בֹּהַק
𐤁𐤄𐤒
bôhaq
H933 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A whitish spot or patch of skin, characterized by paleness or loss of normal pigmentation, typically indicating a dermatological condition described in the context of skin afflictions in Levitical law. Refers specifically to a clinical sign observed on human skin, distinct from broader terms for skin diseases. The term designates an area with abnormal whiteness, often associated with diagnostic procedures in ritual purity laws.
Semantic Range
pale spot on the skin, whitish patch on the skin, benign skin lesion, non-infectious discoloration, non-contagious mark, white scurf, freckled spot
Root / Etymology
Root: בחק (b-h-q). The word is related to a root thought to mean 'to be pale' or 'to shine whitely', though the root itself is not attested elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible; thus, its exact form and meaning are uncertain. בֹּהַק is a substantive based on this presumed root, referring to a visible skin manifestation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בֹּהַק appears only in Leviticus (13:39) in the context of priestly examination of skin diseases (commonly rendered 'leprosy' in older translations, but the technical meaning is much broader), where it identifies a specific type of whitish skin mark that is not considered impure. The semantic distinction between בֹּהַק and words like צָרַעַת (ṣāraʿat), the broader term for skin diseases rendering impurity, is critical: בֹּהַק is a benign sign, whereas ṣāraʿat is a ritual impurity. English translations often render it as 'freckled spot', 'white spot', or 'pale mark', but these may fail to capture the technical, clinical nuance of the term in Levitical law. There are no known occurrences of this word in earlier or later periods, reinforcing its specialized priestly/ritual context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to be pale; white scurf; freckled spot.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בחֹק (b-ḥ-q) — to be pale, to shine whitely
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H933-01 |
בֹּ֥הַק | bohaq | HNcmsa |
a freckled spot | whitish skin patch | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H933-01 |
Leviticus 13:39 | בֹּ֥הַק | bohaq | HNcmsa |
a freckled spot | whitish skin patch |