### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **netheq**, represented by `{{H5424}}`, refers to a **scall** or **dry scall**. It appears 14 times across 9 unique verses, exclusively within the legal codes of Leviticus. This term denotes a specific type of skin affliction, distinguished by its appearance and location, which required priestly examination to determine an individual's ritual purity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H5424}}` is a technical term within the laws of purity. It is defined as a form of leprosy that appears specifically on the `head` `{{H7218}}` or `beard` `{{H2206}}` [[Leviticus 13:30]]. The role of the `priest` `{{H3548}}` was to diagnose the condition based on specific evidence. Key factors included whether the **scall** appeared `deeper` `{{H6013}}` than the `skin` `{{H5785}}`, contained `yellow` `{{H6669}}` hair, or if it continued to `spread` `{{H6581}}` ([[Leviticus 13:32]], 13:36). Based on these observations, the priest would either `shut` `{{H5462}}` the person up for a period of `seven` `{{H7651}}` `days` `{{H3117}}` for further evaluation or pronounce them unclean [[Leviticus 13:31]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are essential for understanding the context of the **scall**:
* `{{H6883}}` **tsâraʻath** (leprosy): This is the broader category of skin disease to which a **scall** belongs. The text explicitly states that a **scall** is "a leprosy upon the head or beard" [[Leviticus 13:30]].
* `{{H3548}}` **kôhên** (priest): The priest is the sole authority designated to examine the **scall**, interpret the signs, and declare a person clean or unclean [[Leviticus 13:32]].
* `{{H2930}}` **ṭâmêʼ** (to be foul... unclean): This describes the state resulting from a confirmed infectious **scall**. If the signs were present, the priest's duty was to "pronounce him unclean" [[Leviticus 13:30]].
* `{{H6581}}` **pâsâh** (to spread): The spreading of the **scall** in the skin after an initial examination was a definitive sign of uncleanness, prompting the priest to make a final diagnosis without further investigation [[Leviticus 13:36]].
* `{{H8181}}` **sêʻâr** (hair): The color of the hair within the affliction was a primary diagnostic tool. The presence of `yellow` `{{H6669}}` hair indicated uncleanness, while the growth of `black` `{{H7838}}` hair signaled that the **scall** was healed ([[Leviticus 13:30]], 13:37).
### Theological Significance
The laws surrounding `{{H5424}}` carry significant weight in understanding Israel's concept of holiness.
* **Priestly Discernment:** The priest's meticulous examination of the **scall** highlights their role as arbiters of ritual purity, acting with careful observation to apply God's law correctly [[Leviticus 13:31]].
* **Physical Manifestations of Purity:** The detailed criteria—depth, hair color, and spreading—show how physical conditions were directly linked to a person's standing within the community. The healing `{{H7495}}` of the **scall** was a visible sign that the person could be pronounced clean and restored [[Leviticus 13:37]].
* **The Importance of Boundaries:** The process of diagnosing the **scall** underscores the sharp distinction between clean and unclean in Levitical law. A person with an active **scall** was separated, while a healed person was fully reintegrated after being pronounced clean by the priest [[Leviticus 13:34]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5424}}` is more than just a medical term; it is a key element in the intricate system of laws governing ceremonial purity in ancient Israel. Its diagnosis was a formal process involving careful priestly observation over time. The regulations concerning the **scall** illustrate the seriousness with which physical wholeness was connected to ritual cleanness and one's ability to participate in the life of the covenant community.
TRV