(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 Le 13; 14; Nu 12:10-15, etc. There were reckoned six different circumstances under which it might develop itself, (1) without any apparent cause (Le 13:2-8); (2) its reappearance (Le 13:9-17); (3) from an inflammation (Le 13:18-28); (4) on the head or chin (Le 13:29-37); (5) in white polished spots (Le 13:38-39); (6) at the back or in the front of the head (Le 13:40-44).

Lepers were required to live outside the camp or city (Nu 5:1-4; 12:10-15, etc.). This disease was regarded as an awful punishment from the Lord (2Ki 5:7; 2Ch 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 (Le 13:12-13,36; 2Ki 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 (Mt 8:2-3; Mr 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.

(See LEPER.)

This term, as used in Scripture, seems to include not only true leprosy (elephantiasis)

This loathsome and, for millennia, incurable disease is often mentioned in scripture. Some persons were smitten with leprosy as a direct judgement from God, as were Miriam (though she in grace was subsequently cured), Gehazi, and Amaziah; in the case of Gehazi the disease was to descend also to his seed. God's power alone could cure the leper, as seen in the case of Naaman the Syrian, and in the many lepers that the Lord cured when on earth. Amaziah dwelt in a separate house, and the lepers were enjoined to proclaim their own condition by calling out, "Unclean, Unclean." Lev. 12:45.

Leprosy is a vivid type of sin, and its insidious working, producing an unclean condition. Lev. 13 and Lev.14 treat of the way it was to be discovered and dealt with by the priests as those having the mind of God. The instruction in Lev.13:12, 13, though seemingly paradoxical, is significant: when the leprosy covered all the skin, the priest was to pronounce the man clean: "it is all turned white: he is clean." That is, the leprosy, instead of striking inwards, had worked itself out, typical of a man truly confessing his sin; then the effect only of the defilement remains.

Besides leprosy in the person, laws were also given as to leprosy in a garment, answering to the sin that may be in a person's surroundings, which must be cleansed or destroyed. There is also leprosy in the house (when they were come into the land), answering to manifest sin in a christian assembly, which must be removed, or the assembly must be dissolved. Holiness becomes God's house.

LEPROSY. See DISEASES.