### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **qârachath**, represented by `{{H7146}}`, refers to a **bald spot (on the back of the head)**. Its definition also extends figuratively to a threadbare spot on the back of cloth. It appears 4 times across 3 unique verses, exclusively within the context of identifying impurity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical text, `{{H7146}}` is used within the Levitical laws for diagnosing leprosy and other impurities. It specifies a location for examination, the **bald head**, often in contrast to the bald forehead. If a white reddish sore appeared on a **bald head** `{{H7146}}`, it was identified as a potential case of leprosy [[Leviticus 13:42]]. The term is also used in a figurative sense to describe a defect in cloth, where a priest must determine if a plague has made a garment "bare within" `{{H7146}}`, rendering it unclean [[Leviticus 13:55]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the specific context of `{{H7146}}`:
* `{{H1372}}` **gabbachath** (bald forehead): This term is the direct counterpart to `{{H7146}}`, referring to baldness on the front of the head. It appears alongside `{{H7146}}` in every instance, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the priestly examination of both the front and back of the head or a piece of cloth ([[Leviticus 13:42]], [[Leviticus 13:55]]).
* `{{H6883}}` **tsâraʻath** (leprosy): This is the specific malady being diagnosed. The presence of a sore on a **bald head** `{{H7146}}` was a key indicator of **leprosy** [[Leviticus 13:43]].
* `{{H5785}}` **ʻôwr** (skin): The appearance of a sore on a bald head is compared to how leprosy appears in the **skin** of the flesh, establishing a baseline for the diagnosis [[Leviticus 13:43]].
* `{{H1320}}` **bâsâr** (flesh): This word is used with **ʻôwr** to describe the "skin of the **flesh**," the primary surface where signs of leprosy were to be identified, providing the context for examining a sore on a bald head [[Leviticus 13:43]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H7146}}` lies in its role within the framework of Levitical purity laws.
* **Diagnostic Precision:** The distinction between a **bald head** `{{H7146}}` and a bald forehead `{{H1372}}` underscores the meticulous detail required for priests to make a diagnosis of leprosy, leaving no ambiguity [[Leviticus 13:42-43]].
* **Literal and Figurative Purity:** The word's application to both human baldness and threadbare cloth demonstrates a parallel principle of wholeness. A defect, whether on a person's head or an article of clothing, could be a sign of ritual uncleanness [[Leviticus 13:55]].
* **Indicator of Uncleanness:** A sore appearing on a **bald head** `{{H7146}}` was not merely a cosmetic issue but a critical sign used to declare a person unclean due to leprosy [[Leviticus 13:42]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7146}}` is a highly specific term for a bald spot on the back of the head. Its limited but crucial usage in Leviticus 13 places it at the center of diagnostic procedures for leprosy and other impurities, both on people and objects. It functions in tandem with related words to provide a precise anatomical and descriptive language essential for maintaining ritual purity according to the law.
TRV