Dictionaries :: Leprosy

Leprosy:

(Heb. tsara'ath, a "smiting," a "stroke," because the disease was regarded as a direct providential infliction). This name is from the Greek lepra, by which the Greek physicians designated the disease from its scaliness. We have the description of the disease, as well as the regulations connected with it, in Lev. 13; 14; Num 12:10-15, etc. There were reckoned six different circumstances under which it might develop itself, (1) without any apparent cause (Lev 13:2-8); (2) its reappearance (9-17); (3) from an inflammation (18-28); (4) on the head or chin (29-37); (5) in white polished spots (38, 39); (6) at the back or in the front of the head (40-44).

Lepers were required to live outside the camp or city (Num 5:1-4; 12:10-15, etc.). This disease was regarded as an awful punishment from the Lord (2Ki 5:7; 2Ch 26:20). (See MIRIAM; GEHAZI; UZZIAH.)

This disease "begins with specks on the eyelids and on the palms, gradually spreading over the body, bleaching the hair white wherever they appear, crusting the affected parts with white scales, and causing terrible sores and swellings. From the skin the disease eats inward to the bones, rotting the whole body piecemeal." "In Christ's day no leper could live in a walled town, though he might in an open village. But wherever he was he was required to have his outer garment rent as a sign of deep grief, to go bareheaded, and to cover his beard with his mantle, as if in lamentation at his own virtual death. He had further to warn passers-by to keep away from him, by calling out, 'Unclean! unclean!' nor could he speak to any one, or receive or return a salutation, since in the East this involves an embrace."

That the disease was not contagious is evident from the regulations regarding it (Lev 13:12,13,36; 2Ki 5:1). Leprosy was "the outward and visible sign of the innermost spiritual corruption; a meet emblem in its small beginnings, its gradual spread, its internal disfigurement, its dissolution little by little of the whole body, of that which corrupts, degrades, and defiles man's inner nature, and renders him unmeet to enter the presence of a pure and holy God" (Maclear's Handbook O.T). Our Lord cured lepers (Mat 8:2,3; Mar 1:40-42). This divine power so manifested illustrates his gracious dealings with men in curing the leprosy of the soul, the fatal taint of sin.

Leprosy: Law Concerning

Lev 13; 14; 22:4; Num 5:1-3; 12:14; Deu 24:8; Mat 8:4; Luk 5:14; 17:14

Leprosy: Sent as a Judgment:

On Miriam,

Num 12:1-10;

Gehazi,

2Ki 5:27;

Uzziah,

2Ch 26:20, 21.

Leprosy: Entailed

2Ki 5:27

Leprosy: Isolation of Lepers

Lev 13:46; Num 5:2; 12:14; 2Ki 15:5; 2Ch 26:21

Leprosy: Separate Burial Of

2Ch 26:23

Leprosy: Instances of Leprosy Not Mentioned Above:

Four lepers outside Samaria,

2Ki 7:3;

Azariah,

2Ki 15:5;

Simon,

Mar 14:3.

Leprosy: Healed:

Miriam,

Num 12:13, 14;

Naaman,

2Ki 5:8-14;

by Jesus,

Mat 8:3; Mar 1:40-42; Luk 5:13; 17:12-14.

Leprosy: Disciples Empowered to Heal

Mat 10:8

Leprosy: A Common Disease among the Jews

Luk 4:27

Leprosy: Infected

Men

Luk 17:12

Women

Num 12:10

Houses

Lev 14:34

Garments

Lev 13:47

Leprosy: An Incurable Disease

2Ki 5:7

Leprosy: Often Sent as a Punishment for Sin

Num 12:9,10; 2Ch 26:19

Leprosy: Often Hereditary

2Sa 3:29; 2Ki 5:27

Leprosy: Parts Affected By

The hand

Exd 4:6

The head

Lev 13:44

The forehead

2Ch 26:19

The beard

Lev 13:30

The whole body

Luk 5:12

Leprosy: Often Began with a Bright Red Spot

Lev 13:2,24

Leprosy: Turned the Skin White

Exd 4:6; 2Ki 5:27

Leprosy: Turned the Hair White or Yellow

Lev 13:3,10,30

Leprosy: The Priests

Judges and directors in cases of

Deu 24:8

Examined persons suspected of

Lev 13:2,9

Shut up persons suspected of, seven days

Lev 13:4

Had rules for distinguishing

Lev 13:5-44

Examined all persons healed of

Lev 14:2; Mat 8:4; Luk 17:14

Leprosy: Ceremonies at Cleansing Of

Lev 17:14

Leprosy: Those Afflicted With

Ceremonially unclean

Lev 13:8,11,22,44

Separated from intercourse with others

Num 5:2; 12:14,15

Associated together

2Ki 7:3; Luk 17:12

Dwelt in a separate house

2Ki 15:5

Cut off from God's house

2Ch 26:21

Excluded from priest's office

Lev 22:2-4

To have their heads bare, clothes rent, and lip covered

Lev 13:45

To cry unclean when approached

Lev 13:45

Leprosy: Less Inveterate When It Covered the Whole Body

Lev 13:13

Leprosy: Power of God Manifested in Curing

Num 12:13,14; 2Ki 5:8-14

Leprosy: Power of Christ Manifested in Curing

Mat 8:3; Luk 5:13; 17:13,14

Leprosy: Christ Gave Power to Heal

Mat 10:8

Leprosy: Garments

Suspected of, shown to priest

Lev 13:49

Suspected of, shut up seven days

Lev 13:50

Infected with, to have the piece first torn out

Lev 13:56

Incurable infected with, burned

Lev 13:51,52

Suspected of, but not having, washed and pronounced clean

Lev 13:53,54,58,59

Leprosy: Houses

Suspected of, reported to priest

Lev 14:35

Suspected of, emptied

Lev 14:36

Suspected of, inspected by priest

Lev 14:37

Suspected of, shut up seven days

Lev 14:38

To have the part infected with, first removed, and the rest scraped, &c

Lev 14:39,42

Incurably infected with, pulled down and removed

Lev 14:43-45

Infected with, communicated uncleanness to everyone who entered them

Lev 14:46,47

Suspected of, but not infected, pronounced clean

Lev 14:48

Ceremonies at cleansing of

Lev 14:49-53

Leprosy:

akin to lepros (above), is mentioned in Mat 8:3; Mar 1:42; Luk 5:12, 13. In the removal of other maladies the verb "to heal" (iaomai) is used, but in the removal of "leprosy," the verb "to cleanse" (katharizo), save in the statement concerning the Samaritan, Luk 17:15, "when he saw that he was healed." Mat 10:8; Luk 4:27 indicate that the disease was common in the nation. Only twelve cases are recorded in the NT, but these are especially selected. For the Lord's commands to the leper mentioned in Matthew 8 and to the ten in Luke 17, see Lev 14:2-32.