גִּבֵּחַ (gib.be.ach)
gib.be.ach
bald
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective gibea describes a specific physical condition: being bald on the forehead. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in Leviticus 13:41, where it is part of the detailed instructions for identifying skin diseases and hair conditions.
In this context, the term distinguishes between general hair loss and a localized recession at the front of the head. The text uses it to help priests determine whether a condition was ritually clean or unclean, showing how ancient laws relied on precise visual markers rather than modern medical diagnoses.
This single occurrence highlights the meticulous nature of Levitical law. By specifying the forehead, the text ensures that minor or temporary hair changes are not confused with the more serious signs requiring isolation, reflecting a system designed for clear, observable community standards.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word gibea appears only once in Scripture, describing a specific type of hair loss on the forehead. In Leviticus, it helped priests distinguish between minor conditions and those requiring ritual attention. This precision shows that God cares about the details of our physical lives, not just our spiritual state.
While we do not follow these ceremonial laws today, the underlying principle remains: God sees us fully. He knows every part of who we are, including our vulnerabilities. Nothing about us is hidden from His sight, and He meets us with grace in our brokenness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [is] bald1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גִּבֵּ֥חַ1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 13:41
If his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, his forehead is bald. He is clean.
This verse uses gibea to identify a specific physical sign that determined ritual cleanliness, showing how precise visual markers guided community health and holiness standards.