Lev 13:2 on the skin of his body like a sore on his
Lev 14:34 Let me put a plague of him on any house
Deu 24:8 as for the plague of the l, beware
2Ki 5:3 If my lord prayed…I would heal him of his l
2Ki 5:27 the l of Naaman will stick to you and your
2Ch 26:20 behold the l was in his forehead; and you
Matt 8:3; Mar 1:42 instantly his l disappeared
Luk 5:12 there came a man full of him, who
Leprosy (Heb. tsâra’ath; Gr. leprosy). Chronic infectious disease of man, also called Hansen’s disease, which is prevalent in certain parts of the world and today affects about 20 million people. Although it has been recognized for more than 2,000 years, it was only in 1871 that Gerhard Hansen discovered that it is produced by Microbacterium leprae; the disease is still not well understood. Symptoms listed in Lev_13 include swelling, sore, and/or white spot (v 2); in modern medical terms, this would be a papule, an ulcer, and a non-pigmented spot. The various symptoms described in Lev_13 suggest that the term leprosy was evidently used in a more general sense than it is today. Some have suggested that Lev_13 encompasses 7 different diseases under the heading “leprosy”. Certain symptoms would resemble conditions including fungal (fungal) infections psoriasis or vitiligo rather than leprosy, although it is certainly included. The leprosy of clothes (Lev 13:47-59) and houses (Lev 14:34-48), which appear as red-green stripes, were probably a form of mildew or fungus, which made them unhealthy. The principles of care for infectious skin diseases, due to their simplicity and effectiveness (as described in Lev_13), have not been surpassed since Moses gave them: 1. Visual inspection of the skin for diagnosis. 2. Defined evaluation criteria: skin level, hair, pigment and surface integrity. 3. Quarantine period and new serial exams; allow time for the development of the characteristics of the disease. 4. Sanitary precautions: washing, burning, isolation. 5. Cover your mouth to minimize the spread of saliva droplets. 6. Mandatory notification and inspection of infectious diseases by a central authority. The classification of leprosy depends on the diversity of responses of the body to the same agent. These form a spectrum that reflects the state of power between the body’s defenses and the attack of bacteria. Three segments of this spectrum are classified as lepromatous leprosy at one end, and tuberculoid leprosy at the other, with a stripe in the middle. A fourth classification is called indeterminate leprosy, in which none of the defining characteristics have yet developed. Lepromatous leprosy is at one end of the spectrum where the Body has little apparent resistance against bacteria: tuberculoid leprosy is at the other end, where very strong resistance of the body is evident. 313. Lepers on the side of a road in Palestine. There are 3 characteristics of leprosy that separate it from other diseases: 1. Exceptionally long incubation period: 2 to 20 years. with an average of 2 to 3 years. This is due to the long life of each generation of bacteria, which averages 3 weeks (compared to minutes for many other bacteria). 2. This obscures the method of spread of the disease because of the long period of silence between contagion and the outbreak of infection. Today it is believed that leprosy spreads primarily by infection, via airborne droplets. 3. Its most notable feature is the anesthetic, the loss of sensitivity. The result is destruction of the hands, face, and feet by wear and attrition. This gives rise to an incorrect belief that the parts fall off and that the disease is not curable. Bacterial infection can be stopped; With modern medicine and therapy, the above mentioned terrible results are not inevitable and isolation in a leper colony is not needed. Once the lack of sensitivity has developed, it does not recover. Although the infection can be cured, the scars resulting from loss of sensation remain for a lifetime. Leper. See Leprosy.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
see DISEASES
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
(God’s punishment).
In the Old Testament, the leper had to be expelled, only the priest could declare a leper: (Lev 13:1-59, Lev 14:1-32, Job 2:8).
– Moses: (temporary leprosy), Exo 4:6-7.
– Mirian, Num 12:10-15.
– Naaman, 2RS
– Azariah, 2Ki 15:5; and Job.
In the New Testament: Mar 1:40, Mat 8:2, Luc 17:12 : (the 10 lepers), Lk-Luc 7:22 Mar 14:3 : (in the house of Simon the leper).
Jesus gave his disciples the power to heal leprosy: Mat 10:8, Mar 16:18.
Christian Bible Dictionary
Dr. J. Dominguez
http://bible.com/dictionary/
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
When this word is used in the Bible, both in Hebrew (zara†™at) and in Greek (leprosy), the reference is not limited to the so-called Hansen’s disease. It encompasses a number of skin ailments, some contagious, some not. In some cases these are transitory conditions, such as the example of †¢Mary, the sister of Moses (Num 12:10-15). There were some types of illness that did not prevent the affected person from living a normal life among his peers. †¢Naaman was †œgeneral of the army of the king of Syria† (2Ki 5:1).
Even phenomena in material objects, which were not human beings, could be classified as l., as was the case of leaks, mineral precipitates or damage to the walls of houses (†œ… if I put plague of l. in some house…† ), or deterioration of some clothing possibly caused by fungi (†œWhen there is a plague of l…† in a dress).
people affected with Hansen’s disease had to be separated from the community. In chapters 13 and 14 of Leviticus the instructions are given on the matter. The priest examined the individual in order to verify the degree of skin penetration that had been made. If it affected only the outer part of the epidermis and produced no pathological changes in the hair in the area, it was considered to be ‘a rash’ (Lev 13:6). But if the evil had penetrated, he declared him † ¢ unclean. A procedure was also established to examine those in whom a positive evolution had occurred and there seemed to be a cure.
measures taken with lepers were of a precautionary nature and not for the purpose of humiliating those affected by the disease. He had to go around “cloaked” and proclaiming: “Unclean! unclean!† (Lev 13:45). He had to make his condition known, because in this way he fulfilled his social responsibility, avoiding infecting other people. Even King Uzziah, since he fell ill with it, had to live “in a separate house” (2Ki 15:5). The Lord Jesus healed several lepers (Luke 17:11-19). He even touched one of them (Mar 1:41), which no Israelite would have ever done.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
Bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, or Hansen’s bacillus, which has an incubation period of several years, between 2 and 5, and which produces muscle and nerve deterioration due to necrosis.
It is the cursed disease of ancient times that appears execrated in the Scripture (Lev. 13. 2 and following; Deut. 17. 8 and following; Num. 12. 10 and following.) It also appears 13 times in the New Testament, only in the three Synoptics, as a sign of the feared disease: Mt. 8.3; Matt 10.8; Mt 11.5; Lc. 4. 27; Mc. 1. 40.
And in Christian asceticism it is the contagious disease that was frequently compared to sin.
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
Leprosy is the disease par excellence of all those listed in the Bible. It covered various skin conditions. According to the law, leprosy was a contagious impurity and carried with it expulsion from the community. The priest diagnosed the disease and eventually ruled the cure, so that the patient, already cured, could reintegrate into common life. Jesus, by curing lepers, ended forever with the legal separation of the clean and the impure (Lev 13-14; Mt 8,2. 3; 10,8; 11,5; 26,6; Mc 1,40 42; 14.3; Lk 4.27; 5.12. 13; 7.22; 17.12). > diseases; healing
MNE
FERNANDEZ RAMOS, Felipe (Dir.), Dictionary of Jesus of Nazareth, Editorial Monte Carmelo, Burbos, 2001
Source: Dictionary of Jesus of Nazareth
A disease designated by the Hebrew term tsa·ra·`ath and the Greek word le·pra. The one who suffers from this disease is called a leper.
The “leprosy” mentioned in the Scriptures is not limited to the disease known by that name today, for it could affect not only humans but also clothing and houses. (Le 14:55) Today’s leprosy is also called Hansen’s disease, because it was Dr. Gerhard A. Hansen who discovered the agent that causes this disease. However, although tsa raʹath applies to diseases other than leprosy or Hansen’s disease, there is no doubt that it existed in biblical times in the Middle East.
Varieties and effects. Hansen’s disease, which is not very contagious, manifests itself in three basic varieties: 1) nodular leprosy, which results in thickening of the skin and lumps forming, first on the skin of the face and later on that of other body parts. It also produces degenerative effects on the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. It is known as tuberculous or black leprosy. 2) Anesthetic leprosy, also called white leprosy. It is not as serious as the previous one and basically affects the peripheral nerves. It can manifest itself in the skin feeling sore to the touch, although sometimes it also results in numbness. 3) Mixed leprosy, a type of leprosy in which the symptoms of the two just described are combined.
As leprosy progresses, the swellings that initially appeared ooze pus, the hair on the head and eyebrows may fall out, and the nails may loosen, weaken and fall out as well. Subsequently, the fingers, nose and eyes slowly wither away. In the most severe cases, death ensues. Biblical “leprosy” was a serious disease, for in referring to it Aaron said that the meat was “half consumed.” (Nu 12:12.)
This description helps to better understand the biblical references to this dreadful disease, as well as the horrible consequences of Uzziah’s act of pride when he improperly tried to offer incense in Jehovah’s temple. (2Ki 15:5; 2Ch 26:16-23)
Diagnosis. In the Mosaic law, Jehovah gave Israel information with which the priest could diagnose leprosy and distinguish between it and less serious skin conditions. In Leviticus 13:1-46 you can see that leprosy could start with a rash, a scab,…