### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gabbachath**, represented by `{{H1372}}`, refers specifically to **baldness in the forehead**. It appears 4 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Its use is highly specialized, defining a precise location on the body for diagnostic purposes, and by analogy, a bare spot on the front side of a piece of cloth.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical occurrences, `{{H1372}}` is found exclusively in the legal context of Leviticus, chapter 13, concerning the identification of leprosy. It is used to distinguish a sore appearing on a **bald forehead** ([[Leviticus 13:42]], [[Leviticus 13:43]]) from one appearing on a "bald head," or the back of the head. The term is also applied metaphorically to a garment that has a blemish, where it signifies a bare spot on the front or "without" side of the cloth [[Leviticus 13:55]], demonstrating how the principle was extended from people to objects.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are essential for understanding the context of `{{H1372}}`:
* `{{H5061}}` **negaʻ**: This word means a **plague, sore, stricken, stripe, stroke, wound**. It is the blemish or affliction, such as a "white reddish sore," that the priest must examine on the bald forehead [[Leviticus 13:42]].
* `{{H6883}}` **tsâraʻath**: Defined simply as **leprosy**, this is the specific disease being diagnosed. The appearance of a sore on the bald forehead is a potential sign of **leprosy** [[Leviticus 13:43]].
* `{{H7146}}` **qârachath**: This term for a **bald head, bare within** refers to a bald spot on the back of the head. It is used in direct contrast to `{{H1372}}` in every instance, highlighting the detailed anatomical distinctions required by Levitical law [[Leviticus 13:42]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H1372}}` is rooted in the biblical system of ritual purity and diagnosis.
* **Diagnostic Precision:** The law's specific mention of both the **bald forehead** `{{H1372}}` and the bald head `{{H7146}}` underscores the meticulous detail required by priests when inspecting a sore `{{H5061}}` to determine if it is leprosy `{{H6883}}`. This precision was critical for community health and ritual status.
* **Human and Object Purity:** By applying `{{H1372}}` to both a person's forehead and the "right side" of cloth [[Leviticus 13:55]], the text shows that the principles of identifying and dealing with defiling blemishes extended beyond the human body to personal possessions.
* **Priestly Authority:** The term functions within a legal framework where a priest's visual inspection was paramount. The location of a blemish on the **bald forehead** was a key piece of evidence in the priest’s judgment of clean or unclean [[Leviticus 13:43]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1372}}` is a precise anatomical and descriptive term rather than a broad theological one. Its importance comes from its role in the practical application of purity laws in Leviticus. By specifying **baldness in the forehead**, it allowed for careful and systematic diagnosis of leprosy, distinguishing it from other conditions and locations. The word illustrates the comprehensive and detailed nature of the biblical laws governing what was considered clean and unclean in ancient Israelite life.
TRV