Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Ita Sheres <isheres AT mail.sdsu.edu>]

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
> 
> 
> 
> 
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