צָרָב (tsa.tav)
tsa.tav
burning; scar
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective tsarav describes something that is burning or scorching, carrying a visceral sense of heat and damage. In the biblical text, this physical intensity often transitions into a description of the aftermath of injury, specifically referring to the scab or scar left by a sore. This dual meaning connects the active pain of inflammation with the permanent mark of healing.
Its usage is sparse but precise, appearing in only three verses across Leviticus and Proverbs. In Leviticus 13:18-28, it helps classify skin conditions that leave a burning sensation or a white-hot spot, serving as a diagnostic term for ritual purity. The book of Proverbs (16:27) uses the related noun form to describe how a "scorching" mouth can lead to trouble, metaphorically linking destructive speech to physical burning.
The word’s theological weight lies in its honesty about brokenness. It does not shy away from the reality of pain or the visible marks it leaves behind. By naming the scar, Scripture acknowledges that some wounds leave a lasting impression on the body and community, requiring careful attention rather than simple dismissal.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tsarav captures the honest reality of pain and its aftermath. It describes both the active heat of a burn and the permanent scar that remains after healing. This duality reminds us that wounds leave marks, and those marks are part of our story. Scripture does not ignore the sting of injury or the visible evidence of past suffering.
In Leviticus, this term helps priests identify whether a skin condition is healing or spreading. The focus is on careful observation and the restoration of community standing. Similarly, Proverbs warns that destructive speech acts like a scorching fire, leaving emotional scars on relationships. Both uses highlight how pain—whether physical or verbal—requires attention and care.
For your faith life, this word offers comfort in its honesty. It acknowledges that brokenness leaves traces, but it also points toward healing and restoration. The scar is not just a mark of damage; it is evidence that the wound has been seen, assessed, and addressed. In God’s economy, nothing is overlooked, and every mark can become part of a larger story of grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [is] [the] scar of2×
- scorching1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צָרֶ֥בֶת2×
- צָרָֽבֶת\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 13:28
If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread in the skin, but is faded, it is the swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn.
This verse uses tsarav to identify the healed scar from a burn, showing how the word marks the transition from active injury to resolved condition.
-
Proverbs 16:27
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
Here the related noun form describes speech as a scorching fire, linking the physical intensity of burning to the destructive power of harmful words.
-
Leviticus 13:23
But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
This occurrence distinguishes a simple scar from an active disease, emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis for community purity.