Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
צָרַעַת ''ṣāraʿaṯ''), variously transcribed into English and frequently mistranslated as leprosy, describes various
ritually unclean
Ritual purification is the ritual prescribed by a religion by which a person is considered to be free of ''uncleanliness'', especially prior to the worship of a deity, and ritual purity is a state of ritual cleanliness. Ritual purification may ...
disfigurative conditions of the skin, hair of the beard and head, clothing made of linen or wool, or stones of homes in the
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...
. All variations are mainly referred to in chapters 13– 14 of Leviticus. The
Torah
The Torah (; hbo, ''Tōrā'', "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In that sense, Torah means the ...
identifies three manifestations of ''tzaraath'': as an affliction of human skin, of garments, and of houses. The manifestation of ''tzaraath'' is termed a ''negah'' (נגע) "affliction", ''nega'im'' (plural: נגעים).
Name
The Hebraic root ''tsara'' or ''tsaraath'' (צָרַע, – tsaw-rah' – to be struck with leprosy, to be leprous) and the Greek (λεπρός–lepros), are of broader classification than the more narrow use of the term related to
Hansen's Disease
Monster Beverage Corporation is an American beverage company that manufactures energy drinks including Monster Energy, Relentless and Burn. The company was originally founded as Hansen's in 1935 in Southern California, originally selling juice ...
. The linguistic root of ''tzaraath'' may mean "smiting", in comparison with Arabic, in reference to a
Talmud
The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law ('' halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the ce ...
ical explanation that it serves as a punishment for
sin
In a religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law. Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered immoral, selfish, s ...
.Cheyne and Black, ''
Encyclopedia Biblica
''Encyclopaedia Biblica: A Critical Dictionary of the Literary, Political and Religion History, the Archeology, Geography and Natural History of the Bible'' (1899), edited by Thomas Kelly Cheyne and J. Sutherland Black, is a critical encyclopedi ...
'' Variant
transcription
Transcription refers to the process of converting sounds (voice, music etc.) into letters or musical notes, or producing a copy of something in another medium, including:
Genetics
* Transcription (biology), the copying of DNA into RNA, the fir ...
s into
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
include ''saraath'', ''zaraath'', ''tzaraas'', ''tzaraat'', ''tsaraas'', and ''tsaraat''.
''Tzaraath'' was a general term for any progressive skin disease (a whitening or splotchy bleaching of the skin, raised manifestations of scales, scabs, infections, rashes, etc.), as well as generalized molds and surface discoloration of any clothing, leather, or discoloration on walls or surfaces throughout homes.''Jewish Encyclopedia'' The
Talmud
The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law ('' halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the ce ...
maintains a similar view, arguing that ''tzaraath'' referred generally to any disease that produces sores and eruptions on the skin. The Talmud (Sifra 63) make clear that'' tzaraath'' refers to various types of lesions or stains associated with
ritual impurity
Ritual purification is the ritual prescribed by a religion by which a person is considered to be free of ''uncleanliness'', especially prior to the worship of a deity, and ritual purity is a state of ritual cleanliness. Ritual purification may ...
and occurring on cloth, leather, or houses, as well as skin. All came under the "law of leprosy".
The editors of the
Septuagint
The Greek Old Testament, or Septuagint (, ; from the la, septuaginta, lit=seventy; often abbreviated ''70''; in Roman numerals, LXX), is the earliest extant Greek translation of books from the Hebrew Bible. It includes several books beyond ...
translated the term ''tzaraath'' with Greek ''lepra'' (), which in classical sources referred to
psoriasis
Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by raised areas of abnormal skin. These areas are red, pink, or purple, dry, itchy, and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small, localized patches to complete ...
and similar skin conditions. The connection with the bacterial infection now known as
Hansen's disease
Monster Beverage Corporation is an American beverage company that manufactures energy drinks including Monster Energy, Relentless and Burn. The company was originally founded as Hansen's in 1935 in Southern California, originally selling juice ...
increased as this disease spread more widely and was firmly established by Islamic works on medicine in the
9th century
The 9th century was a period from 801 ( DCCCI) through 900 ( CM) in accordance with the Julian calendar.
The Carolingian Renaissance and the Viking raids occurred within this period. In the Middle East, the House of Wisdom was founded in Abba ...
. The classical Greek term ''lepra'' stems from the noun ''lepis'' (a scale (of a fish)), which in turn stems from the verb ''lepó'' (to peel), hence 'leprosy' (literally, morbid scaliness). Variants of the word ''leprosy'' conflating ''tzaraath'' with Hansen's disease were used from the earliest English translations of the Bible, including Wycliffe's, Tyndale's, and Coverdale's.
Affliction of the body
There are three varieties of ''nega'im'' that relate to human flesh:
# on the skin ()
# in a boil () or burn ()
# bald patches or lesions of the scalp or beard (), the ''negah'' of which is called a נתק (''netek'')
According to some (such as ArtScroll/Mesorah) the three subdivisions of skin ''tzaraath'' are best left transliterated, rather than translated, because there are no equivalent English terms and any attempt to translate them greatly diminishes the distinctiveness and focus of the
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
Bible Society
A Bible society is a non-profit organization, usually nondenominational in makeup, devoted to translating, publishing, and distributing the Bible at affordable prices. In recent years they also are increasingly involved in advocating its credibi ...
.
Patches of the skin
Patches of the skin are confirmed as ''tzaraath'' by the occurrence of one of three signs:
# white hair (והיא הפכה שיער לבן) – if at least two hairs within the confines of the ''negah'' turn whiteLeviticus 13:10
# healthy flesh (ומחית בשר חי) – if skin of a normal appearance appears within the confines of the patch
# spreading (ואם פשה תפשה המספחת בעור) – if the patch became enlarged since the time of the initial examination by the Kohen
According to the rabbis, if someone cuts off some skin or a part of his body to remove a ''negah'', he becomes impure, even if he had no confirming signs. He may become pure only after another ''negah'' forms.Mishnah ''Nega'im'' 7:5 The exception is when a ''negah'' appears on the tip of the
foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin, also known as the prepuce, is the double-layered fold of skin, mucosal and muscular tissue at the distal end of the human penis that covers the glans and the urinary meatus. The foreskin is attached to the ...
and is cut off during
circumcision
Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. Top ...
, which is permitted, because a positive commandment overrides a negative commandment.
Paradoxically, if the ''tzaraat'' covers a person's entire body, it is considered pure, and no isolation or purification ritual is needed (). However, according to a minority interpretation, it is not the entire body, but the entire lesion (including any "islands" of previously healthy skin within the lesion) which must be covered by ''tzaraat'' in order to have this pure status.
Boils and burns
Boils and burns, as occur naturally as a result of an abscess, blunt force trauma or thermal insult to the skin, are not ''tzaraath'' and do not carry impurity. During the healing phases of these wounds, however, if certain signs that mimic those of the aforementioned patches appear, ''tzaraath'' may occur. Confirmation is by the occurrence of one of two signs:
#white hair (ושערה הפך לבן and נהפך שער לבן בבהרת) – similar to that in patches (Leviticus 13:20 and 13:25)
#spreading (ואם פשה תפשה בעור and אם פשה תפשה בעור) – similar to that in patches (Leviticus 13:22 and 13:27)
Bald patches or lesions of the scalp or beard
The initial symptom of this type of ''negah'' is patches of hair loss. According to
Maimonides
Musa ibn Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (); la, Moses Maimonides and also referred to by the acronym Rambam ( he, רמב״ם), was a Sephardic Jewish philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Tora ...
, scalp and beard ''nega'im'' are characterized by hair loss without any change to the skin of the bald spot The
Tosefta
The Tosefta ( Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: תוספתא "supplement, addition") is a compilation of the Jewish oral law from the late 2nd century, the period of the Mishnah.
Overview
In many ways, the Tosefta acts as a supplement to the Mishnah ( ...
, however, maintains that the skin of the bald spot does indeed become altered in a ''negah''. There are two confirming signs:
#thin yellow hair (ובו שער צהב דק) – if at least two-and-a-half hairs from within the bald patch turn yellow (Leviticus 13:30)
#spreading (והנה פשה הנתק בעור) – if the balding spreads, according to Maimonides. According to
Abraham ben David
Abraham ben David ( – 27 November 1198), also known by the abbreviation RABaD (for ''Rabbeinu'' Abraham ben David) Ravad or RABaD III, was a Provençal rabbi, a great commentator on the Talmud
The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central ...
, who quotes the Tosefta, this spreading would refer to spreading of a skin change as well (Leviticus 13:36).
Whereas baldness is not a form of ''tzaraath'', patches that occur on a bald scalp may be ''tzaraath'' if they meet the criteria as mentioned by the Torah. Such an eruption on a bald scalp must appear in a distinct fashion but is regulated by rules similar to that of ''nega'im'' on the skin; however, it can only occur on men. For a scalp eruption to be ''tzaraath'', the lesion must be a white patch tinged with red (נגע לבן אדמדם). This can occur in one of two places: within what are referred to as a man's posterior baldness (קרחת) and anterior baldness (גבחת).
Inspection of ''nega'im'' of human flesh, and ''tzaraath'' determination
For all types of ''nega'im'' of human flesh, the Torah gives a similar protocol to determine whether or not the skin eruption is indeed ''tzaraath''. The individual with the eruption must visit a ''
kohen
Kohen ( he, , ''kōhēn'', , "priest", pl. , ''kōhănīm'', , "priests") is the Hebrew word for " priest", used in reference to the Aaronic priesthood, also called Aaronites or Aaronides. Levitical priests or ''kohanim'' are traditionally ...
'' (a male possessing direct lineage to Aaron). The ''kohen'', trained in examining lesions and diagnosing ''tzaraath'', will examine the lesion according to the previously mentioned criteria, and determine whether it meets the specifications of ''tzaraath''. If during the initial examination, the characteristics of the lesion meet the criteria for ''tzaraath'', the ''kohen'' will declare the individual ''
tamei
In Jewish law, ''ṭumah'' (, ) and ''ṭaharah'' (, ) are the state of being ritually "impure" and "pure", respectively. The Hebrew noun ''ṭum'ah'', meaning "impurity", describes a state of ritual impurity. A person or object which contracts ' ...
'' (טמא, "ritually impure").
If the criteria are not met by the lesion during the initial examination by the ''kohen'', the individual is confined in his home for seven days, pending a follow-up examination. If the criteria for ''tzaraath'' are again not met and the lesion has not spread, there is a difference in protocol depending on the type of lesion.
* For patches of the skin, another confinement period of seven days is imposed.
* For boils or burns, the ''kohen'' declares it merely a צרבת (''tzarevet'', "scar") and there are no further examinations (Leviticus 13:23 and 28)
* For bald patches or lesions of the scalp or beard, another confinement period of seven days is imposed. However, prior to this second confinement period, the individual is shaved around the ''netek'' (והתגלח ואת הנתק לא יגלח – "he should be shaved but the ''netek'' should not be shaved), leaving a rim of two hairs completely surrounding the bald spot to make any spreading recognizable (especially according to Maimonides, who asserts that these lesions manifest as pure hair loss without any concomitant skin eruption.)
After the second confinement period of seven days, both those with patches on the skin as well as those with bald patches are re-evaluated once more.Leviticus 13:6 and 34 If the criteria for ''tzaraath'' have still not been met, the afflicted individual is declared ''tahor'' (טהר, "ritually pure"). He or she, does, however, have to wash both his or her body and garments; due to the confinement, he or she is considered impure in some sense.
If the ''negah'' was declared ritually pure and later it spread, it must be shown once again to a ''kohen'', who will then declare it ''tzaraath''.
If, however, the criteria for ''tzaraath'' have been met, either during the initial exam or at either of the two follow-ups (when applicable) or even after a previous declaration of purity, the individual is declared ''
tamei
In Jewish law, ''ṭumah'' (, ) and ''ṭaharah'' (, ) are the state of being ritually "impure" and "pure", respectively. The Hebrew noun ''ṭum'ah'', meaning "impurity", describes a state of ritual impurity. A person or object which contracts ' ...
'' (טמא, "ritually impure"). The individual is declared impure even if the lesion did not worsen or spread but remained the same—the skin eruption must become dimmer in appearance for it to be declared pure at the second follow-up examination.
Rabbinic literature describes additional laws regarding the inspection:
* The ''kohen'' must be able to see the entirety of the lesion. Thus, if the skin eruption or bald spot wraps around either the body or body parts, or occurs at the tip of terminal body parts—any place that would preclude the observation of the entire lesion at one time (i.e. wrapping around the torso, scalp or arm, or occurring at the tip of a finger or toe) – there can be no declaration of ''tzaraath''.
* In a similar vein, a ''kohen'' who is blind in one eye or who cannot see well may not perform the inspections. An eligible ''kohen'' may inspect anyone, including his relatives, except himself. Even a non-''kohen'' may perform the inspection if they are proficient in the laws of ''nega'im'', but only a ''kohen'' may declare purity or impurity. A non-''kohen'' examiner may inform an accompanying inexpert ''kohen'' of his determination that a ''negah'' is or is not ''tzaraath'' and the ''kohen'' declares "purity" or "impurity".Mishnah ''Nega'im'' 3:1
* ''Nega'im'' do not render impurity on parts of the body that are naturally concealed by other parts of the body according to specific regulations. For skin eruptions on the legs, men are inspected standing as though they are hoeing and women standing as though they are rolling dough. For eruptions on the arms, men raise their arms as though they are picking olives and women raise their arms as though they are weaving or spinning.
* ''Nega'im'' do not render
gentile
Gentile () is a word that usually means "someone who is not a Jew". Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, sometimes use the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is generally used as a synonym fo ...
s impure.
* A groom is exempt from visiting the ''kohen'' until the eighth day after his wedding for any ''nega'im'' on his flesh, garments or house. Similarly, there are no inspections carried out on the days of
Passover
Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the Biblical story of the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt, which occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, the first month of Aviv, or spring. ...
, Shavuot or Sukkot.
* Even on the days when inspections are performed, they are only allowed for two hours each day: during the fourth and eighth hour of the day (corresponding roughly to 9–10 AM and 2–3 PM).
The ''metzora'': management of ''tzaraath'' of human flesh
The individual who is declared impure with ''tzaraath'' is referred to as either a ''tzarua'' (צרוע) or a ''metzora'' (מצורע). The ''metzora'' is shunned and must live alone outside the confines of the community (Leviticus 13:46) The ''metzora'' tears his or her garments in mourning like those who are in
mourning
Mourning is the expression of an experience that is the consequence of an event in life involving loss, causing grief, occurring as a result of someone's death, specifically someone who was loved although loss from death is not exclusively ...
for a close family member and does not cut his or her hair. The ''metzora'' must also cover his or her face until the upper lip in the fashion of mourners, and he or she calls out "impure, impure" to warn others to keep their distance. They were required to wear torn clothes, keep their hair unkempt, cover the lower part of their face, cry out '' ituallyimpure, ituallyimpure'', and reside away from other people.
A few
medical historians
Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, and Health promotion ...
, such as Arturo Castiglioni, regard this as the first model of sanitary legislation. Nevertheless, several Talmudic laws treat ''tzaraath'' as noncontagious: non-Jewish victims of ''tzaraath'' were not considered ritually impure; in special circumstances (during a holy day, or for a
bridegroom
A bridegroom (often shortened to groom) is a man who is about to be married or who is newlywed.
When marrying, the bridegroom's future spouse (if female) is usually referred to as the bride. A bridegroom is typically attended by a best man ...
after his
wedding
A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vo ...
) the ''cohens inspection could be delayed until after the celebrations; in cases where white hair is a sign of ''tzaraat'', if the white hairs were plucked before the inspection then the person was not declared impure.
Once the ''metzoras lesion vanishes, he is evaluated by a ''kohen'', who leaves the community to examine him. When the ''kohen'' observes the resolution of the ''tzaraath'', he begins a procedure that ultimately reverses the impure status of the ''metzora'' (Leviticus 14:4).
Purification ritual
Spring water is placed in an earthenware vessel, over which one of the birds (traditionally recognized as being a sparrow,) is slaughtered and into which the blood is allowed to run. The ''
kohen
Kohen ( he, , ''kōhēn'', , "priest", pl. , ''kōhănīm'', , "priests") is the Hebrew word for " priest", used in reference to the Aaronic priesthood, also called Aaronites or Aaronides. Levitical priests or ''kohanim'' are traditionally ...
'' (priest) then dips the remaining bird and other items into the bloodied water and sprinkles the ''metzora'' (the afflicted) seven times on the back of the hand. Some say the sprinkling was done onto his or her forehead.Mishnah ''Nega'im'' 14:1 The identical procedure was performed for a house struck by ''tzaraath'', with the sprinkling done on the lintel. The slaughtered bird was buried in the presence of the ''metzora'' and the live bird was freed into the open field.
The ''metzora'' washes their garments from impurity and shaves off all their hair, save for that located in places similar to those in which ''nega'im'' are not subject to impurity. The ''metzora'' then waits for seven days to begin the final steps of his or her purification ceremony (Leviticus 14:8–9). On the seventh day, the ''metzora'' again washes the garments he or she had been wearing from impurity and again shaves off all of his or her hair. On the eighth day, the ''metzora'' brings three animal sacrifices to the
Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem, or alternatively the Holy Temple (; , ), refers to the two now-destroyed religious structures that served as the central places of worship for Israelites and Jews on the modern-day Temple Mount in the Old City of Jeru ...
: a sin offering of a female lamb and a guilt offering and a
burnt offering
A holocaust is a religious animal sacrifice that is completely consumed by fire. The word derives from the Ancient Greek ''holokaustos'' which is used solely for one of the major forms of sacrifice, also known as a burnt offering.
Etymology and ...
, both of male lambs (Leviticus 14:10).
Blood from the slaughtered guilt offering was placed on the right ear, right thumb and right big toe of the ''metzora'' (Leviticus 14:14). The need for this to be done was cause for some complication, because the ''metzora'' was not allowed into Temple grounds prior to his purification process and the blood of the offering was not allowed out of the Temple grounds. To reconcile this dilemma, the ''metzora'' stuck these body parts through the gateway one at a time to receive the blood. The same was done with the oil from the flour offerings of the ''metzora''. If the ''metzora'' lost any of these body parts after he was ready for purification, he could never obtain purification (Mishnah ''Nega'im'' 14:9).
When the priest had certified that ''tzaraath'' had been cured, the biblical text requires that the formerly infected person undergo a number of ritual events, some occurring straight away, and some occurring a week later. According to critical scholars, these are really two independent rituals spliced together, with the first group being the ritual that was originally part of the regulations for ''tzaraath'' of skin, and the other group being a later attempt at replacing the first group of rituals, so that the regulations fitted better with the sacrifice-centric view of the Aaronid priesthood. The biblical text states that a ritual, almost identical to the first group of rituals for skin-''tzaraath'', also had to be carried out for houses that had been cured of infections from ''tzaraath''; however, there is no further ritual for houses that could parallel the second group of rituals for skin-''tzaraath''.
The first group of requirements are that the formerly infected person kills a (ritually pure) bird over fresh water, in a clay pot, and dips another living bird, together with cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and
ezov
Ezov ( he, אֵזוֹב) is the Classical Hebrew name of a plant mentioned in the Bible in the context of religious rituals. In some English-language Bibles, the word is transliterated as ''ezob.''
The Septuagint translates the name as ὕσσ ...
, into the blood; this combination was used to sprinkle the formerly infected person seven times with the blood. Once the surviving bird was released over open fields, and the formerly infected person had shaved off all their hair, and bathed themselves and their clothes in water, they were counted as ritually pure. According to biblical scholars, this ritual is primarily an example of sympathetic magic, with the running water and living bird being symbolic representations of ritual impurity going away; killing animals over running water was a widespread ancient custom. The cedar and ezob have more practical applications, with cedarwood having medicinal properties, and ezob being a good implement to use for sprinkling.
In the second group of requirements, having completed the first group, the formerly infected person is required to avoid their own home for a week (although they may mix with other people), after which they must shave off absolutely all of their hair, including their
eyebrow
An eyebrow is an area of short hairs above each eye that follows the shape of the lower margin of the brow ridges of some mammals. In humans, eyebrows serve two main functions: first, communication through facial expression, and second, preven ...
s, and then wash themselves. Having done this, the formerly infected individual was required to make a standard whole offering, a standard
sin offering
A sin offering ( he, קָרְבַּן חַטָּאת, ''korban ḥatat'', , lit: "purification offering") is a sacrificial offering described and commanded in the Torah (Lev. 4.1-35); it could be fine flour or a proper animal.Leviticus 5:11 A sin ...
(to excuse the profanity of having had ''tzaraath''), and a guilt offering (to apologise for the cause of the ''tzaraath''); if people are too poor to afford that, the Bible allows the standard alternative set of sacrificial victims to be used instead.
Unlike other guilt offerings, the priest was required to put some of the blood from the sacrifice onto the formerly infected person's right ear lobe, right thumb, and right big
toe
Toes are the digits (fingers) of the foot of a tetrapod. Animal species such as cats that walk on their toes are described as being ''digitigrade''. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are described as being ''plan ...
, then some of the oil for the sacrifice had to be poured into the priest's left palm, and applied with the priest's right forefinger onto the formerly infected person's right ear lobe, right thumb, and right big toe, and then the rest of the oil from the priest's palm was to be poured onto the formerly infected person's head; critical scholars regard the Priestly Code, of which the ''tzaraath'' regulations are a part, to have been written in the early 7th century, and it is in this context that these additional rules have significance. By that era, non-priests were not allowed to pass beyond a certain gateway (the gate of Nicanor) in the complex at the
Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem, or alternatively the Holy Temple (; , ), refers to the two now-destroyed religious structures that served as the central places of worship for Israelites and Jews on the modern-day Temple Mount in the Old City of Jeru ...
, while the blood from sacrifices couldn't pass outside, thus for a person to be touched by the blood, they had to lean through the gateway without setting foot on the other side; the right ear, thumb, and toe, were symbolically the parts of the body that achieve this.
The remaining portion of the olive oil from the purification offering, called in Hebrew ''log shemen shel metzora'', is retained by the ''kohen'' at the completion of his service. This portion is listed as one of the twenty-four kohanic gifts.
Stories involving tzaraat
The Torah also speaks of ''tzaraath'' in two stories:
* In , when Moses is standing before the
burning bush
The burning bush (or the unburnt bush) refers to an event recorded in the Jewish Torah (as also in the biblical Old Testament). It is described in the third chapter of the Book of Exodus as having occurred on Mount Horeb. According to the ...
, he doubts that the
Israelites
The Israelites (; , , ) were a group of Semitic-speaking tribes in the ancient Near East who, during the Iron Age, inhabited a part of Canaan.
The earliest recorded evidence of a people by the name of Israel appears in the Merneptah Stele o ...
will believe that he is the messenger of God. God provides him with two signs to prove his mission: turning his rod into a snake and then back into a rod and turning his hand into being stricken with ''tzaraath'' and then back again. Moses revealed these wonders to the elders in .
* In Numbers 12:10, Miriam was stricken with ''tzaraath'' for her involvement in slandering Moses. Aaron asks Moses to cure her. Moses prays for his sister and she is cured of the ''tzaraath'' but must remain in confinement for seven days. The Torah, however, does not indicate that she went through any purification process similar to what is normally required.
Rabbinic interpretation
The laws of ''tzaraath'' are dealt with in Mishnah
Nega'im
Neghaʿim (Hebrew: נגעים, "Blemishes") is the third tractate of the order of Tohorot in the Mishnah. It consists of fourteen chapters. Nega'im describes the various forms of ''tzaraath'', a leprosy-like disease described in the Parshiyot of ...
.
Rabbi
Samson Raphael Hirsch
Samson Raphael Hirsch (; June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was a German Orthodox rabbi best known as the intellectual founder of the '' Torah im Derech Eretz'' school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. Occasionally termed ''neo-Orthodoxy'', hi ...
clams that ''tzaraath'' was not to be interpreted as a medical malady, but rather as a spiritual affliction. The verse itself arguably suggests this, as it directs those who find themselves afflicted to seek out a ''Kohen'' (priest) and not a doctor, while the Torah does permit and even encourages those who are in need of medical care to seek treatment from physicians.
The Torah's emphasis is clearly on the ''tumah'' (טומאה, "ritual impurity") that results from a diagnosis of ''tzaraath'' because the verses focus on the ''kohen''s declaration of "unclean" – וראהו הכהן וטמא אתו ("The ''kohen'' will see he eruptionand eclarehim impure").
The Talmud, and the majority of historic Jewish literature in general, regards ''tzaraath'' as a punishment for
sin
In a religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law. Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered immoral, selfish, s ...
; it lists seven possible causes for ''tzaraath'':
* an '' evil tongue'' (malicious
gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act is also known as dishing or tattling.
Gossip is a topic of research in evolutionary psychology, which has found gossip to be an important means ...
) (elsewhere, this is supported by the wordplay ''metzora'' (leper) - ''motzi
hem
A hem in sewing is a garment finishing method, where the edge of a piece of cloth is folded and sewn to prevent unravelling of the fabric and to adjust the length of the piece in garments, such as at the end of the sleeve or the bottom of the g ...
oath
Traditionally an oath (from Anglo-Saxon ', also called plight) is either a statement of fact or a promise taken by a sacrality as a sign of verity. A common legal substitute for those who conscientiously object to making sacred oaths is to g ...
* illicit sexual intercourse
*
pride
Pride is defined by Merriam-Webster as "reasonable self-esteem" or "confidence and satisfaction in oneself". A healthy amount of pride is good, however, pride sometimes is used interchangeably with "conceit" or "arrogance" (among other words) w ...
*
theft
Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for som ...
*
miser
A miser is a person who is reluctant to spend, sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities, in order to hoard money or other possessions. Although the word is sometimes used loosely to characterise anyone who ...
ic'' source categorically states that ''tzaraath'' only appeared as punishment for ''evil tongue'', while others add further reasons to the list in the Talmud. Unlike the modern medical approach, which seeks to cure by natural means, the classical Jewish sources argue that cure from ''tzaraath'' only came about through repentance and forgiveness. In particular, the
Midrash Rabba
Midrash Rabba or Midrash Rabbah can refer to part of or the collective whole of specific aggadic midrashim on the books of the Torah and the Five Megillot, generally having the term "Rabbah" (), meaning "great," as part of their name. These midra ...
sees the different types of ''tzaraath'' as increasing levels of punishment, which could be curtailed at any stage if repentance was made:
#the first stage in the Rabbah's view was the infection of homes, and if repentance came here it only required removal of the affected stones for a cure.
#in the second stage, the entire house must be torn down as the ''tzaraath'' would not go away, and the infection came upon one's clothes; if repentance came here it required only washing of the clothes for a cure.
#in the third stage of Rabbah's scheme, the clothes must be burnt, and the infection enters the person's skin; if repentance occurs here then purification could occur.
#in the fourth stage, which only occurs when the person has completely refused to repent, the person is forced to dwell alone.
As a "physical manifestation of a spiritual malaise," ''tzaraath'' is a "divine retribution for the offender's failure to feel the needs and share the hurt of others." Although the medical and chemical conditions, which scholars consider the descriptions to fit, have obvious natural causes in the light of modern scientific knowledge, the biblical texts characterise it as a spiritual affliction with a supernatural cause, bringing
ritual impurity
Ritual purification is the ritual prescribed by a religion by which a person is considered to be free of ''uncleanliness'', especially prior to the worship of a deity, and ritual purity is a state of ritual cleanliness. Ritual purification may ...
to its victims. Each victim of ''tzaraas'' mentioned by the Bible is stated to have received the condition due to some transgression of biblical laws, including
Joab
Joab (Hebrew Modern: ''Yōʼav'', Tiberian: ''Yōʼāḇ'') the son of Zeruiah, was the nephew of King David and the commander of his army, according to the Hebrew Bible.
Name
The name Joab is, like many other Hebrew names, theophoric - de ...
being cursed for the murder of Abner (whose blood was shed deceitfully in time of peace),
Gehazi
Gehazi, Geichazi, or Giezi ( Douay-Rheims) (Hebrew: ; ''Gēḥăzī''; "valley of vision"), is a figure found in the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible.
A servant of the prophet Elisha, Gehazi enjoyed a position of power but was ultimately corrupt ...
(for 1. rebelling against Elisha's decision to not take payment for a miracle God had worked 2. working deceitfully to take the payment 3. lying to Elisha, saying he hadn't done the thing); and
Uzziah
Uzziah (; he, עֻזִּיָּהוּ ''‘Uzzīyyāhū'', meaning "my strength is Yah"; el, Ὀζίας; la, Ozias), also known as Azariah (; he, עֲזַרְיָה ''‘Azaryā''; el, Αζαρίας; la, Azarias), was the tenth king of t ...
for presuming to burn incense in the Holy Temple—violating a clear and direct Commandment of God (which prohibited anyone besides the priests to burn incense).
Other classical rabbinical writers saw ''tzaraath'' of houses as having a practical benefit. According to one, as well as being a punishment for miserliness, it also demonstrated that the house owner was lying, if they had said they did not own certain objects neighbours had asked to borrow, since the biblical regulations require the house owner to take all their possessions outside prior to confinement. On the other hand,
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzchaki ( he, רבי שלמה יצחקי; la, Salomon Isaacides; french: Salomon de Troyes, 22 February 1040 – 13 July 1105), today generally known by the acronym Rashi (see below), was a medieval French rabbi and author of a compre ...
, basing his view on the
Leviticus Rabbah
Leviticus Rabbah, Vayikrah Rabbah, or Wayiqra Rabbah is a homiletic midrash to the Biblical book of Leviticus (''Vayikrah'' in Hebrew). It is referred to by Nathan ben Jehiel (c. 1035–1106) in his ''Arukh'' as well as by Rashi (1040–1105) ...
, states that ''tzaraath'' of houses was a reward for the homeowner, arguing that the
Israelite
The Israelites (; , , ) were a group of Semitic-speaking tribes in the ancient Near East who, during the Iron Age, inhabited a part of Canaan.
The earliest recorded evidence of a people by the name of Israel appears in the Merneptah Stele o ...
homes had previously been those of Canaanites, who had hidden their valuables in the walls; the ''tzaraath'' required the house owner to remove the bricks, and so find the treasures hidden there.
Rather than following the biblical descriptions of the symptoms of ''tzaraath'' in the manner of modern doctors, classical rabbinical literature took an extremely literal view. In the group of symptoms where the hair of the inflicted region has turned white, the
Mishnah
The Mishnah or the Mishna (; he, מִשְׁנָה, "study by repetition", from the verb ''shanah'' , or "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first major written collection of the Jewish oral traditions which is known as the Oral Tor ...
argues that plucking out the white hair was all that was required for the disease not to be considered ''tzaraath''; similarly since the biblical text mentions ''tzaraath'' occurring where boils had previously healed, but not where unhealed boils exist, the Mishnah maintains that the appearance of the other symptoms in an unhealed boil or burn do not indicate ''tzaraath'', and that if the boil or burn subsequently heals, it still doesn't indicate ''tzaraath'', unless the other symptoms occur in parts of the body not previously diseased. The Mishnah also argues that sores smaller than the size of a
lentil
The lentil (''Lens culinaris'' or ''Lens esculenta'') is an edible legume. It is an annual plant known for its lens-shaped seeds. It is about tall, and the seeds grow in pods, usually with two seeds in each. As a food crop, the largest pro ...
, those on the extremities of the body (such as the fingers, toes, ears, nose, breasts, etc.), those that occur in the location of an unhealed boil or burn, and those that occur in hairy parts of the body, do not indicate ''tzaraath''.
The items used in the purification ritual were specifically included to deliver a message to the ''metzora''. The sin most associated with ''tzaraath'' is ''
lashon hara
''Lashon hara'' (or ''loshon horo'', or ''loshon hora'') ( he, לשון הרע; "evil tongue") is the halakhic term for speech about a person or persons that is negative or harmful to them, even though it is true. It is speech that damages the p ...
'' (an "evil tongue",''
Bavli
Bavli ( he, בבלי), or Shikun Bavli, is a neighborhood in central Tel Aviv, Israel, named after the Babylonian Talmud, and bounded by Hayarkon Park on the north, Ayalon highway to the east, Namir road to the west, and Park Tzameret to the ...
'' '' Arachin'' 16b to speak derogatorily about others consistently to one's friends is likened to birds, who chatter endlessly. In a similar vein, the one who speaks ill of others is haughty, holding himself or herself high above others and is likened to the tall
cedar
Cedar may refer to:
Trees and plants
*''Cedrus'', common English name cedar, an Old-World genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae
*Cedar (plant), a list of trees and plants known as cedar
Places United States
* Cedar, Arizona
* ...
. To be healed, the ''metzora'' must erase arrogance, making themselves lowly like a worm. This is a play on words—the word ''tola'as'' (תולעת) means both "red" and "worm" – as well as hyssop.
Current practice
The laws of ''tzaraat'' are not practiced by contemporary Jews. Views differ as to why this is the case. According to one approach, one could contract ''tzaraath'' nowadays, but this is practically irrelevant because in the absence of a Temple it is impossible to perform the ''tzaraath'' purification ritual, and because since the exile there is no commandment to remove ''tzaraath'' sufferers from the camp. According to another approach, one cannot formally acquire the status of ''tzaraath'' since there are currently no priests with proven priestly lineage who can declare this status, or else because current priests do not have the necessary tradition or knowledge to determine the status, or because the
Temple robes
Temple robes describe the ceremonial clothing worn in the performance of ordinances and ceremonies in a temple.
Buddhist tradition
Traditional robes, worn by monks both within and without Buddhist temples, appear in a variety of configuratio ...
which must be worn while declaring the status are unavailable. A third approach is that in times of exile ''tzaraath'' is not regarded as a direct Divine punishment with a ritual remedy, but rather as a normal physical disease whose treatment is purely medical.Efraim Vaynman Contemporary Tzaraat? /ref>
Affliction of clothing
''Tzaraath'' can also afflict garments ( Leviticus 13:47). Garment ''tzaraath'' is relevant to only three materials:
#
wool
Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. ...
(Hebrew צמר)
# linen (Hebrew פשתים)
# Two types of
leather
Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffalo, pigs and hog ...
are indicated in Leviticus 13:48:
## unworked leather (עור)
## finished leather (כל מלאכת עור, literally "all worked leather")
In a wool or linen garment, the ''tzaraath'' may appear as a uniformly existing ''negah'' within the material or as a ''negah'' limited to either only the woof or
warp
Warp, warped or warping may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Books and comics
* WaRP Graphics, an alternative comics publisher
* ''Warp'' (First Comics), comic book series published by First Comics based on the play ''Warp!''
* Warp (comics), a ...
(או בשתי או בערב) of the garment (Leviticus 13:48).
There are a number of limitations to ''tzaraath'' as it applies to clothing:
* Clothing belonging to a
gentile
Gentile () is a word that usually means "someone who is not a Jew". Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, sometimes use the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is generally used as a synonym fo ...
are insusceptible to ''tzaraath''.
* Only sheep's wool is susceptible to a ''negah'' of ''tzaraath'', although an even mixture of sheep's wool and another type of wool (camel's wool, for example) can be afflicted.Mishnah ''Nega'im'' 11:2 In a similar vein, a mixture of plant fibers containing linen is insusceptible unless it is at least half linen.
* The leather referred to by the Torah does not include the hides of marine animals.
* The fabric of wool or linen or leather article cannot be rendered impure by ''tzaraath'' if it is artificially dyed. If, however, the item is naturally colored (such as wool from a black sheep), it can be rendered impure.
Appearance, inspection and management of ''tzaraath'' in clothing
''Tzaraath'' appears in clothing as an intense green (ירקרק – ''yerakrak'') or red (אדמדם – ''adamdam'') eruption, and must be brought to the ''
kohen
Kohen ( he, , ''kōhēn'', , "priest", pl. , ''kōhănīm'', , "priests") is the Hebrew word for " priest", used in reference to the Aaronic priesthood, also called Aaronites or Aaronides. Levitical priests or ''kohanim'' are traditionally ...
'' for inspection. A garment cannot be declared impure upon initial examination; rather, it is confined for seven days, and if on the seventh day, the eruption has spread, the garment is declared impure with ''tzaraath''. Subsequent to a declaration of ''tzaraath'', the garment, whether wool, linen or leather, is completely burnt in fire; if the ''tzaraath'' was confined to the woof or warp, only that need be burnt.
Upon re-evaluation after the seven-day confinement, the ''kohen'' may instruct that the garment with the eruption be washed and confined once more for seven days. If upon a second re-evaluation after the second seven days of confinement, the ''kohen'' sees that the eruption did not dim and did not spread, the garment is declared impure and must be completely burnt.
If the second re-evaluation reveals a dimming of the eruption, the ''kohen'' tears the area with the eruption from the garment and burns the torn out portion completely. The torn out area is patched to allow for a reinspection of the area for return of the ''negah''.Mishnah ''Nega'im'' 11:5 If, the eruption returns to the patch, there is no confinement period instituted and the entire garment is completely burnt.; if a ''negah'' reappears on the garment but not on the patch, the garment must be burned but the patch can be saved. To recapitulate, if the ''negah'' remained as it was after the first week of confinement, it is washed and reconfined. If it remained as it was after the second week of confinement, it is burned.
If, however, upon the second re-evaluation, the ''negah'' disappears, the garment must be immersed in a '' mikveh'' (מקוה, "ritual bath") and is then pure.
Fabrics and clothing affected by ''tzaraath'' were required by the text to be burnt entirely, unless it was the form of ''tzaraath'' that faded after washing but came back after being torn out, in which case it could be considered ''ritually pure'' as soon as the ''tzaraath'' had gone, and it had subsequently been washed.
Affliction of housing
The third and last type of ''tzaraath'' mentioned by the Torah affects buildings. If an individual notices an affliction on his house, he is to inform a ''
kohen
Kohen ( he, , ''kōhēn'', , "priest", pl. , ''kōhănīm'', , "priests") is the Hebrew word for " priest", used in reference to the Aaronic priesthood, also called Aaronites or Aaronides. Levitical priests or ''kohanim'' are traditionally ...
''. The ''kohen'' will then command that they empty the house of all of its contents prior to his inspection; this is to prevent further financial loss, because should the house be confined, everything within it became impure as well.Leviticus 14:36
When the ''kohen'' comes to perform the inspection, he looks for lesions on the wall that appear either intense green (ירקרקת) or intense red (אדמדמת) and that appear sunken below the
plane
Plane(s) most often refers to:
* Aero- or airplane, a powered, fixed-wing aircraft
* Plane (geometry), a flat, 2-dimensional surface
Plane or planes may also refer to:
Biology
* Plane (tree) or ''Platanus'', wetland native plant
* ''Planes' ...
of the wall's surface (שפל מן הקיר, literally "lower than the wall"). If this is what he sees, the ''kohen'' exits the house and confines it for seven days.
On the seventh day, upon re-evaluating the eruption, if the ''kohen'' sees that the eruption has spread beyond what it had been, the afflicted stones are removed, the area around the afflicted stones is scraped and both the removed stones and clay plaster are cast into a place of impurity. At least two afflicted stones are necessary for removal of any stones and at least two new stones must be used to fill the void.Mishnah ''Nega'im'' 12:6 If the afflicted wall is shared by two houses owned by two neighbors, both neighbors must help to remove the afflicted stones, scrape and place the new stones, but only the owner of the house whose interior was afflicted performs the replastering. It is from this ruling that the
proverb
A proverb (from la, proverbium) is a simple and insightful, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic language. A proverbial phrase or a proverbia ...
''Oy l'rasha, oy l'scheino'' (אוי לרשע אוי לשכנו, "Woe to the wicked! Woe to his neighbor!") originates.
The void is filled with new stones and clay plaster and the house is confined for another seven days. If upon a second re-evaluation, the ''negah'' has returned after new stones have been plastered in, the ''negah'' is deemed ''tzaraath'' and the entire house must be dismantled. If the ''negah'' does not return, the house is pronounced pure, and the same purification process mentioned in relation to ''tzaraath'' of human flesh is employed here.
There are numerous limitations put on the ''tzaraath'' that afflicts houses:
* The house of a
gentile
Gentile () is a word that usually means "someone who is not a Jew". Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, sometimes use the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is generally used as a synonym fo ...
is insusceptible to ''tzaraath''.
* Only houses that possess four walls and four corners are susceptible. Similarly, only those houses that rest on the ground are susceptible, to the exclusion of those that are suspended above ground or are built on a boat.
* ''Tzaraath'' only affects houses that are built entirely out of stones, wood and clay plaster. If any of the four walls are built or internally overlaid with
marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the term ''marble'' refers to metamorphose ...
, natural outcropping of rock, brick or earthen soil, that wall is insusceptible to ''tzaraath'', and a house cannot be rendered impure unless all four walls are susceptible.
* Two storey houses are treated as two distinct houses and the beams that serve as the floor of the upper storey and the roof of the lower storey are allowed to remain with whichever house remains.
* Houses are the only buildings that are susceptible to ''tzaraath'' (not, for example, barns or cattle stalls) and only houses that exist within the region of land originally divided among the 12 tribes, because the verse refers to ''beis eretz achuzaschem'' (בית ארץ אחזתכם, "a house of the land of your inheritance"); this also excludes houses in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
, because it was not given as an inheritance to any one tribe, but rather held jointly by all of
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
.
''Tzaraath'' infections in houses were to be treated similarly harshly according to the biblical regulations, and didn't have any exceptions; stones showing the symptoms had to be removed, and the house had to be scraped, with the removed stones and scraped-off clay being cast into a rubbish heap outside the city, and if the infection returned once replacement stones were laid and daubed with clay, then the whole house had to be dismantled, with the rubble again going to the tip outside the city. Additionally, people who had been in a house while it was infected with ''tzaraath'' was considered ritually impure until the evening came, and anyone who had eaten or slept there had to also wash their clothes.
Modern medical interpretations
''Tzaraath'' of the skin
Scholars suspect that the descriptions of ''tzaraath'' of the skin actually refer to a number of different
skin diseases
A skin condition, also known as cutaneous condition, is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system—the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of thi ...
,''Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia'' which, owing to the undeveloped state of medical science at that period, were not distinguished. A wide range of diseases known to modern medicine have been suggested as differential diagnosis of ''tzaraath'', including
psoriasis
Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by raised areas of abnormal skin. These areas are red, pink, or purple, dry, itchy, and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small, localized patches to complete ...
,
seborrhoeic dermatitis
Seborrhoeic dermatitis, sometimes inaccurately referred to as seborrhoea, is a long-term skin disorder. Symptoms include red, scaly, greasy, itchy, and inflamed skin. Areas of the skin rich in oil-producing glands are often affected including the ...
,
favid
Favus (Latin for "honeycomb") or tinea favosa is the severe form of tinea capitis, a skin infectious disease caused by the dermatophyte fungus '' Trichophyton schoenleinii.'' Typically the species affects the scalp, but occasionally occurs as ony ...
,
dermatophyte infections
Many skin conditions affect the human integumentary system—the organ system covering the entire surface of the body and composed of skin, hair, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this system is as a barrier agains ...
,
nummular dermatitis
Nummular dermatitis is one of the many forms of dermatitis. it is characterized by round or oval-shaped itchy lesions. The name comes from the Latin word " nummus," which means "coin."
Signs and symptoms
Nummular dermatitis is characterized by chr ...
pityriasis rosea
Pityriasis rosea is a type of skin rash. Classically, it begins with a single red and slightly scaly area known as a "herald patch". This is then followed, days to weeks later, by an eruption of many smaller scaly spots; pinkish with a red edge i ...
,
crusted scabies
Scabies (; also sometimes known as the seven-year itch) is a contagious skin infestation by the mite ''Sarcoptes scabiei''. The most common symptoms are severe itchiness and a pimple-like rash. Occasionally, tiny burrows may appear on the ski ...
impetigo
Impetigo is a bacterial infection that involves the superficial skin. The most common presentation is yellowish crusts on the face, arms, or legs. Less commonly there may be large blisters which affect the groin or armpits. The lesions may be pa ...
alopecia areata
Alopecia areata, also known as spot baldness, is a condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body. Often, it results in a few bald spots on the scalp, each about the size of a coin. Psychological stress and illness are pos ...
,
boil
A boil, also called a furuncle, is a deep folliculitis, which is an infection of the hair follicle. It is most commonly caused by infection by the bacterium '' Staphylococcus aureus'', resulting in a painful swollen area on the skin caused by ...
lichen simplex chronicus
Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) is thick leathery skin with exaggerated skin markings caused by sudden itching and excessive rubbing and scratching. It generally results in small bumps, patches, scratch marks and scale. It typically affects the ...
lupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus is a collection of autoimmune diseases in which the human immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissues. Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blo ...
,
lichen sclerosus et atrophicus
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.folliculitis decalvans,
morphea
Morphea is a form of scleroderma that involves isolated patches of hardened skin on the face, hands, and feet, or anywhere else on the body, with no internal organ involvement.
Signs and symptoms
Morphea most often presents as macules or pl ...
,
sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis (also known as ''Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann disease'') is a disease involving abnormal collections of inflammatory cells that form lumps known as granulomata. The disease usually begins in the lungs, skin, or lymph nodes. Less commonly a ...
, and
lichen planopilaris
Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated disease that affects the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membranes. It is not an actual lichen, and is only named that because it looks like one. It is characterized by polygonal, fla ...
.
Of the particular situations that Leviticus describes as being ''tzaraath'',
* the whitening of the skin over the whole body with sores, is considered by scholars to be most indicative of
psoriasis
Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by raised areas of abnormal skin. These areas are red, pink, or purple, dry, itchy, and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small, localized patches to complete ...
impetigo
Impetigo is a bacterial infection that involves the superficial skin. The most common presentation is yellowish crusts on the face, arms, or legs. Less commonly there may be large blisters which affect the groin or armpits. The lesions may be pa ...
* the spreading of swellings or spots in a burn injury, according to scholars, is most probably a result of
erysipelas
Erysipelas () is a relatively common bacterial infection of the superficial layer of the skin ( upper dermis), extending to the superficial lymphatic vessels within the skin, characterized by a raised, well-defined, tender, bright red rash, t ...
* in regard to subcutaneous disease where the hair has turned white
** the additional presence of swellings or spots in a burn injury are thought by scholars most likely to be tropical sores
** the additional presence of bodily sores, and swellings or spots where there previously had been a boil, is one of the classical symptoms of
leprosy
Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...
** the additional presence of sores on the head or chin is thought by scholars to most probably indicate the presence of
ringworm
Dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin. Typically it results in a red, itchy, scaly, circular rash. Hair loss may occur in the area affected. Symptoms begin four to fourteen days after exposure. Multiple ar ...
Russian pathologist Gregory Minh discovered that leprosy is
contagious
Contagious may refer to:
* Contagious disease
Literature
* Contagious (magazine), a marketing publication
* ''Contagious'' (novel), a science fiction thriller novel by Scott Sigler
Music
Albums
*''Contagious'' (Peggy Scott-Adams album), 1997
* ...
; assuming that biblical ''tzaraat'' is non-contagious, he therefore concluded that ''tzaraath'' is in fact
vitiligo
Vitiligo is a disorder that causes the skin to lose its color. Specific causes are unknown but studies suggest a link to immune system changes.
Signs and symptoms
The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of depigmen ...
. Similarly, Reuven Kalisher suggested that vitiligo is the most likely candidate for biblical ''tzaraath'', as it is non-contagious, cause the hair located within the discolored area to turn white (also known as
poliosis
Poliosis (also called poliosis circumscripta), is the decrease or absence of melanin (or colour) in head hair, eyebrows, eyelashes or any other hairy area. It is popularly known as white forelock when it affects hair directly above the forehead.
...
or leukotrichia), and can grow in size within a week to two-week period.
Yehuda L. Katzenelson
Yehuda Leib Katsnelson, (Russian: Лев (Иегуда Лейб Вениамин) Израилевич Каценельсон; 29 November 1846, (Hebrew Calendar 10 Kislev 5690), Chernigov – 1917, Petrograd), also known by his pen name 'Buki Ben ...
added that while vitiligo lacks the characteristic of biblical ''tzaraat'', the
Mishna
The Mishnah or the Mishna (; he, מִשְׁנָה, "study by repetition", from the verb ''shanah'' , or "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first major written collection of the Jewish oral traditions which is known as the Oral Torah ...
(
Negaim
Neghaʿim (Hebrew: נגעים, "Blemishes") is the third tractate of the order of Tohorot in the Mishnah. It consists of fourteen chapters. Nega'im describes the various forms of ''tzaraath'', a leprosy-like disease described in the Parshiyot of Ta ...
, chapter 1) also does not mention this characteristic. However Katzenelson concluded his analysis by listing many unanswered difficulties with Minh's opinion.
Similar conditions not considered ''tzaraath''
In addition to simple
rash
A rash is a change of the human skin which affects its color, appearance, or texture.
A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, c ...
es,
inflammation
Inflammation (from la, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants, and is a protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molec ...
s, and swellings, the biblical text mentions a number of other conditions that could be confused with ''tzaraath''. Among other situations the text considers harmless are the appearance of dull white spots, white patches of skin without sores, and baldness without sores; the latter two of these are thought by scholars to most probably refer to
vitiligo
Vitiligo is a disorder that causes the skin to lose its color. Specific causes are unknown but studies suggest a link to immune system changes.
Signs and symptoms
The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of depigmen ...
and
alopecia
Hair loss, also known as alopecia or baldness, refers to a loss of hair from part of the head or body. Typically at least the head is involved. The severity of hair loss can vary from a small area to the entire body. Inflammation or scar ...
, respectively, and the Bible remarks that the former – the dull white spots – are merely a form of
freckles
Freckles are clusters of concentrated melaninized cells which are most easily visible on people with a fair complexion. Freckles do not have an increased number of the melanin-producing cells, or melanocytes, but instead have melanocytes that ...
. The symptoms that the text considers to be indicative of disease include those of the spread of superficial swellings or spots (where there had previously been a boil), and those of reddish-white sores in areas of baldness; the former condition is identified by the Bible as ''plague'', and scholars regard its symptoms as pointing to a
diagnosis
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines, with variations in the use of logic, analytics, and experience, to determine " cause and effect". In systems engin ...
of
smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by variola virus (often called smallpox virus) which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) c ...
, while the latter is unidentified in the biblical text, but considered by scholars to indicate
favus
Favus (Latin for " honeycomb") or tinea favosa is the severe form of tinea capitis, a skin infectious disease caused by the dermatophyte fungus ''Trichophyton schoenleinii.'' Typically the species affects the scalp, but occasionally occurs as ...
.
In clothing fabrics
In addition to infecting the skin, ''tzaraath'' is described by Leviticus as being able to infect historically common clothing fabrics, specifically
wool
Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. ...
leather
Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffalo, pigs and hog ...
. The biblical description of ''tzaraath'' in such fabrics is strikingly analogous to that of ''tzaraath'' in the skin, with, for example, spreading of the infection being tested for by isolating the fabric in question for first 7 days. The principal symptoms are described as being very green or very red spots, which spread within a week, or that do not change appearance at all after a fortnight, having been washed after the first week, or that return a week after having been torn out, if they also had faded with washing prior to being torn out. These descriptions are regarded by scholars as most probably indicative of certain moulds, and especially matching infections by ''
Penicillium
''Penicillium'' () is a genus of ascomycetous fungi that is part of the mycobiome of many species and is of major importance in the natural environment, in food spoilage, and in food and drug production.
Some members of the genus produce pe ...
'' (the
fungus
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from t ...
The biblical text also describes ''tzaraath'' as infecting the walls of houses; the symptoms it describes are depressions in the wall, which are very green or very red, and spread over a period of seven days. The description is regarded by scholars as again being strikingly similar to the wording of the description of ''tzaraath'' infections in the skin, but still somewhat obscure; it would seem to fit some form of fungal growth, especially
dry rot
Dry rot is wood decay caused by one of several species of fungi that digest parts of the wood which give the wood strength and stiffness. It was previously used to describe any decay of cured wood in ships and buildings by a fungus which resul ...
, which produces yellowish-green and reddish patches on walls.
See also
*
Metzora (parsha)
Metzora, Metzorah, M'tzora, Mezora, Metsora, M'tsora, Metsoro, Meṣora, or Maṣoro ( — Hebrew for "one being diseased," the ninth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah) is the 28th weekly Torah portion (, ''parashah'') in the an ...