### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mikvâh**, represented by `{{H4348}}`, is a specific term for a **burn**. It appears **5 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. Its usage is highly specialized, occurring exclusively within the legal and diagnostic instructions found in the book of Leviticus, where it describes a burn on the skin that requires priestly examination.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical context, `{{H4348}}` serves as a key identifier for the origin of a potential skin disease. When a person presents with a "hot **burning**" `{{H4348}}` that develops a **bright spot** `{{H934}}`, a **priest** `{{H3548}}` must investigate [[Leviticus 13:24]]. The diagnosis hinges on whether the affliction is simply a result of the initial injury or if it has become **leprosy** `{{H6883}}` breaking out from the **burning** `{{H4348}}` [[Leviticus 13:25]]. If the spot does not spread and is determined to be a mere "inflammation of the **burning**" `{{H4348}}`, the priest can pronounce the person clean [[Leviticus 13:28]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of assessing a **burning** `{{H4348}}`:
* `{{H784}}` **'êsh** (fire): This word identifies the source of the injury, as seen in the phrase "hot **fire** burning" which establishes the initial condition on the skin [[Leviticus 13:24]].
* `{{H5785}}` **ʻôwr** (skin): This term denotes the location of the **burning** `{{H4348}}`. The priest's entire examination focuses on what occurs in and on the **skin** following the burn [[Leviticus 13:24]].
* `{{H6883}}` **tsâraʻath** (leprosy): This is the primary concern that prompts the examination. The priest must determine if the **burning** has given way to **leprosy** [[Leviticus 13:25]].
* `{{H6867}}` **tsârebeth** (inflammation): This term describes the benign outcome of the healing process. If the affliction is only an **inflammation** of the burn, the person is not considered unclean [[Leviticus 13:28]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H4348}}` is centered on the Levitical laws of purity and diagnosis.
* **Diagnostic Origin:** The term establishes a known physical cause—a **burn**—as the starting point for a serious ritual diagnosis. This highlights the process of discerning between a natural ailment and a condition with deeper spiritual implications [[Leviticus 13:25]].
* **Priestly Authority:** The examination of a **burning** `{{H4348}}` is a function of the **priest** `{{H3548}}`, underscoring his role in determining an individual's status within the community. The priest's judgment separates the clean from the unclean [[Leviticus 13:28]].
* **Physical and Ritual Purity:** The detailed laws surrounding a **burning** illustrate the connection between physical wholeness and ritual purity in the Old Testament. A common injury could lead to ritual uncleanness if it developed into **leprosy** `{{H6883}}`.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4348}}` is not a general term for burning but a precise legal and medical word used in the context of Old Testament purity laws. It refers to a physical burn on the **flesh** `{{H1320}}` that becomes the subject of priestly scrutiny. Its importance lies in its function as a diagnostic marker, helping to differentiate between a simple inflammation and the dreaded plague of leprosy, thereby determining a person's standing as clean or unclean in ancient Israel.
TRV