Tzaraath

The Hebrew noun tzaraath (Hebrew צרעת [tsaˈʁaʕat], Romanized Tiberian Hebrew ṣāraʻaṯ and numerous variants of English transliteration, including saraath, tzaraas, tzaraat, tsaraas and tsaraat) describes disfigurative conditions of the skin, hair of the beard and head, clothing made of linen or wool, or stones of homes located in the land of Israel. All variations are mainly referred to in chapters 13–14 of Leviticus.

The noun form comes from the verb tzara (צָרַע) which means "to have a skin disease." The linguistic root of tzaraath may mean "smiting", in comparison with Arabic, in reference to a Talmudical explanation that it serves as a punishment for sin; it is quite possible that tzaraath was a general term for certain types of skin disease, rather than a particular condition, and the Talmud maintains a similar view, arguing that tzaraath referred generally to any disease that produces sores and eruptions on the skin.

The masoretic Torah text introduces three variations of tzaraath affecting the skin: שאת, ספחת ובהרת (Se'eth, Sapachath and Bahereth). The Septuagint, a translation of the Hebrew Bible originally used by Greek-speaking Jews and Gentile proselytes, translates the term tzaraath with Greek lepra (λέπρα), from which the cognate "leprosy" was traditionally used in English Bibles. The classical Greek term lepra is primarily used only of skin discoloration and not rot and mildew. The JPS Tanakh translates it as a "scaly affection" in Leviticus 13:2.

Tzaraath is sufficiently dissimilar from leprosy to be considered a different disease altogether, despite its coincidental translation in the Septuagint. For instance, tzaraath is not contagious between individuals, whereas leprosy is slightly contagious. The metzora (Hebrew term for one afflicted with tzaraath) is barred from entering Israel's encampment (in the desert) or the city of Jerusalem not because of contagiousness but because of ritual impurity. The New Testament describes instances of Jesus healing people with leprosy (Luke 5:10), although the precise relationship between this, tzaraath, and Hansen's disease is not established.

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