צָרַע (tsa.ra)
tsa.ra
be leprous
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tsa.ra describes being struck by a specific skin disease, traditionally translated as leprosy. In the Old Testament, it appears eighteen times, primarily in Leviticus and the historical books of Kings and Chronicles. The word functions mainly as a passive description of someone afflicted with this condition, marking them as ritually unclean under Mosaic law.
Its usage is highly technical rather than general. It does not refer to ordinary illness or injury but to a distinct dermatological affliction that required examination by priests. This distinction is crucial because the diagnosis determined whether a person could remain in the community or had to live in isolation, as detailed in Leviticus 13.
The term carries significant theological weight regarding purity and holiness. It was not merely a medical label but a legal status that separated the unclean from the holy assembly. Consequently, stories involving tsa.ra often highlight the tension between physical affliction and spiritual standing, showing how restoration required both healing and ritual cleansing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tsa.ra describes a specific skin condition that marked a person as ritually unclean in ancient Israel. This was not just a medical diagnosis but a legal status that required separation from the community and the sanctuary. The priest’s role was to examine the affliction and declare the person clean or unclean, ensuring that holiness was maintained within the assembly.
For believers today, this distinction highlights the seriousness of sin and its isolating power. Just as the afflicted individual needed a priestly examination and ritual cleansing, we recognize our need for spiritual restoration. The process points to the grace that removes impurity and restores fellowship with God and His people.
Stories like Naaman’s healing show that no condition is beyond God’s reach. When the king of Syria was cleansed, it demonstrated that Yahweh cares for those on the margins. This word reminds us that true wholeness involves both physical healing and restored community standing under God’s law.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] leprous4×
- leprous3×
- having a skin disease3×
- the/ [people] having a skin disease1×
- the/ [one] having a skin disease1×
- the/ [one who] has a serious skin disease1×
- the/ [one who] had a serious skin disease1×
- and/ [one who] has a skin disease1×
- [who] has a serious skin disease1×
- [people] having a skin disease1×
- [one who] has a skin disease1×
- [is] having a serious skin disease1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְצֹרָע֙2×
- צָר֥וּעַ1×
- צָר֙וּעַ֙1×
- צָר֖וּעַ1×
- מְצוֹרָ֣ע1×
- מְצֹרָעִ֖ים1×
- מְצֹרָֽעַת\׃1×
- מְצֹרָֽע\׃1×
- מְצֹרָ֥ע1×
- מְצֹרָ֣ע\׀1×
- מְצֹרָ֔ע1×
- מְצֹרַ֥עַת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 4:6
Yahweh said furthermore to him, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.” He put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.
This occurrence shows God using the affliction as a sign to authenticate Moses’ authority before Pharaoh.
-
Leviticus 13:45
“The leper in whom the plague is shall wear torn clothes, and the hair of his head shall hang loose. He shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’
Here the word defines the social and religious isolation required for anyone bearing this specific plague.
-
II Kings 5:1
Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria; he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
This verse introduces Naaman, showing that even a powerful military leader was subject to this condition.
-
II Chronicles 26:20
Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead; and they thrust him out quickly from there. Indeed, he himself also hurried to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.
The priest’s immediate reaction to Uzziah being struck with tsa.ra underscores the link between royal pride and ritual uncleanness.