English · KJV
H6867

צָרֶבֶת

tsârebeth /tsaw-reh'-beth/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom צוּעָר
Meaningconflagration (of fire or disease)
KJV usageburning, inflammation.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsârebeth — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word tsârebeth, represented by H6867, refers to a conflagration (of fire or disease); burning, inflammation. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, carrying both a literal and a figurative meaning related to destructive heat.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The usage of H6867 is split between figurative speech and literal diagnosis. In a figurative sense, it describes the destructive nature of an ungodly man's words, where his lips are compared to a "burning fire" Proverbs 16:27. In a literal, medical context within Levitical law, it is used twice to identify a specific type of skin condition. It is described as a "burning boil" Leviticus 13:23 or an "inflammation of the burning" Leviticus 13:28 that does not spread, allowing a priest to pronounce the person clean.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which H6867 is used:

  • H7822 shᵉchîyn (boil, botch): This word for an ulcer or boil is directly linked to the physical manifestation of H6867. In Leviticus 13:23, the condition is specifically identified as a "burning boil."
  • H1100 bᵉlîyaʻal (ungodly (men), wicked): This term describes the character of the man whose speech is like a "burning" Proverbs 16:27. It connects the destructive power of fire with worthlessness and wickedness, as seen when the "sons of Belial" knew not the Lord 1 Samuel 2:12.
  • H2891 ṭâhêr (to be pure, cleanse, pronounce clean): This word represents the outcome of a diagnosis involving H6867. When a priest determines a skin condition is a non-spreading "inflammation," he is to "pronounce him clean" (Leviticus 13:23, Leviticus 13:28).

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6867 is twofold, touching on themes of destructive speech and divine order.

  • The Burning of Wicked Words: The term is used to illustrate the harmful and destructive power of evil speech. An "ungodly man" H1100 is one who "diggeth up evil" H7451, and his lips are the source of a "burning" H6867 conflagration Proverbs 16:27.
  • Ceremonial Cleanliness and Diagnosis: In Leviticus, H6867 plays a key role in the laws of purity. It defines a specific, contained skin inflammation that a priest H3548 must distinguish from more serious, spreading diseases.
  • The Principle of Discernment: The use of H6867 highlights the importance of careful observation. A condition identified as this type of "inflammation" does not spread H6581 and allows the afflicted person to be pronounced "clean" H2891, contrasting with conditions that would render them unclean (Leviticus 13:23, Leviticus 13:28).

Summary

In summary, H6867 is a specific term for a "burning" or "inflammation" that is applied both metaphorically and literally. It illustrates the destructive nature of wicked speech while also serving as a precise diagnostic term within the Levitical laws of purity. Its use demonstrates how a single concept of "burning" can signify both the uncontained fire of evil and a contained physical ailment that can be deemed clean.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun and an adjective across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • צָרֶבֶת
  • צָרָבֶת

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7822 שְׁחִין from an unused root probably meaning to burn; inflammation, i.e. an ulcer; boil, botch. H1100 בְּלִיַּעַל from בְּלִי and יַעַל;(often in connection with אִישׁ, אִשָּׁה, בֵּן, etc.); without profit, worthlessness; by extension H2891 טָהֵר a primitive root; properly, to be bright; i.e. (by implication); to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; Levit H7451 רַע from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), di H3548 כֹּהֵן active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman H6581 פָּשָׂה a primitive root; to spread; spread.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Leviticus (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

2
Leviticus
1
Proverbs

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.