Skin Disease Tzara'at-צרעת

“When anyone has a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to the priest. The priest is to examine them, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling, it is a chronic skin disease and the priest shall pronounce them unclean.-Leviticus 13:9-11

The word for “skin disease” in Hebrew is tzara’at.  However, in general many Bible translations will mistakenly translate it using the word leprosy. The truth is ancient public records reveal that it was an extremely rare condition.  Leprosy also known as Hansen’s disease in the medical community is very deadly and causes grotesque disfigurement.  In contrast, the Hebrew term “tzarat” in the Bible is a general word used for a variety of skin infections, both minor and serious. So we can get rid of these ridiculous Hollywood movie images that have thousands of leprosy-stricken people huddled together in some abandoned desert cave out in the middle of nowhere.

During biblical times, it was believed that a skin infection was a reflection of one’s spiritual state and relationship with G-d.  Hence, if one became afflicted by a seemingly incurable skin disease, it was thought that this was due to some sin in one’s life known only to G-d.  What was terrifying to the ancient Israelites was that if during the priestly examination it was determined that the skin infection was of a chronic nature, the subject had to leave his or her family and reside outside the camp of Israel.  This meant that not only was the person separated from the community, he or she was also separated from G-d.  And if the skin infection didn’t heal, that meant permanent separation!  So here we get a graphic illustration from Scripture of the important spiritual truth that an unclean person cannot be allowed into the presence of G-d.  However, praise to G-d, through Yeshua’s blood we are purified and made clean.

Let’s take a look at another Scripture where the Hebrew word “tzara’at” appears.  This excerpt comes from Exodus where Moses has just encountered G-d through the burning bush in the Sinai Desert.

“Then the LORD said, ‘Put your hand inside your cloak.’ So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was tzara’at—it had become as white as snow.  ‘Now put it back into your cloak,’ he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.”-Exodus 4:6-7

So here we have G-d instructing Moses to put his hand into his cloak.  When he did, it became diseased resulting in the skin of his hand turning white as snow.  However, G-d instructed Moses to again put his hand into his cloak.  After he took his hand out a second time, the skin had been restored to normal.  So what spiritual lesson can we glean from this account?  Simply this, G-d is the only one who has the authority and power to make us clean. 

Amen.