from an unused root apparently meaning to stick or scrape; scurf or tetter; scabbed.
Transliteration:yallepheth
Pronunciation:yal-leh'-feth
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term *yallepheth* (`{{H3217}}`) derives from an unused root that appears to convey the sense of "to stick" or "to scrape." This etymological root provides insight into the nature of the condition it describes: a persistent, possibly crusty or scaling skin affliction. Lexicographers define *yallepheth* as "scurf" or "tetter," and in biblical translations, it is often rendered as "scabbed" or "running sore." This points to a dermatological condition characterized by flaking, crusting, or persistent lesions on the skin. While not explicitly detailed as contagious, its inclusion among conditions that render an individual ritually impure or physically blemished suggests a visible and potentially chronic ailment. The core meaning thus encapsulates a visible skin disease, likely indicative of a persistent and possibly unsightly epidermal condition.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term *yallepheth* (`{{H3217}}`) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in [[Leviticus 21:20]]. This solitary occurrence is found within the detailed regulations concerning the physical qualifications of priests in the Old Covenant. The passage lists various physical blemishes that would disqualify a descendant of Aaron from approaching the altar to offer sacrifices or from entering the sanctuary. The verse reads: "or hunchbacked, or a dwarf, or one with a defect in his eye, or scabby, or with crushed testicles." Here, *yallepheth* is translated as "scabby" or "running sore" (NIV, ESV, NASB).
The context is crucial: the requirement for physical perfection in those who minister before the Lord. This was not a judgment on the individual's moral character or spiritual standing, but rather a symbolic representation of the absolute perfection and holiness required to serve a holy God. Any physical blemish, including *yallepheth*, rendered a priest unfit for sacrificial service, though he was still permitted to eat of the holy offerings. The presence of *yallepheth* would have been a visible imperfection, disrupting the ideal of wholeness and integrity demanded of those who officiated in the sacred space. This singular usage underscores its specific role as a disqualifying blemish within the Levitical code, rather than a common medical term.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of *yallepheth* (`{{H3217}}`) is best understood in relation to the broader biblical lexicon of skin diseases and physical blemishes.
* ***Tzara'at* (`{{H6883}}`):** This is the most significant related term, often translated as "leprosy" but encompassing a wider range of severe, defiling skin conditions described in Leviticus 13-14. While *yallepheth* is a specific type of blemish, *tzara'at* is the overarching category of skin afflictions that rendered an individual ritually unclean and required isolation and priestly examination. *Yallepheth*, though not explicitly called *tzara'at*, falls under the general umbrella of skin issues that affected one's standing in the community and before God.
* ***Mum* (`{{H3971}}`):** This Hebrew word signifies "blemish," "defect," or "fault." It is frequently used in Levitical law to describe any physical imperfection that disqualifies an animal from being offered as a sacrifice (e.g., [[Leviticus 22:20-25]]) or a priest from serving (e.g., [[Leviticus 21:17-23]]). *Yallepheth* is explicitly listed as a type of *mum* for a priest, highlighting the overarching principle of wholeness and perfection required for sacred service.
* **Ritual Purity and Impurity:** The concept of *yallepheth* is intrinsically linked to the elaborate system of ritual purity and impurity in the Old Testament. Physical conditions, discharges, and diseases could render an individual ritually impure, necessitating specific purification rites or temporary exclusion from the community or sanctuary. While *yallepheth* primarily disqualifies from priestly service rather than imposing general impurity like *tzara'at*, it still functions within this broader framework of distinguishing between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean, in the presence of God.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *yallepheth* (`{{H3217}}`) is deeply embedded in the Old Testament's understanding of holiness, perfection, and access to God.
1. **God's Holiness and Perfection:** The primary theological truth conveyed by the disqualification of priests with *yallepheth* and other blemishes is the absolute holiness and perfection of God Himself. Those who ministered in His presence were to reflect this perfection, not because physical perfection was inherently superior, but because it served as a tangible symbol of the moral and spiritual integrity required to approach the divine.
2. **Symbolic Representation:** Physical blemishes were not considered sinful in themselves, but they symbolized imperfection, brokenness, or a deviation from God's intended ideal. In the context of priestly service, *yallepheth* represented a visual imperfection that would detract from the perfect representation of the people before a perfect God. The priest was a mediator, and his physical wholeness underscored the unblemished nature of the divine standard.
3. **Anticipation of Christ:** This stringent requirement for physical perfection in the Old Testament priesthood finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the perfect High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16, 7:26-28), "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens" (`{{G25}}`). Unlike the Levitical priests who were inherently flawed and subject to physical defects like *yallepheth*, Christ was without blemish, both physically and spiritually, making Him the one true and perfect sacrifice and mediator. Believers, through Christ, are now considered "holy and blameless" (Ephesians 1:4), reflecting a spiritual perfection that transcends the Old Testament's physical requirements.
### Summary
*Yallepheth* (`{{H3217}}`) is a rare Hebrew term, appearing only once in [[Leviticus 21:20]], describing a skin condition identified as "scurf," "tetter," or "scabbed." Its etymology suggests a persistent, possibly crusty ailment. In its singular biblical context, *yallepheth* is listed as a physical blemish that disqualifies a priest from performing sacrificial duties, though not from eating of the holy offerings. This disqualification highlights the rigorous standards of physical wholeness required for those ministering in the presence of a holy God, symbolizing the divine demand for perfection. It is closely related to the broader concepts of *tzara'at* (`{{H6883}}`) and *mum* (`{{H3971}}`), both of which signify defiling or disqualifying blemishes within the Levitical purity laws. Theologically, *yallepheth* underscores God's absolute holiness and serves as an Old Testament shadow pointing to the unblemished perfection of the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ.
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