### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çappachath**, represented by `{{H5597}}`, refers to a **scab**. It is a highly specific term, appearing only **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Its meaning is derived from a root word suggesting mange, particularly an affliction that causes hair to fall off. The word's biblical usage is confined to the diagnostic criteria for skin diseases.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical context, `{{H5597}}` functions as a specific marker for a potential skin disease. It is mentioned in Leviticus as one of three key signs a priest must look for when examining a person for leprosy. When a man had a "rising, a **scab**, or bright spot" in the skin of his flesh that resembled the plague of leprosy, he was to be brought to a priest for examination [[Leviticus 13:2]]. The term is repeated in a summary of these diagnostic signs, listed as an item for which the priest must provide instruction [[Leviticus 14:56]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the medical and ritual context of `{{H5597}}`:
* `{{H6883}}` **tsâraʻath** (leprosy): This is the underlying condition that a **scab** might indicate. The presence of a `çappachath` was a primary reason to suspect the "plague of **leprosy**" [[Leviticus 13:2]].
* `{{H5061}}` **negaʻ** (plague, sore, stricken, stripe, stroke, wound): This is the general term for the affliction or blemish. A **scab** was a potential indicator of a **plague** that required priestly inspection [[Leviticus 13:2]].
* `{{H5785}}` **ʻôwr** (skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather): This specifies the location of the affliction. The law is concerned with a **scab** that appears "in the **skin** of his flesh" [[Leviticus 13:2]].
* `{{H7613}}` **sᵉʼêth** (an elevation or leprous scab... rising): This is another potential sign of leprosy, listed alongside **scab** as a key symptom for priests to evaluate [[Leviticus 13:2]].
* `{{H934}}` **bôhereth** (a whitish spot on the skin): This is the third primary symptom, appearing in a list with **scab** and rising, which together formed the basis for a potential diagnosis of leprosy [[Leviticus 13:2]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5597}}` is tied to the laws of purity and uncleanness.
* **Diagnostic Marker:** The term is not a judgement in itself, but a crucial physical marker. Its presence on the skin `{{H5785}}` initiated a formal, procedural examination by a priest to determine a person's ritual status [[Leviticus 13:2]].
* **Symbol of Potential Uncleanness:** A **scab** was a visible sign of a potential disorder that could render a person unclean. This underscores the connection in Levitical law between physical wholeness and one's ability to participate fully in the life of the community.
* **Priestly Authority:** The specific mention of symptoms like `çappachath` highlights the priest's designated authority not only in sacrificial rites but also in matters of public health and the interpretation of physical signs to determine ritual purity [[Leviticus 13:2]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5597}}` is a technical term for a **scab** with a very narrow but significant application. While rare, it plays a vital role in the Levitical laws concerning purity. It functions as a key diagnostic sign for the priest in the examination of potential leprosy `{{H6883}}`, illustrating the detailed system God established for Israel to distinguish between the clean and the unclean, thereby protecting the sanctity of the community.
TRV