צָרֶבֶת

𐤑𐤓𐤁𐤕

tsârebeth

H6867 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צרב to burn, to scorch, to sear

Definition

A condition or result involving severe, consuming heat or burning, often referring specifically to inflammation or an intense burning sensation, generally used with reference to physical affliction involving burning, blistering, or ulceration.

Semantic Range

burn, burning, inflammation, burn sore, ulceration, lesion resulting from heat

Root / Etymology

From the root צָרַב (tsarab), meaning 'to burn' or 'to scorch.' The noun form צָרֶבֶת (tsârebeth) denotes a state or result of burning—i.e., a burn, inflammation, or ulceration of the skin. The ending -ֶת is a common feminine nominal suffix.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Tsârebeth occurs in the Hebrew Bible within descriptions of skin afflictions, particularly in Leviticus (e.g., Lev 13:24). It refers to the effect of a burn or scorching, frequently in legal and ritual contexts concerning purity and physical inspection by priests. Its use is technical, associated with the identification and treatment of bodily disorders that may affect ritual status. Although sometimes rendered as 'burning' or 'inflammation' in English, the term has a more specific connotation of a burn-induced lesion or swelling. English 'scab' or 'ulcer' might overlap semantically, but do not fully convey its sense of heat-origin affliction. There is little evidence for semantic development or shift after the biblical period, as the word is not attested outside biblical Hebrew. Later Jewish and medical literature uses different terms for similar conditions, indicating a narrowing and eventual loss of this specific lexeme.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צוּעָר; conflagration (of fire or disease); burning, inflammation.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צרב (ts-r-b) — to burn, to scorch, to sear

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6866 צָרַב and they were scorched

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6867-02 צָרֶ֥בֶת tsarevet HNcfsc scar burn-lesion of 2
H6867-01 צָרָֽבֶת tsaravet HAafsa scorching burn-sore 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6867-02 Leviticus 13:23 צָרֶ֥בֶת tsarevet HNcfsc scar burn-lesion of
H6867-02 Leviticus 13:28 צָרֶ֥בֶת tsarevet HNcfsc scar burn-lesion of
H6867-01 Proverbs 16:27 צָרָֽבֶת tsaravet HAafsa scorching burn-sore