מִכְוָה
𐤌𐤊𐤅𐤄
mikvâh
H4348 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A wound or mark caused by burning; specifically, a burn injury or scar resulting from exposure to fire, heat, or severe scalding. The term refers to the physical result of being burned, and in context, relates especially to injuries with ritual or legal implications.
Semantic Range
an area of skin burned by fire or heat, a burn wound, a burn scar, a scald, physical injury from burning
Root / Etymology
From the root כוה meaning 'to burn, scorch.' The noun form מִכְוָה is derived by the nominal pattern that denotes a result or product of the verbal action, here signifying the result of burning, i.e., a burn or burn-scar.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical texts, מִכְוָה specifically denotes a physical burn—either fresh or healed—typically of sufficient significance to be recognized and inspected (e.g., in priestly regulations regarding ritual impurity or assessment of wounds, Leviticus 13–14). The word is relatively rare and appears predominantly in priestly or legal passages, where its precise definition was critical for ritual and legal reasons. Its use is distinct from other terms for wounds or skin disease (e.g., צָרַעַת ṣāraʿat, often rendered 'leprosy'). Later translation traditions (such as the Septuagint and Vulgate) often render it with words for 'scar' or 'burn wound,' which sometimes narrows its meaning. English translations sometimes obscure whether the reference is to the initial burn or the resulting scar, but the primary reference in ancient context is the injury or its visible result. The focus in priestly law is not the pain or process but the physical and visible condition of the injury for ritual status.
Translation Consistency
mikwâh denotes a burn injury or resulting scar; the simple noun ‘burn’ is the most natural, common English word that covers both the wound and its scarred result (more natural than ‘scald’ or hyphenated forms), and will render consistently across contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּוָה; a burn; that burneth, burning.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כוה (k-w-h) — to burn, scorch, kindle
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4348-02 |
הַ/מִּכְוָ֗ה | hamikhevah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the burn | the burn-scar | the burn-scar | 3 |
H4348-03 |
מִכְוַת | mikhevat | HNcfsc |
a burn | burn-scar of | burn-scar | 1 |
H4348-01 |
בַּ/מִּכְוָ֖ה | bamikhevah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in the burn | in the burn-scar | in the burn | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4348-03 |
Leviticus 13:24 | מִכְוַת | mikhevat | HNcfsc |
a burn | burn-scar of | burn-scar |
H4348-02 |
Leviticus 13:24 | הַ/מִּכְוָ֗ה | hamikhevah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the burn | the burn-scar | the burn-scar |
H4348-01 |
Leviticus 13:25 | בַּ/מִּכְוָ֖ה | bamikhevah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in the burn | in the burn-scar | in the burn |
H4348-02 |
Leviticus 13:28 | הַ/מִּכְוָ֖ה | hamikhevah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the burn | the burn-scar | the burn-scar |
H4348-02 |
Leviticus 13:28 | הַ/מִּכְוָ֖ה | hamikhevah-2 | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the burn | the burn-scar | the burn-scar |