Leprosy in the Bible - What Was It?

Dr. Cleland Gooding MD, FAAD A leading Dermatologist in The Bahamas and the West Indies

The word Leprosy is found in the Bible. This disease provoked fear, suffering, isolation and eventually death. But, was Leprosy a single skin disease biblically?  Or was it a whole group of them?

Let us look at the origin of the word. The word in the Hebrew bible that we translate as “Leprosy” is Tsara’ath. This word was not a precise medical term referring to a specific disease rather it seem to refer to whole range of disfiguring conditions animate and inanimate  objects. The Linguistic root of “Tsara’ath” means “smiting” so it is quite possible that Tsara’ath was a general term for certain severe skin disease than a particular condition.

 The Jewish Talmud maintains a similar view, arguing that Tsara’ath referred generally to any disease that produces sores and eruptions on the skin. However, when the Hebrew bible was translated into greek (The Septuagent) the greek word lepra was used for Tsara’ath. Like Tsara’ath, Lepra was a rather vague term indicating a variety of skin conditions and diseases.  The English translators changed “lepra” to leprosy since this appeared to be the nearest to the word lepra.  What then was the leprosy of the Bible? Was it what we called True Leprosy or Hansen’s disease today? The answer is No. The Hebrew word Tsara’ath may have included true leprosy (Hansen’s disease) but also other skin diseases. Remember, the original translation meant not a specific disease but a variety of disfiguring skin conditions that cause rejection by society. Some of the newer Bibles use the word skin disease instead of Leprosy. Today there are about thirty (30) conditions which can be confused with True Leprosy (Hansen’s disease).

 True leprosy is caused by a bacteria and is progressive and affects the peripheral nerves and the skin. Eventually, it caused numbness, muscle atrophy, tendons contract, there is ulceration and loss of digits with disfigurement. The Leper was considered contagious.  Biblically the Priest has to examine the skin and pronounce the person clean or unclean depending on his observation. Leviticus 13. (KJV)

 Are there references to “Leprosy” in the Bible that obviously refer to skin conditions other than true leprosy (Hansen’s disease)? The answer is Yes.  Naaman, the Leper (2 Kings 5:27)KJV was said to be “Leprous”- or “white as snow”. This clearly is not what we call Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) today, because Hansen’s disease does not cause all the skin to be become white!  What skin disease then did Naaman have? A common condition which causes a whitening of the skin is Vitiligo (also called Michael Jackson disease today). In true Leprosy (Hansen’s disease), there can be some loss of pigment (colour) in the skin, but it never becomes totally white  because of the disease. Also, was Naaman contagious?  Does not seem so! He had a job, a home, a family, access to the King and was a well respected person not excluded from society. Some authors even believe he had albinism (totally white).

 Another argument that shows all “Leprosy” in the bible was not true Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) is in Leviticus 13:10&20, biblical leprosy even resulted in the hair turning white. This does not happen in patients with Hansen’s disease nor is their scalp affected by the disease as in Leviticus 13:42. Biblical leprosy could also involve the clothing and leather garments. Leviticus 13:37-48. Then in Leviticus 14: v37 it could affect the walls of a building, was this a form of mildew? Dr. Stanley Brown (USA) believes that in Leviticus 13:v18, it could be describing a form of a boil, then verse 24: is this an infection complicating a burn? Is verse 29 talking about a ringworm or sycosis of the scalp?

 Biblical Leprosy also has a religious connotation. It was such a repulsive condition that it was imagined that God used it as an instrument of divine punishment. See the punishment suffered by Miriam (Sister of Moses) in the Bible book of Numbers 12:10.

 The Story of the ten (10) Lepers in the book of Luke is interesting. Did they all have true leprosy (Hansen’s Disease)? Or was it a mixture of disfiguring skin diseases? Psoriasis, Infected Atopic Ezema, Vitiligo, Mycosis Fungoides or Lupus? True Leprosy was incurable by man in bible times, but today can be treated by multi-drug therapy Dapsone, Rifampicin etc.

 In conclusion, most authorities are generally in agreement that there was certainly true Leprosy in the middle east, but from other biblical details it is believed that other very serious skin diseases are  also included  under the heading ”Leprosy” in earlier times, and according to Carolyn and Kenneth Mull of the ‘‘Biblical Archaeology Review”, this is an example of how a generic term for skin disease in the Hebrew Bible, became Leprosy in the English translation because of a Linguistic mistake.    

 Clegood5@hotmail.com

Job’s Skin Disease: What was it?

July 13, 2010

This is the first in a series of articles by Dr. Cleland Gooding (Info)

Dr. Cleland Gooding MD, FAAD A leading Dermatologist in The Bahamas and the West Indies

A whole book of the bible is devoted to Job and his trials. The book of Job is believed to be written between 600 and 300 BC.  The disease described in the Bible book of Job is controversial and has been of interest to Theologians, Psychiatrists and skin disease specialists for many years.

Proposing the medical diagnosis of a person who died a long time ago is not as impossible as it seems, if sufficient medical history is available.  Mozart the great composer suffered from Chronic Tonsillitis and eventually had Kidney Infection. He is thought to have died of Chronic Renal Failure.

Let us look at Job’s story and see if in this 21^st century a possible diagnosis of his skin disease can be reached.

The Story

Job is a thriving livestock rancher, married and the father of ten (10) children, living in the land of Uz. Where was this biblical land?  The exact location is unknown, but it is believed to be modern day Yemen (A Muslim country in the Middle East).

Renowned for his piety, Job is ever praised by God in the Angelic Council. Satan a skeptical  Ex-archangel offers an experiment  to test whether Job’s piety is really sincere or predicated on his God given wealth. With God’s permission, Satan sends a series of catastrophes, from economic

 disaster to the death of Job’s children (Job 1:19). Job’s reply? He praised God’s name! Then again with God’s permission Satan strikes Job with “sore boils from the sole of his feet unto his crown”(Job 2:7).

What exactly were these “boils”?  Were these pimples as we know today, red itchy bumps on the skin, that dry up and leave dark marks?

The answer is NO!

The original language words for “boils in Job 2:7 is not plural! Rather it is singular in the Hebrew, a burning sore. In other words, Job was covered all over with one large skin inflammation!  The McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia (2000) records that from antiquity Job’s disease was commonly believed to have been “elephantiasis” and a very early Greek version names this disease in the text of Job 2:7 as Job’s ailment. However McClintock and Strong also caution that it may not be possible from the Bible text to confidently affirm from what particular disease Job suffered.

Yet Barnes Commentary (1997) likewise presents the likelihood of Job’s disease being elephantiasis, that was common in Bible times. In addition the definitions of the original language  words in Job are pertinent to the disease described, a burning ulceration that enveloped all of Job’s Skin. There were eruptions on the skin that are first red and later turn black. Especially with the limbs, the skin swells and becomes crusty and irregular, resembling  the hide of an elephant, hereby the word elephantiasis.

The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary(1997) agrees that Job’s illness appeared to be elephantiasis. The Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament also ascribes elephantiasis to Job and describes the disease. However, Wycliff Bible Commentary(1962) summarizes Job’s Disease by saying, modern medical opinions is not unanimous in it diagnosis of Job’s disease, but according to the prognosis in Job’s day, it was apparently hopeless.

The horrible symptoms included inflamed eruptions accompanied by intense itching (Job 2:7:8), Maggots in skin ulcers (Job7:5), Erosions of the bones (Job 30:17), Blackening and falling  off of the skin(Job 30:30) and terrifying nightmares (Job7:14). Job’s whole body it seems was rapidly smitten with loathsome, painful symptoms.

The clinical picture of the disease consists of deterioration in its general condition with widespread pain, confusions, skin eruptions, vomiting, depression and so on.

The opinions differ on his diagnosis today. The Journal “Archives of Neuro-Psychiatry (June 2009) Suggests Job had Chronic Renal Failure with Neurological alterations. The Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine (2007) says Job had severe Scabies (An itchy Skin Disease). Whatever disease Job had, there was considerable physical and mental suffering.

Job’s concerned wife urges him to break his silence and curse God even at the risk of dying. Job refuses. Then his three (3) friends arrive from afar to console him. So deformed by his tragedy  and illness that the friends were rendered speechless themselves by his appearance. He then dialogues with God, whom he questions. God does not answer his question but overwhelms him with a poetic picture of his divine power and wisdom. Job humbly acknowledges God as wise and great. He is then miraculously cured by God of his severe skin disease and restored to his riches again.

How long did Job suffer from his disease? Was it weeks, months or a year? The answer is not given If Job became sick in this 21^st century, with a severe, generalized skin disease, what would his treatment be? First a medical history would be taken, then a physical exam, blood test or and a skin biopsy would be done. Once diagnosed his treatment would have been maybe antibiotics, and steroids, immunosuppressants, and skin moisturizers. His itching and depression would also be treated. Most likely in this 21^st century a diagnosis would be found.

How long did Job really live?

According to the Bible he was an “old man” when afflicted and after this trial lived 140 years after. Various commentators construe Job’s life span as being anywhere from 140-220 years!

He is said to have seen his sons and his son’s sons even four (4) generations! What a happy ending to a story of Faith.

In conclusion, according to the Miami Herald travel article (2009) Sunday edition, there is a proposed tomb in Yemen that is said to be Job’s Final resting place. Is this true? Could this tourist attraction really be Job’s tomb?

This would surely lead some credence to the Biblical story.