H1618 גָּרָב gârâb → Root
2 languagesRoot of the גערב gârâb family (1 member).
A pathological skin condition characterized by a crusty, scab-like appearance, often associated with itching or scaling, possibly indicative of a disease involving ulceration or infection of the skin. Used in legal and medical contexts in ancient Israelite society, especially in the ritual laws of Leviticus, as a specific type of affliction rendering individuals or animals temporarily unfit for participation in communal religious life.
Etymology
Root: גָּרַב (likely from an unused root meaning 'to scratch' or 'to scrape'). The term appears to be a nominal form denoting a skin lesion, specifically a scab or crusted sore resulting from scratching or irritation. The root is not attested elsewhere in biblical Hebrew; the noun is derived as a designation for the pathological result of scratching the skin.