נֶ֫תֶק
ne.teq (H5424)
scab
AI Word Study
# Neṭeq (נֶ֫תֶק): A Biblical Medical Term The Hebrew word *neṭeq* refers to a scab—a crust that forms over a wound or skin lesion during healing. The term appears 14 times throughout the biblical text, indicating it held sufficient importance in ancient Hebrew vocabulary to warrant repeated use. Given the specific medical nature of the term, its presence in the biblical record suggests that skin conditions and their visible symptoms were matters of practical concern in ancient Israelite society. Without access to the specific biblical contexts where *neṭeq* appears, we can infer from its definition that the word likely functioned in medical, legal, or ritual contexts where skin conditions required identification and discussion. The term's consistent use across multiple occurrences suggests it represented a recognizable and distinguishable condition—the visible scab stage of wound healing—rather than a general category of skin ailments. This precision in terminology indicates that ancient Hebrew speakers made careful distinctions among different types of skin conditions, each with its own designated term.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
then the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch. It is leprosy of the head or of the beard.
If the priest examines the plague of itching, and behold, its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person infected with itching seven days.
On the seventh day the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the appearance of the itch isn’t deeper than the skin,
then he shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the itch. Then the priest shall isolate the one who has the itch seven more days.
On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the itch; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread in the skin, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean.
But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing,
then the priest shall examine him; and behold, if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest shall not look for the yellow hair; he is unclean.
But if in his eyes the itch is arrested and black hair has grown in it, then the itch is healed. He is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean.
This is the law for any plague of leprosy, and for an itch,