קָרַ֫חַת (qa.ra.chat)
qa.ra.chat
baldness
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qaraḥat denotes a state of being bald, specifically referring to the loss of hair on the head or the formation of a bald patch. In the context of the Old Testament, it is not merely a description of physical appearance but carries significant ritual weight. The term appears exclusively in the book of Leviticus, where it functions as part of the legal code governing purity and worship.
Its most notable usage occurs in Leviticus 21:5, which prohibits priests from making baldness (qaraḥat) on their heads during mourning rites. This restriction distinguishes Israel’s religious leaders from surrounding cultures that practiced self-mutilation or extreme displays of grief. By forbidding the creation of a bald spot, the text emphasizes that holiness involves maintaining one’s God-given form rather than altering it to express sorrow.
While the word itself simply means "baldness," its application in Scripture highlights a broader theme: the body as a vessel for divine order. The prohibition against causing qaraḥat underscores the value placed on physical wholeness within the covenant community, reflecting a respect for the created order that extends into the realm of sacred service.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qaraḥat points to baldness, but in Scripture it carries weight beyond physical appearance. In Leviticus, it appears in laws about skin conditions and priestly conduct. For priests, making a bald patch was forbidden during mourning (Leviticus 21:5). This rule set Israel’s leaders apart from neighboring cultures that practiced self-mutilation to show grief.
These regulations highlight a deeper truth: the body reflects divine order. Holiness involves respecting the form God gave us. When skin conditions like those in Leviticus 13 caused bald spots, priests examined them carefully. The focus was on purity and wholeness within the community.
This perspective invites us to see our bodies as part of God’s creation. We honor Him by treating ourselves with care and respect. In times of loss or change, we can find comfort in knowing that our worth is not tied to our appearance but to who we are in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- on/ bald spot/ his2×
- on/ bald spot/ its1×
- on the/ bald spot1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/קָרַחְתּ֖/וֹ3×
- בַ/קָּרַ֙חַת֙1×
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 specific skin condition manifesting as a reddish-white plague on the bald head, requiring priestly examination for purity.
-
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 confirms if the swelling resembles leprosy, showing how physical signs were used to determine ritual status.
-
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.
The text distinguishes between mildew and other conditions by noting whether a bareness spreads, emphasizing the need for careful discernment in community health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does qaraḥat mean in the Bible?
Why was baldness significant for priests?
How does qaraḥat relate to skin conditions?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Leviticus 3 verses
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 13:43Then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his…
Leviticus 13:55Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn’t changed its color, and…