma, Q.-h., Gao, S.-z., & Huang, X.-j. (2021). Red wine-inspired tannic acid–KH561 copolymer: its adhesive properties and its application in wound healing. RSC Advances, 11, 5182-5191. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA07342C
  20. Childress, J. F. (2020). Public bioethics: Principles and problems (Online ed.). Oxford Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780199798483.001.0001
  21. Clark, C., & Biggers, A. (2022). Drinking blood: Is it safe? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/drinking-blood
  22. Cohen, S. A., & Levine, B. (2017). Sexual health and disease prevention in biblical texts: A historical and medical perspective. Journal of Religious Health, 56(4), 1342–1353.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0375-8
  23. Daniels, N., & Sabin, J. E. (2009). Setting limits fairly: Can we learn to share medical resources? (Online ed.). Oxford Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195149364.001.0001
  24. DeHaven, M. J., Hunter, I. B., Wilder, L., Walton, J. W., & Berry, J. (2004). Health programs in faith-based organizations: Are they effective? American Journal of Public Health, 94(6), 1030–1036. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.94.6.1030
  25. Dever, W. G. (2015). Israel’s ethnogenesis: Settlement, interaction, expansion, and resistance. Equinox. https://www.academia.edu/1489525/Israel_s_Ethnogenesis_Settlement_Interaction_Expansion_and_Resistance
  26. Douglas, M. (1966). Purity and danger: An analysis of concepts of pollution and taboo. Routledge.
  27. Drummond, J. G. (2023). “Dating the Exodus: Early, Late, or Myth?” Bulletin of Biblical Archaeology, 4(2), 45–67.
  28. Eja, E. I. (2020). An investigation of the biblical approach to sanitation in Deuteronomy 23:13: A model to end open defecation in Nigeria and Ghana. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI).
  29. Faust, A. (2016). The emergence of Israel and theories of ethnogenesis. In The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Ancient Israel (pp. 152–173). Wiley. https://cris.haifa.ac.il/en/publications/the-emergence-of-israel-and-theories-of-ethnogenesis
  30. Feder, Y. (2021). Purity and pollution in the Hebrew Bible: From embodied experience to moral metaphor. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009042642
  31. Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2015). Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
  32. Gostin, L. O., Wiley, L. F., & Fried, L. P. (2023). Public health law: Power, duty, restraint. University of California Press. https://www.ucpress.edu/books/public-health-law-and-ethics-2/epub-pdf
  33. Greenberg, M. (2011). Biblical foundations of public health: Disease, hygiene, and ethics in the Old Testament. Journal of Religious Health, 50(3), 455–466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9456-8
  34. Hahn, R. A. (2021). What is a social determinant of health? Back to basics. Journal of Public Health Research, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2021.2324
  35. Handzlik, I., Myszkowska, B., & Zawada-Wiśniewska, P. (2025). Ancient health guidelines and their medical significance. Clinical Medicine & Health Research Journal, 5(5), 1409–1417. https://www.cmhrj.com/index.php/cmhrj/article/view/506/318
  36. Hawk, J., & Parker, M. (2020). A history of public health. Europe PMC. https://europepmc.org/article/MED/7170188
  37. Houston, W. J. (2020). Purity and pollution in ancient Israel: From ritual to ethics. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14030255
  38. Idler, E., Levin, J., VanderWeele, T. J., & Khan, A. (2019). Partnerships between public health agencies and faith communities. American Journal of Public Health, 109, 346–347. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304941
  39. Karat, A. S., Gregg, M., Barton, H. E., Calderon, M., Ellis, J., Falconer, J., Govender, I., Harris, R. C., Tlali, M., Moore, D. A. J., & Fielding, K. L. (2021). Evidence for the use of triage, respiratory isolation, and effective treatment to reduce the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in healthcare settings: A systematic review. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 72(1), 155–172. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa720
  40. Kass, L. R. (2003). Life, liberty, and the defense of dignity: The challenge for bioethics. Encounter Books.
  41. King, P. J., & Stager, L. E. (2001). Life in Biblical Israel. Westminster John Knox Press.
  42. Kleinman, A., & Benson, P. (2006). Culture, moral experience, and medicine. The Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, 73(6), 834–839. https://doi.org/10.1002/msj.20141
  43. Kolter, R. (2021). The history of microbiology: A personal interpretation. Annual Review of Microbiology, 75, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-micro-033020-020648
  44. Lemchi, S. G. C. C. M. (2023). Hematological Perspective of Some Mosaic Laws. Sokoto Journal of Medical Laboratory Science, 8(2).
  45. Levin, J. (2014). Faith-based initiatives in health promotion: History, challenges, and current partnerships. American Journal of Health Promotion, 28(3), 139–141. https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.28.3.tahp
  46. Levin, J. (2021). Faith-based organizations and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: Challenges and recommendations. Journal of Religion and Health, 60(5), 3193–3205. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8721765/
  47. Moskala, J. (1998). The Laws of Clean and Unclean Animals of Leviticus 11: their Nature, Theology, and Rationale (an Intertextual Study) https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dissertations/98/
  48. Marmot, M., & Allen, J. (2020). COVID-19: Exposing and amplifying inequalities in health. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 74(9), 681–682. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2020-214720
  49. McLaren, H., Pamisari, E., Hamiduzzaman, M., Jones, M., & Taylor, R. (2021). Respect for, Religiosity: Review of Faith, Integration in Health and Wellbeing, Interventions with Muslim Minorities. Religions 12: 692.
  50. Merrill, E. H. (2006). Leviticus: A Commentary. Baker Academic.
  51. Milgrom, J. (1991). Leviticus 1–16: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Yale University Press
  52. Moberg, J., Oxman, A. D., Rosenbaum, S., Schünemann, H. J., Guyatt, G., Flottorp, S., Glenton, C., Lewin, S., Morelli, A., Rada, G., & Alonso-Coello , P. (2018). The GRADE Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework for health system and public health decisions. Health Res Policy Sys 16, 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-018-0320-2
  53. Montgomery, L., McNulty, H., Ward, M., Gordon, S., Clements, M., Hoey, L., & Hughes, C. (2023). Impact of Nutrition Intervention on Mental Health Outcomes in Adults: Preliminary Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Proceedings, 91(1), 324. https://doi.org/10.3390/2023091324
  54. Mphaga, K. V., Moyo, D., & Rathebe, P. C. (2024). Unlocking food safety: A comprehensive review of South Africa’s food control and safety landscape from an environmental health perspective. BMC Public Health, 24, 2040. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19589-1
  55. Navratilova, H. F., Lanham-New, S., Whetton, A. D., & Geifman, N. (2024). Associations of Diet with Health Outcomes in the UK Biobank: A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 16(4), 523. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040523
  56. Nestle, M. (2013). Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health. UC Press.
  57. Nissinen, M. (1998). Homoeroticism in the biblical world: A historical perspective (K. Stjerna, Trans.). Augsburg Fortress.
  58. Nyatsikor, S. (2024). An investigation of the biblical approach to sanitation in Deuteronomy 23:13: A model to end open defecation in Nigeria and Ghana. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 11(2), 495–503. https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2024.1102039
  59. Nziwa, K. (2023). Tracking the continuity of the Leviticus laws of impurity. (Unpublished thesis) — University of Toronto. https://utoronto.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/a4282169-6bcf-48d4-8280-5e3d5a3d5178/content
  60. Odukoya, O. O., Jeet, G., Adebusoye, B., Idowu, O., Ogunsola, F. T., & Okuyemi, K. S. (2022). Targeted faith-based and faith-placed interventions for noncommunicable disease prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 11(119). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-022-01981-w
  61. Oeming, M. (2004). A Guide to the Old Testament. Sheffield Academic Press.
  62. Ogwu, M. C., & Izah, S. C. (2025). Honey as a Natural Antimicrobial. Antibiotics, 14(3), 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/14030255
  63. Oketch, D. C., Njoroge, R., Ngage, T. O., Mwololo, D., Ombacho, K., & Bett, B. (2025). Cultural and behavioral drivers of zoonotic disease transmission and persistence among diverse pastoralist communities in East Africa. One Health Outlook, 7, 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42522-025-00153-9
  64. Olagoke, A. A., Olagoke, O. O., & Hughes, A. M. (2020). Exposure to coronavirus news, spiritual well-being, and the moderating role of religiosity on mental health. Journal of Religion and Health, 59(5), 2285–2297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01090-2
  65. Olanisebe, S. O. (2014). Laws of tzara’at in Leviticus 13-14 and medical leprosy compared. Jewish Bible Quarterly, 42(2), 122–128. https://jbqnew.jewishbible.org/assets/Uploads/422/jbq_422_7_olanisebetzaraat.pdf
  66. Parker, R., & Aggleton, P. (2003). HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination: A conceptual framework and implications for action. Social Science & Medicine, 57(1), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00304-0
  67. Public Health Agency of Canada. (2017). What is health? Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/population-health-approach/what-is-health.html
  68. Rahmani, A. H., Anwar, S., Raut, R., Almatroudi, A., Babiker, A. Y., Khan, A. A., Alsahli, M. A., & Almatroodi, S. A. (2022). Therapeutic Potential of Myrrh, a Natural Resin, in Health Management through Modulation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Advanced Glycation End Products Formation Using In Vitro and In Silico Analysis. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/18/9175
  69. Rajala, O., Mäntynen, M., & Loimaranta, V. (2024). Pine-Oil-Derived Sodium Resinate Inhibits Growth and Acid Production of Streptococcus mutans In Vitro. Dentistry Journal,12(2), 40. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj12020040
  70. Rezagholizadeh, L., Aghamohammadian, M., Oloumi, M., Banaei, S., Mazani, M., & Ojarudi, M. (2022). Inhibitory effects of Ficus carica and Olea europaea on pro-inflammatory cytokines: A review. Iran J Basic Med Sci.. https://doi.org10.22038/IJBMS.2022.60954.13494
  71. Satapathy, A., Balani, A., Kharsan, V., Karan, A., Mazhar, H., & Awasthy, A. (2023).: Topical-Ozonized Olive Oil - A Boon for Post-Extraction Cases: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cureus. 2023 Jan31;15(1):e34478. https://doi.org10.7759/34478
  72. Shalaby, M. A. (2019). Analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of myrrh resin in rodents. Phytotherapy Research, 33(11), 2910‑2918. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6450
  73. Shithi, K. N., Saha, A., Haque, M. N., Hossain, I., Nooruzzaman, M., Begum, J. A., Parvin, R., & Chowdhury, E. H. (2024). Use of ash filtrate as an alternative to chemical disinfectant and its antimicrobial efficacy. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 11(4), 1007–1016. https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JAVAR/article/view/81184
  74. Shulga, M. (2014). Disease containment and quarantine in ancient Israel. Ancient Health Review, 10(2), 45–61. https://historymedjournal.com/index.php/medicine/article/view/233/204
  75. Solar, O., & Irwin, A. (2010). A conceptual framework for action on the social determinants of health. World Health Organization. https://drum.lib.umd.edu/items/df328dec-ef67-4171-bbfd-45271d5f0635
  76. Stanciauskaite, M., Marksa, M., Liaudanskas, M., Ivanauskas, L., Ivaskiene, M., & Ramanauskiene, K. (2021). Extracts of Poplar Buds (Populus balsamifera L., Populus nigra L.) and Lithuanian Propolis: Comparison of Their Composition and Biological Activities. Plants, 10(5), 828. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050828
  77. Su, S., Wang, Y., Duan, J., Zhou, W., Hua, Y., Tang, Y., Yu, L., & Qian, D. (2020). Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Commiphora myrrha extract in experimental models. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 262, 113193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113193
  78. Tang, B., Xia, F., Tang, S., Bragazzi, N. L., Li, Q., Sun, X., Liang, J., Xiao, Y., & Wu, J. (2020). The effectiveness of quarantine and isolation determines the trend of the COVID-19 epidemics in the final phase of the current outbreak in China. Int J Infect Dis. https://di.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.113
  79. Thompson, J. (2021). Pandemics and public health in ancient Israel: What did Moses do? (DPhil cand.). Trans‑European Division, Seventh‑day Adventist Church. https://ted.adventist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Pandemics_and_Public_Health_in_Ancient_Israel_PDF.pdf
  80. Tulchinsky, T. H., & Varavikova, E. A. (2014). The new public health (3rd ed.). Elsevier Academic Press. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275045755_Tulchinsky_TH_Varavikova_EA_The_New_Public_Health_Third_Edition_ElsevierAcademic_Press_San_Diego_2014
  81. Uhlmeyer, E. (2022). Mosaic law and human health (Undergraduate honours thesis). LibertyUniversity.https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2240&context=honors&utm
  82. Wells, B. (2022). Social Cohesion and Sexual Boundaries in Leviticus. Kritische Schriftgelehrsamkeit in priesterlichen und prophetischen Diskursen, 139-150.
  83. Wenham, G. J. (1979). The Book of Leviticus. Eerdmans. https://www.academia.edu/110150320/The_Book_of_Leviticus
  84. Wilder-Smith, A., & Freedman, D. O. (2020). Isolation, quarantine, social distancing, and community containment: pivotal role for old-style public health measures in the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. Journal of Travel Medicine, 27(2), taaa020. https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taaa020
  85. Wilson, J. P. (2015). The role of sexual prohibitions in ancient health practices. Ancient Health Journal, 10(2), 77–92.
  86. World Health Organization (WHO) (2022). Global hygiene roadmap 2022–2030. WHO Press. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240057685