Leprosy (Easton)

DIC dictionary-entry · status:draft · license:PD

(Heb. tsara'ath, a 'smiting,' a 'stroke,' because the disease was regarded as a direct providential infliction). This name is from the Greek lepra, by which the Greek physicians designated the disease from its scaliness. We have the description of the disease, as well as the regulations connected"> StudyL ı ght .org Plug in, Turn on and Be En light ened! Not Yet a Member? Click to Sign Up Now! --> --> Bible Study Tools Lang uage Tools Study Lib rary Hist orical Writings Pas toral Resources Per sonal Resources Site Resources Lectionary Calendar Saturday, June 6th, 2026 the Week of Proper 4 / Ordinary 9 video advertismenet advertisement advertisement advertisement Attention! StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa. Click here to join the effort! Home » Bible Dictionaries » Easton's Bible Dictionary » Letter L Bible Dictionaries Leprosy Easton's Bible Dictionary Search for… Enter query below: or A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z Prev Entry Leopard Next Entry Letter Resource Toolbox Print Article Additional Links Concordances Nave Topical Bible Leprosy Scofield Reference Index Leprosy Thompson Chain Reference Leprosy Treasury of Biblical Knowledge Punishment;: & God's Sword, Hanged, Israel, Leprosy Leprosy Diseases; & Leprosy, Plagues Torrey Topical Textbook Leprosy Dictionaries Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Leprosy Easton's Bible Dictionary Leprosy Fausset Bible Dictionary Leprosy Holman Bible Dictionary Leprosy Hastings' BibleDictionary Leprosy Hastings' NT Dictionary Leprosy King James Dictionary Leprous Leprosy Morrish Bible Dictionary Leprosy 1910 New Catholic Dictionary Leprosy Hawker's Poor Man's Dictionary Leprosy Smith Bible Dictionary Leprosy Vines' Expository Dictionary Leprosy Webster Dictionary Leprous Leprosy Leprosity (only first 3 shown) Watson's Theological Dictionary Leprosy Encyclopedias 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Leprosy International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Leper; Leprosy Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Leprosy McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Leprosy The Catholic Encyclopedia Leprosy The Jewish Encyclopedia Leprosy Lexicons ܓ݁ܪܶܒ݂ ܓ݁ܰܪܒ݁ܳܐ λέπρα λεπρός צָרַע צָרַעַת (Heb. tsara'ath, a "smiting," a "stroke," because the disease was regarded as a direct providential infliction). This name is from the Greek lepra, by which the Greek physicians designated the disease from its scaliness. We have the description of the disease, as well as the regulations connected with it, in Leviticus 13 ; 14 ; Numbers 12:10-15 , etc. There were reckoned six different circumstances under which it might develop itself, (1) without any apparent cause ( Leviticus 13:2-8 ); (2) its reappearance (9-17); (3) from an inflammation (18-28); (4) on the head or chin (29-37); (5) in white polished spots (38,39); (6) at the back or in the front of the head (40-44). Lepers were required to live outside the camp or city ( Numbers 5:1-4 ; 12:10-15 , etc.). This disease was regarded as an awful punishment from the Lord ( 2 Kings 5:7 ; 2 Chronicles 26:20 ). (See MIRIAM; GEHAZI; UZZIAH .) This disease "begins with specks on the eyelids and on the palms, gradually spreading over the body, bleaching the hair white wherever they appear, crusting the affected parts with white scales, and causing terrible sores and swellings. From the skin the disease eats inward to the bones, rotting the whole body piecemeal." "In Christ's day no leper could live in a walled town, though he might in an open village. But wherever he was he was required to have his outer garment rent as a sign of deep grief, to go bareheaded, and to cover his beard with his mantle, as if in lamentation at his own virtual death. He had further to warn passers-by to keep away from him, by calling out, 'Unclean! unclean!' nor could he speak to any one, or receive or return a salutation, since in the East this involves an embrace." That the disease was not contagious is evident from the regulations regarding it ( Leviticus 13:12,13,36 ; 2 Kings 5:1 ). Leprosy was "the outward and visible sign of the innermost spiritual corruption; a meet emblem in its small beginnings, its gradual spread, its internal disfigurement, its dissolution little by little of the whole body, of that which corrupts, degrades, and defiles man's inner nature, and renders him unmeet to enter the presence of a pure and holy God" (Maclear's Handbook O.T). Our Lord cured lepers ( Matthew 8:2,3 ; Mark 1:40-42 ). This divine power so manifested illustrates his gracious dealings with men in curing the leprosy of the soul, the fatal taint of sin.

Source

• part_of source-manifest/easton — Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)