פְּחֶתֶת
a hole (by mildew in a garment)
Definition
פְּחֶתֶת refers specifically to a hole or perforation caused by mildew or rot in a garment. In its sole biblical occurrence in Leviticus 13:55, it describes the damage to fabric after a greenish or reddish mildew has been washed but persists, indicating the garment is unclean. The term highlights a state of progressive decay, not just a simple tear, signifying contamination. This precise meaning is confined to the context of ritual purity laws concerning leprous signs in materials.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 13:55, within the detailed priestly instructions for diagnosing 'leprous' or moldy conditions in garments. Its usage is highly technical and legal, serving as a specific diagnostic criterion for declaring a garment ritually unclean. The context is the examination process after washing: if the mildew has not changed its appearance and a פְּחֶתֶת (hole) is present, the item must be burned.
Etymology
Derived from the root פ־ח־ת (p-ḥ-t), which relates to being hollow, sunk, or entrapped. It shares a connection with פַּחַת (pachath, H6354), meaning a pit or hole. The noun form פְּחֶתֶת intensifies the concept to denote a hollowed-out, corroded hole, specifically one resulting from a corrosive agent like mildew.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it pertains to the biblical concepts of purity, holiness, and the symbolic nature of sin. In Leviticus, physical corruption like a פְּחֶתֶת in a garment served as a tangible metaphor for spiritual corruption that must be identified, contained, and removed from the community. Understanding this term enriches the reading of purity laws by highlighting how God cares about the integrity of all creation, using physical symbols to teach spiritual truths about the pervasive and damaging nature of defilement.
In ancient Israelite culture, textiles were valuable commodities. The presence of a corroding hole (פְּחֶתֶת) from mildew was not merely a practical concern but a serious ritual one. It signaled a state of impurity that could potentially spread, requiring priestly intervention. This reflects a worldview where physical decay was interconnected with spiritual status, and holiness required the removal of anything symbolically 'corrupted' or 'death-tainted' from the camp.
חֹר (chor, H2356) — a general term for a hole or aperture, not specifically from decay. בָּקִיעַ (baqiaʿ, H1234) — a fissure or breach, often in walls or the ground. נֶקֶב (neqeb, H5344) — a perforation or hole, sometimes used for a boring insect.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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