גַּבַּ֫חַת (gab.ba.chat)

gab.ba.chat

baldness

H1372 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 3 verses

H:N-F

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 3 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-F

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun gabbaḥat refers specifically to a bald patch or area on the head, often emphasizing the forehead. In the biblical text, it appears only three times, all within Leviticus 21:5. Here, it describes a physical condition that disqualified priests from serving at the altar, reflecting ancient concerns about ritual purity and bodily wholeness.

The word’s narrow usage highlights how physical appearance intersected with religious office in Israelite worship. Unlike general terms for hair loss, gabbaḥat points to a visible mark—a bare spot—that would have been immediately noticeable. This specificity underscores the precision with which priestly standards were defined, linking outward appearance to inward sanctity.

Translators typically render gabbaḥat as “baldness” or “bald head,” though this can obscure the term’s focus on a localized defect rather than total hair loss. The repetition in Leviticus reinforces its role as a technical descriptor within legal codes, reminding readers that holiness in ancient Israel involved both moral integrity and physical presentation.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word gabbaḥat describes a specific bald patch on the head or forehead. In ancient Israel, this physical mark was significant for priests serving in the temple. It highlights how outward appearance and ritual purity were closely linked in their worship practices.

For us today, this term reminds us that God pays attention to details. While we are not bound by these specific priestly laws, the underlying principle remains: holiness involves both inner character and outer conduct. We are called to present ourselves fully to God, without hidden flaws or distractions.

This focus on wholeness encourages us to examine our lives honestly. Just as the priests were examined for physical defects, we can seek spiritual integrity in all areas of our walk with Christ.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.

on/ bald forehead/ his2×
on/ bald forehead/ its1×
on the/ bald forehead1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

בְ/גַבַּחְתּֽ/וֹ\׃2×
בַ/גַּבַּ֔חַת1×
בְ/גַבַּחְתּ֑/וֹ1×

Key Verses

Leviticus 13:42
But if a reddish-white plague is in the bald head or the bald forehead, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head or his bald forehead.

This verse identifies a bald patch as a potential site for a serious skin disease, showing how physical conditions were scrutinized for ritual implications.
Leviticus 13:43
Then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body,

Here the priest examines the reddish-white swelling on the bald head to determine if it is a contagious plague requiring isolation.
Leviticus 13:55
Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn’t changed its color, and the plague hasn’t spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside.

This passage clarifies that even after washing, a persistent mark on a bare area remains unclean, emphasizing the permanence of certain physical defects in ritual law.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does gabbaḥat mean in the Bible?

Gabbaḥat refers specifically to a bald patch or area on the head, often on the forehead. It is not general hair loss but a visible mark that had ritual significance in ancient Israel.

Why is this word only in Leviticus?

It appears exclusively in Leviticus 13 and 21 because it was part of the detailed laws concerning priestly purity and skin diseases. These laws governed temple service and community health.

Does this word apply to Christians today?

The specific ritual restrictions do not apply to us. However, the principle of seeking wholeness and integrity before God remains relevant for all believers in their spiritual lives.

Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)

Leviticus 3 verses

Leviticus 13:42

But if a reddish-white plague is in the bald head or the bald forehead, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head or…

Leviticus 13:43

Then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his…

Leviticus 13:55

Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn’t changed its color, and…