גָּרָב

גָּרָב

scurf (from itching)

Definition

The Hebrew word גָּרָב (gârâb) refers to a specific skin disease, likely a form of scab, scurf, or an itching skin eruption. It is consistently used in the Old Testament to describe a physical blemish or defect that renders a person or animal ritually unclean or unfit for sacred service. In Leviticus 21:20 and 22:22, it is listed among the physical imperfections that disqualify a priest from offering sacrifices or an animal from being presented as an offering. In Deuteronomy 28:27, it appears as one of the severe curses for disobedience, described alongside boils and other afflictions.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in legal and covenantal contexts within the Torah (Pentateuch). It appears three times: twice in Leviticus (21:20, 22:22) within the priestly purity laws, specifying physical disqualifications for priests and sacrificial animals, and once in Deuteronomy (28:27) within the list of covenant curses. The usage pattern shows it is a technical term for a specific, visible skin ailment that had ritual and covenantal consequences.

Etymology

Derived from an unused Hebrew root likely meaning 'to scratch,' indicating an itching or irritating skin condition. The noun form directly points to the physical result of that scratching or irritation, hence 'scab' or 'scurf.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it connects physical purity with spiritual fitness in the Old Testament covenant system. Its presence on a priest (Leviticus 21:20) or a sacrificial animal (Leviticus 22:22) rendered them unacceptable for service to a holy God, illustrating the demand for wholeness and perfection in worship. In Deuteronomy 28:27, its inclusion among the covenant curses demonstrates that physical health and wholeness were understood as blessings contingent upon Israel's obedience, making גָּרָב a tangible sign of covenant breach. In ancient Israelite culture, skin diseases were not merely medical issues but carried heavy social and religious stigma, often associated with ritual impurity and separation from the community and sanctuary. The precise identification of גָּרָב is uncertain but it was clearly a visible, chronic, or severe skin condition that culturally signaled a state of defilement or divine disfavor. צָרַעַת (tsaraʿath, H6883) — A broader term for serious skin diseases, often translated 'leprosy,' involving ritual examination and quarantine, whereas גָּרָב is a specific, disqualifying symptom. יַלֶּפֶת (yallepheth, H3422) — Another skin eruption or boil listed alongside גָּרָב in Deuteronomy 28:27, possibly a distinct type of inflammation.

Word Details