Finding Mold, and Mildew in the Bible

Mold or mold is the noun referring to various types of fungi that grow on organic matter; a cavity that shapes an object; and a fixed pattern. Mold as a verb refers to shaping an object.

This is what differentiates “mold” and “mold”:

• Mold. American English spelling.
• Mold. British English spelling.

Unfortunately, it’s a little difficult to end the spelling confusion because although Australian and Canadian English prefer the British spelling, the American spelling is also used.

Mo(u)ld in Science and Religion

No matter how you spell it, mo(u)ld is a relatively new discovery. Ever since science gained a stronger presence in everyday life, it has greatly influenced our lives. If you look at the Old Testament in the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, under Leviticus: chapter 14, verses 33-57, you’ll find that mo(u)ld makes a surprising appearance, “When you enter the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your possession, and I put a spreading mold in a house in that land…”

The NIV was published in 1978 so if you look at the King James version (KJV)—which was published in 1611—“mo(u)ld” substituted “plague”, “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land.” The change in words reflects the awareness in later years that some human illnesses are caused by mo(u)ld exposure.

You’re probably wondering why the words were changed. The NIV was created because an engineer from Seattle named Howard Long discovered that non-Christians couldn’t relate to the KJV because of the archaic language. From then on, Long worked on creating the NIV, but they used the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic manuscripts of the Bible as opposed to translating the King James translation.

Interestingly, ‘mildew’ appears in five different places in the KJV:

• Deuteronomy 28:22
• Amos 4:9
• Haggai 2:17
• 1 Kings 8:37
• 2 Chronicles 6:28

These passages link mildew to being smote and encountering famine. Most of all, mildew is connected to “blasting”, which is the result of hot east winds from the desert of Arabia blowing on grain and other plants. The winds blow for two or three days, turning grain yellow with the spread of a fungus called Puccinia graminis, otherwise known as stem rust.

The Difference Between Mo(u)ld and Mildew

Unlike mildew, there is a celebrity among mo(u)ld types called penicillium notatum. From this mold, the Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming produced the life-saving antibiotic penicillin. Because he shared a lab with a fellow scientist that had a bad habit of keeping his samples for long periods of time, Fleming discovered the mo(u)ld after returning to his lab from a two-week vacation.

Mildew and mo(u)ld are similar because they are fungi that thrive in warm and moist areas, as well as grow on the same surfaces, including food and showers. What distinguished them is their colour, size, and texture.

Mildew is usually a small grey or white fuzzy patch that store-bought products can easily treat. Mo(u)ld, on the other hand, comes in a variety of colors: such as black, green, blue, and white. Mo(u)ld needs to be handled by experts.

Trusted Your Certified Mo(u)ld Removers

This fuzzy growth causes many health issues no matter which way you spell it, so when you find it in your home, don’t touch it and call Certified Asbestos Removal immediately. It’s important to not resort to any DIY techniques because they could worsen the situation. The best way to combat mo(u)ld and to keep your home clean is by scheduling a home inspection. Contact us today at (403) 437-8070 or fill out our online request form!