from an unused root meaning to be high (in the forehead); bald in the forehead; forehead bald.
Transliteration:gibbêach
Pronunciation:ghib-bay'-akh
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma גִּבֵּחַ (gibbêach, `{{H1371}}`) is an adjective derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of being "high" or "elevated," specifically in relation to the forehead. Its core meaning is "bald in the forehead" or "forehead bald." This term describes a particular type of baldness where the hairline recedes from the front, leading to a prominent or high forehead. It is distinct from general baldness of the entire scalp and highlights a specific anatomical presentation of hair loss. The nuance is not merely the absence of hair but a distinctive appearance of the forehead due to this recession.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term גִּבֵּחַ (gibbêach, `{{H1371}}`) appears exclusively in the Book of Leviticus, specifically within the detailed instructions concerning the diagnosis and management of צָרַעַת (tzara'at, `{{H6883}}`), often translated as "leprosy" or a severe skin affliction. The word itself is an adjective, typically appearing in conjunction with its related noun גִּבַּחַת (gibbaḥat, `{{H1372}}`), meaning "forehead baldness" or "bald spot on the forehead."
The critical passages are:
* [[Leviticus 13:41]]: "And if a man's hair has fallen from his head, he is bald (קֵרֵחַ, qereach); he is clean." This verse establishes that general baldness is not a cause for ritual impurity.
* [[Leviticus 13:42]]: "And if there is a reddish-white infection on the baldness of his head or on his forehead baldness (גִּבַּחַת), it is leprosy breaking out on his head or on his forehead." Here, gibbêach (implied by gibbaḥat) is presented as a *location* where an infection might manifest.
* [[Leviticus 13:43]]: "Then the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the swelling of the infection is reddish-white on his bald head or on his forehead baldness (גִּבַּחַת), like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body,"
* [[Leviticus 13:44]]: "he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean; his infection is on his head."
The context makes it clear that being gibbêach (forehead bald) in itself does not render a person unclean. Rather, it is the *superimposition* of a specific type of reddish-white infection *upon* this condition that signifies tzara'at and thus ritual impurity. This demonstrates the meticulous nature of the Mosaic Law, which precisely distinguished between natural physical states and those indicative of a ritually defiling condition requiring priestly discernment and action.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **גִּבַּחַת (gibbaḥat, `{{H1372}}`):** This is the feminine noun directly related to gibbêach, meaning "forehead baldness" or "a bald spot on the forehead." It is the specific area described by the adjective gibbêach.
* **קֵרֵחַ (qereach, `{{H7146}}`):** A more general term for "bald" or "baldness of the head," referring to the top or back of the head. Leviticus 13 distinguishes between qereach (general baldness) and gibbêach (forehead baldness), showing a precise categorization of types of hair loss.
* **קָרַחַת (qorachat, `{{H7149}}`):** Another noun for "baldness" or "bald spot," often referring to the baldness at the back of the head. This further illustrates the detailed taxonomy of baldness within the Levitical code.
* **צָרַעַת (tzara'at, `{{H6883}}`):** The overarching concept of "leprosy" or severe skin disease, which is the primary concern in Leviticus 13. The physical characteristic of gibbêach is only significant when it serves as a site for the manifestation of tzara'at.
* **Ritual Purity and Impurity:** The broader theological framework in which gibbêach is found is the distinction between clean and unclean. The detailed regulations were designed to maintain the ritual purity of the Israelite community in the presence of a holy God.
### Theological Significance
The meticulous attention to a seemingly minor physical detail like גִּבֵּחַ within the Law reveals profound theological truths.
1. **Divine Holiness and Purity:** The Law's precision underscores God's absolute holiness and His demand for a people set apart and pure. Every aspect of life, including physical appearance and health, was subject to divine scrutiny and regulation, reflecting the pervasive nature of God's holiness.
2. **God's Discernment and Justice:** The distinction between natural conditions (like gibbêach itself) and those indicating ritual impurity (like gibbêach with tzara'at) highlights God's just and discerning nature. Not every physical ailment or difference rendered a person unclean; only specific, defined conditions did. This prevented arbitrary judgment and ensured that the Law's application was precise and fair.
3. **Protection of the Community:** The regulations, though seemingly harsh in requiring isolation, were ultimately for the protection of the community's health and ritual integrity. They prevented the spread of contagious diseases and maintained the sanctity necessary for God's presence among His people.
4. **Typological Foreshadowing:** While gibbêach itself is a neutral physical descriptor, the broader context of tzara'at often serves as a powerful metaphor for sin's defiling and isolating nature. The meticulous examination, diagnosis, and prescribed actions for tzara'at can be seen as a shadow of the meticulous work required for spiritual cleansing and reconciliation with a holy God. The Law's specificity regarding gibbêach thus contributes to a larger picture of God's comprehensive concern for purity, both physical and spiritual.
### Summary
The Hebrew term גִּבֵּחַ (gibbêach, `{{H1371}}`) precisely denotes a state of "forehead baldness." Its sole biblical appearance is in Leviticus 13, where it functions as a descriptive term within the diagnostic criteria for tzara'at (leprosy). Critically, being gibbêach itself does not make an individual ritually unclean; rather, it is the manifestation of a specific reddish-white infection *upon* this area of baldness that signifies impurity. This detailed distinction within the Mosaic Law underscores God's absolute holiness, His meticulous concern for the physical and ritual purity of His covenant people, and His just discernment between natural human conditions and those requiring separation. The word serves as a testament to the Law's precision in defining purity and impurity, reflecting the comprehensive and pervasive holiness of the God who gave it.
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