That is, “malignant leprosy” (RSV).

Many of the symptoms listed in this chapter for various types of “leprosy” are different from the symptoms of the disease now commonly known by that name. Furthermore, Mosaic provisions for ceremonial cleansing imply that those suffering from some forms of “leprosy” recovered in a short time. Until recently no way was known to treat true leprosy successfully.

The word translated “leprosy” is from the Heb. ṣara‘, which means to “strike down.”

 A person afflicted with “leprosy” was stricken down, presumably as a divine punishment for sinful acts. This was true in the cases of Miriam (Num. 12:10), Gehazi (2 Kings 5:27), Uzziah (2 Kings 15:5). In other cases mentioned in the OT it is not clear whether this principle holds true (2 Kings 5:1; 7:3). Gesenius considers that ṣara‘ is interchangeable with gara‘, and thus contains the idea of scabbiness. The Greek word lepros, from which our word leprosy comes, meant “scaly,” “scabby,” “rough.” Modern leprosy, elephantiasis graecorum, is of three kinds, lepra tuberculoides, characterized by tubercles, lepra maculosa, characterized by spots or streaks, and lepra anaesthetica, or that which affects the nervous system.

 It seems most probable that the “leprosy” of Lev. 13 is a general term descriptive of various skin diseases, such as psoriasis and vitiligo, as well as true leprosy. Most of the symptoms here described more closely resemble lepra mosaica, or psoriasis. The “rising” mentioned in v. 2 may be similar to the tubercles characteristic of lepra tuberculoides or possibly lepra anaesthetica. The “bright spot” repeatedly mentioned is thought by some to resemble vitiligo, a tropical disease of which this is a distinctive symptom. In vitiligo the hairs of the affected parts turn white, as in v. 3. The disease begins as small patches, spreads, and often involves large areas of the skin. It is harmless, but disfigures the appearance, particularly of those with a swarthy complexion.

The fact that there are variations in the symptoms of the “leprosy” mentioned in this chapter, further supports the idea that several diseases which strikingly affected the skin are included under the general term “leprosy.” In a day when medical science as such did not exist it would have been a difficult thing for the priests to give a differential diagnosis of various diseases affecting the skin, when they were in many respects similar, and for which there were no specific names. Moses apparently grouped these related diseases under one general head, ṣara‘, which our English versions have translated “leprosy.” The idea of quarantining those afflicted with contagious diseases seems to have originated with the Hebrew people, a safeguard given them by God Himself. It has been thought by some that the Biblical idea of segregating persons having “leprosy” led to the medieval practice of isolating those with true leprosy. Some commentators have held that true leprosy originated in Egypt, but its origin is unknown. Long before Israelite times it was widespread in the Far East, India, and Africa, and around the Mediterranean coasts.

The “leprosy” in the walls of houses or garments took the form of red-green streaks or spots. This seems to have been a mildew or a fungus, and although different from the “leprosy” in human beings, probably indicated that the house was not a safe dwelling place. Affected clothing might also perhaps spread a fungus disease to human beings.