יַלֶּפֶת
𐤉𐤋𐤐𐤕
yallepheth
H3217 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A skin disease marked by scaly or crusty lesions; a type of scab or eruption of the skin that causes a rough, patchy appearance. The term appears in contexts concerning ritual impurity and descriptions of various skin afflictions, often associated with conditions that cause visible, persistent scaling or flaking of the skin.
Semantic Range
scaly skin disease, scabbed lesions, patch of rough or crusty skin, eruption marked by scaling or crusting, possibly eczema, psoriasis, or similar dermatological affliction
Root / Etymology
The word יַלֶּפֶת (yallepheth) is of uncertain etymology; Strong suggested it might relate to an unused root meaning 'to stick, adhere, or scrape,' but there is no clear attestation of such a root in Biblical Hebrew. The formation and vocalization are consonant with a noun denoting a physical condition, possibly related to surface alteration (scabbing, scaling).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, יַלֶּפֶת occurs specifically in Levitical laws concerning skin diseases (Leviticus 21:20; 22:22), among terms detailing physical blemishes that preclude ritual participation. While often translated as 'scab' or 'eczema,' modern dermatological identification is uncertain. The core idea is a visible, crusted or scaly skin eruption. In context, such conditions brought ritual impurity and exclusion from certain priestly functions. Later Jewish tradition sometimes associated it more specifically with particular disorders, but the precise diagnosis is debated. יַלֶּפֶת is distinct from other skin affliction terms in Leviticus such as צָרַעַת (ṣara‘at, often rendered 'leprosy'), as it appears in parallel lists of physical blemishes, not as a primary focus of the impurity narrative.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root apparently meaning to stick or scrape; scurf or tetter; scabbed.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ילף (y-l-p) — to stick, to scrape, to adhere (uncertain)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3217-01 |
יַלֶּ֔פֶת | yalefet | HNcfsa |
scab | scaly skin eruption | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3217-01 |
Leviticus 21:20 | יַלֶּ֔פֶת | yalefet | HNcfsa |
scurvy | scaly skin eruption |
H3217-01 |
Leviticus 22:22 | יַלֶּ֔פֶת | yalefet | HNcfsa |
scab | scaly skin eruption |