H0934 H0934
baheret -- a bright or white spot on the skin, a diagnostic sign in the Levitical purity laws for skin disease
The feminine noun baheret (Hebrew בַּהֶרֶת, from the root b-h-r 'to be bright') denotes a bright or white spot on human skin, serving as a key diagnostic indicator in the Levitical purity regulations of Leviticus 13-14. When such a spot appeared, the person was brought to the priest for examination to determine whether it constituted tzaraat (traditionally 'leprosy,' more broadly a range of skin conditions rendering one ritually unclean). The priest assessed its depth, the color of hair within it, and whether it had spread (Lev 13:2, 4, 19, 23-26, 28, 38-39). A baheret that remained superficial and did not spread was declared clean; one that deepened or exhibited white hair could indicate active disease. All twelve occurrences are confined to Leviticus 13-14, confirming a single technical dermatological-cultic sense.
Senses
1. bright spot (skin condition) — A bright or white spot on the skin examined by the priest under Levitical purity laws to diagnose potential tzaraat (Lev 13:2, 4, 19, 23-26, 28, 38-39). Assessed for depth, hair color, and spread. Spanish mancha-brillante, French tache-blanche, and German heller-Fleck render one specialized dermatological-cultic term. 12×
AR["اللُّمْعَةُ", "فِي-اللُّمْعَةِ", "لُمَعٌ", "لُمْعَةً", "لُمْعَةٌ", "وَ-لِلُّمْعَةِ"]·ben["উজ্জ্বল-দাগ", "এবং-উজ্জ্বল-দাগের-জন্য", "সেই-উজ্জ্বল-দাগ", "সেই-উজ্জ্বল-দাগে"]·DE["der-hell-Fleck", "hell-Fleck", "hell-spots", "in-der-hell-Fleck", "und-fuer-der-hell-Fleck"]·EN["and-for-the-bright-spot", "bright-spot", "bright-spots", "in-the-bright-spot", "the-bright-spot"]·FR["bright-tache", "dans-le-bright-tache", "et-pour-le-bright-tache", "le-bright-tache", "taches-claires"]·heb["ב-ה-בבהרת", "בהרת", "ה-בהרת", "ו-ל-ה-ולבהרת"]·HI["उनके शरीर", "और-के लिए", "चमकीला दाग", "चमकीले दाग", "नहीं", "सफेद"]·ID["bercak-bercak-putih", "bercak-putih", "dan-untuk-bintik.", "pada-bercak-putih"]·IT["chiaro-macchia", "chiaro-spots", "e-per-il-chiaro-macchia", "il-chiaro-macchia", "in-il-chiaro-macchia"]·jav["bereng", "bereng-bereng", "ing-bereng", "lan-kangge-bereng"]·KO["그-밝은-반점-이", "그리고-흰-반점의", "밝은-반점", "밝은-반점-에", "밝은-반점-이", "밝은-반점들"]·PT["a-mancha-brilhante", "e-para-a-mancha-brilhante", "mancha-brilhante", "manchas-brilhantes", "na-mancha-brilhante"]·RU["в-пятне", "и-для-светлого-пятна", "пятна", "пятно", "пятном"]·ES["en-la-mancha-brillante", "la-mancha-brillante", "mancha-brillante", "manchas-brillantes", "y-para-la-mancha-brillante"]·SW["doa-jeupe", "katika-doa-jeupe", "madoa-meupe", "na-kwa-doa-jeupe"]·TR["parlak-leke", "parlak-lekede", "parlak-lekeler", "ve-parlak-leke-için"]·urd["اور-داغ-کے", "داغ", "میں-داغ"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† בַּהֶ֫רֶת n.f. brightness, bright spot, of eruption on skin (NH id., Aramaic בַּהְרָא)—בּ׳ abs. Lv 13:2 + 7 times; בֶּהָ֑רֶת Lv 14:56; pl. abs. בֶּהָרוֹת Lv 13:38, 39;—bright spot (sore, scar, etc.), clean or unclean Lv 14:56; following a burn (from fire) Lv 13:24, 25, 26, 28; possible beginning of leprosy Lv 13:2, 4, 19, 23; but possibly a (passing) eruption מִסְפַּחַת v 6; or due to a boil שְׁחִין v 19, 23;—due to בֹּהַק (q.v.) Lv 13:38, 39.