Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: Leprosy

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Ita Sheres <isheres AT mail.sdsu.edu>
  • To: Ben Crick <ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
  • Cc: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Leprosy
  • Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 12:46:15 -0700 (PDT)


Could you please list the references you used describing some of the more
medical/scientific "signs" relating to leprosy. Also, are you aware of a
detailed study dealing with Biblical leprosy? I am now trying to research
the topic specifically in its relation to the sectarians in the DSS.
Thanks,

Ita Sheres.

On Fri, 28 May 1999, Ben Crick wrote:

> On Thu 27 May 99 (19:04:38), manstey AT portal.ca wrote:
> > 1. NJB and NIV have "contagious" and "infectious" but is the disease
> > necessarily contagious? Does nega` definitely imply this meaning,
> > and/or is it clear from the context?
>
> Dear Matthew,
>
> NeGa` TsaRa`aT is a "sore" or "scar" of "leprosy". NeGa` is a wound or
> sore or symptomatic blemish. TsaRa`aT is Biblical leprosy; whether or not
> it is the same as Hansen's Disease is beside the point. Mycobacterium
> Leprae is present in large numbers in the nasal secretions of sufferers,
> and the disease seems to be passed to new victims by prolonged close
> physical contact. It is contagious, but not overly so.
>
> Symptoms take one of two forms: tuberculoid or lepromatous. Tuberculoid
> leprosy is benign and self-limiting; but lepromatous leprosy is always
> relentlessly progressive, and is similar to biblical leprosy.
>
> > 2. Is "skin-disease" appropriate for tsara`at? The translations
> > software that will contain this term will be used in hundreds of different
> > cultures, so nothing too specific will work, such as TWOT's "leucodermia
> > and related diseases"!
>
> TsiR:`aH is a Hornet or similar large aggressive stinging insect (Exodus
> 23:18, 30; Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12). This word could be a derivative
> of TsaRa`aT. Maybe the sting of a Hornet raises a weal similar to a
> leprosy sore.
>
> Hansen's Disease is not a skin-disease; but the visible symptoms are
> initially perceived as skin-blemishes. "Dermatitis" and "leucodermia" are
> NOT appropriate translations. The main damage is to the nervous system,
> causing loss of sensation and lack of awareness of injury to the tissues.
> Hence the gross disfigurements and loss of fingers, toes, etc. by secondary
> mechanical damage and ulceration.
>
> The NEB and REB have "skin-disease" for Leprosy; but the word "skin-" is
> not included in TsaRa`aT.
>
> > 3. Would something like "symptom of.a.skin-disease" be the best
> > compromise between accuracy and understandability? We prefer a
> > word-for-word gloss wherever possible, so just "skin-disease" for the
> > whole expression is less than ideal.
>
> Why not just use the word "leprosy"? It is understood that biblical
> leprosy is not necessarily identical to Hansen's Disease; but The Leprosy
> Mission's physicians and surgeons find the Levitical "Law of the Leper"
> quite germane to the clinical problems they face in the field. My best
> suggestion would be "sore.of leprosy".
>
> HTH
> Ben
> --
> Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
> <ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
> 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
> http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
>
>
>
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to b-hebrew as: isheres AT mail.sdsu.edu
> To unsubscribe, forward this message to $subst('Email.Unsub')
> To subscribe, send an email to join-b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu.
>





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page