Lexical Summary tsara: Distress, trouble, affliction, adversity Original Word: צָרַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance leper, leprous A primitive root; to scourge, i.e. (intransitive and figurative) to be stricken with leprosy -- leper, leprous. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from tsaraath Definition to be struck with leprosy, to be leprous NASB Translation being a leper (1), leper (12), lepers (1), leprous (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צָרַע] verb denominative, only in passive, be struck with leprosy, leprous; — Qal Participle passive אִישׁ צָרוּעַ Leviticus 13:44; elsewhere as substantive, = leper, Leviticus 13:45; Leviticus 14:3; Numbers 5:2 (all P), Leviticus 22:4 (H). Pu`al Participle מְצֹרָע 2 Samuel 3:29 +, מְצוֺרָע2Chronicles 26:20; plural מְצֹרָעִים 2 Kings 7:3,8; feminine מְצֹרַ֫עַת Exodus 4:6 +, מְצֹרָ֑עַת Numbers 12:10; — leprous, of hand Exodus 4:6 (J), of person Numbers 12:10 (twice in verse) (E), 2 Kings 5:27; 2Chronicles 26:20; אֲנָשִׁים מְצֹרָעִים 2 Kings 7:3; as substantive = leper 2 Samuel 3:29; 2 Kings 5:1,11; 2 Kings 7:8; 2 Kings 15:5 2Chronicles 26:21a, 2 Chronicles 26:21b, 2 Chronicles 26:23; תּוֺרַת הַמְּצֹרָע Leviticus 14:2. Topical Lexicon Meaning and scope צָרַע (Strong’s 6879) describes the condition of becoming stricken with ṣāraʿat, commonly rendered “leprosy” in English versions. In Scripture it is not limited to the modern medical diagnosis of Hansen’s disease but functions as a covenantal affliction signaling uncleanness, isolation, and the need for priestly assessment and divine intervention. Canonical distribution Found twenty times across Torah, Former Prophets, and Chronicles, the verb appears predominantly in legislation about ritual purity (Leviticus), narratives of individual judgment or mercy (Numbers 12; 2 Kings 5), and royal chronicles (2 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 26). Its occurrences mark decisive moments in Israel’s history when holiness is defended and God’s presence vindicated. Covenantal and theological significance 1. Divine prerogative: ṣāraʿat is consistently portrayed as sent or removed by the LORD. “So the LORD turned Miriam into a leper, white as snow” (Numbers 12:10). Social and ritual implications in Israel • Isolation: The afflicted must dwell “outside the camp” and warn others by crying, “Unclean, unclean!” (Leviticus 13:45). Narrative portraits Moses (Exodus 4:6) receives a sign in his own hand, demonstrating God’s power over disease. Miriam (Numbers 12) illustrates divine discipline for rebellion yet also intercession by Moses. Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-14) embodies Gentile inclusion, humbled by simple obedience to the prophetic word: “His flesh was restored and became like the flesh of a little child” (verse 14). The four leprous men at Samaria’s gate (2 Kings 7:3-11) become unlikely heralds of deliverance. King Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:20-23) shows that even royalty is not exempt from holiness; pride brings lifetime exclusion from the house of the LORD. Typological foreshadowing Ṣāraʿat prefigures sin’s pervasive defilement and Christ’s cleansing work. Jesus’ instantaneous healing of lepers (for example, Matthew 8:3) fulfills the Law’s shadow, sending the healed to the priest as testimony that the Messianic age had dawned. Lessons for ministry today • Sin separates; only divine grace restores. Key references Exodus 4:6; Leviticus 13:44-45; Leviticus 14:2-3; Leviticus 22:4; Numbers 5:2; Numbers 12:10; 2 Samuel 3:29; 2 Kings 5:1-14; 2 Kings 7:3-11; 2 Kings 15:5; 2 Chronicles 26:20-23. For further study Compare Isaiah 53:4; Luke 4:27; Hebrews 13:11-13; 1 Peter 2:24 to trace the prophetic and apostolic development of cleansing motifs fulfilled in Christ. Forms and Transliterations הַֽמְצֹרָעִ֨ים הַמְּצֹרָ֔ע הַמְּצֹרָֽע׃ הַצָּרֽוּעַ׃ המצרע המצרע׃ המצרעים הצרוע׃ וְהַצָּר֜וּעַ וּמְצֹרָ֞ע והצרוע ומצרע מְצֹרַ֣עַת מְצֹרַ֥עַת מְצֹרָ֔ע מְצֹרָ֣ע ׀ מְצֹרָ֥ע מְצֹרָֽעַת׃ מְצֹרָֽע׃ מְצֹרָע֙ מְצֹרָעִ֖ים מְצוֹרָ֣ע מצורע מצרע מצרע׃ מצרעים מצרעת מצרעת׃ צָר֖וּעַ צָר֙וּעַ֙ צָר֥וּעַ צרוע ham·mə·ṣō·rā‘ ham·ṣō·rā·‘îm hamməṣōrā‘ hammetzoRa hamṣōrā‘îm hamtzoraIm haṣ·ṣā·rū·a‘ haṣṣārūa‘ hatztzaRua mə·ṣō·rā‘ mə·ṣō·ra·‘aṯ mə·ṣō·rā·‘aṯ mə·ṣō·rā·‘îm mə·ṣō·w·rā‘ məṣōrā‘ məṣōra‘aṯ məṣōrā‘aṯ məṣōrā‘îm məṣōwrā‘ metzoRa metzoRaat metzoraIm ṣā·rū·a‘ ṣārūa‘ tzaRua ū·mə·ṣō·rā‘ ūməṣōrā‘ umetzoRa vehatztzaRua wə·haṣ·ṣā·rū·a‘ wəhaṣṣārūa‘Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 4:6 HEB: וְהִנֵּ֥ה יָד֖וֹ מְצֹרַ֥עַת כַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃ NAS: his hand was leprous like snow. KJV: it out, behold, his hand [was] leprous as snow. INT: behold his hand was leprous snow Leviticus 13:44 Leviticus 13:45 Leviticus 14:2 Leviticus 14:3 Leviticus 22:4 Numbers 5:2 Numbers 12:10 Numbers 12:10 2 Samuel 3:29 2 Kings 5:1 2 Kings 5:11 2 Kings 5:27 2 Kings 7:3 2 Kings 7:8 2 Kings 15:5 2 Chronicles 26:20 2 Chronicles 26:21 2 Chronicles 26:21 2 Chronicles 26:23 20 Occurrences |
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