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נֶתֶק

𐤍𐤕𐤒

netheq

H5424 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נתק to pull apart, to tear away, to separate by force

Definition

An area of diseased skin characterized by a patch of partial hair loss or flaking, especially understood as a dermatological affliction affecting the scalp or beard. Within biblical contexts, it refers specifically to a patch or spot of skin with noticeable hair loss or scaly eruption, which was subject to priestly examination for ritual impurity.

Semantic Range

patch of skin or scalp with hair loss, scaly lesion, area affected by skin disease defined in priestly law, dermatological condition specifically examined for ritual purity

Root / Etymology

From the root נתק, meaning 'to tear away, pull apart, remove forcibly.' The noun form נֶתֶק (netheq) designates that which has been separated or pulled away, in this case, hair or skin from the scalp or beard. Thus, while the root refers to the action ('to pull, tear away'), the noun refers to the resulting medical condition.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical law, particularly in Leviticus 13, נֶתֶק is used in technical, legal contexts to describe a specific type of skin affliction checked by priests to determine ritual purity or impurity. The disease seems to refer to a form of alopecia or possibly a ringworm-like fungal infection, resulting in a patch with loss of hair and possible scaliness. It is distinguished in the priestly regulations from other skin conditions by its location (scalp or beard) and specific symptoms (hair loss, color changes, and scab-like appearance). English renderings such as 'scall' or 'scurf' are attempts to translate this technical term, but do not fully capture its diagnostic use in Israelite ritual law. Later Judean and translation traditions (including the Septuagint and the Vulgate) variously render the term, at times broadening or narrowing the medical sense. נֶתֶק is never used metaphorically in biblical texts and is strictly a dermatological and legal term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from נָתַק; scurf; (dry) scall.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נתק (n-t-q) — pull apart, tear away, separate by force

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5423 נָתַק I will forcibly tear away
H862 אַתּוּק projecting ledge

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5424-01 הַ/נֶּ֗תֶק haneteq HTd/Ncmsa the scale the hair-torn patch 12
H5424-03 וְ/לַ/נָּֽתֶק velanateq HC/Rd/Ncmsa and for the scall and to the torn-away scalp-patch 1
H5424-02 נֶ֣תֶק neteq HNcmsa a scale hair-torn skin patch 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5424-02 Leviticus 13:30 נֶ֣תֶק neteq HNcmsa a scale hair-torn skin patch
H5424-01 Leviticus 13:31 הַ/נֶּ֗תֶק haneteq HTd/Ncmsa of the scall the hair-torn patch
H5424-01 Leviticus 13:31 הַ/נֶּ֖תֶק haneteq-2 HTd/Ncmsa of the scall the hair-torn patch
H5424-01 Leviticus 13:32 הַ/נֶּ֔תֶק haneteq HTd/Ncmsa the scale the hair-torn patch
H5424-01 Leviticus 13:32 הַ/נֶּ֔תֶק haneteq-2 HTd/Ncmsa of the scale the hair-torn patch
H5424-01 Leviticus 13:33 הַ/נֶּ֖תֶק haneteq HTd/Ncmsa the scall the hair-torn patch
H5424-01 Leviticus 13:33 הַ/נֶּ֛תֶק haneteq-2 HTd/Ncmsa the scall the hair-torn patch
H5424-01 Leviticus 13:34 הַ/נֶּ֜תֶק haneteq HTd/Ncmsa the scale the hair-torn patch
H5424-01 Leviticus 13:34 הַ/נֶּ֨תֶק֙ haneteq-2 HTd/Ncmsa the scale the hair-torn patch
H5424-01 Leviticus 13:35 הַ/נֶּ֖תֶק haneteq HTd/Ncmsa the scall the hair-torn patch
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