Original Word: מִסְפַחַת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: micpachath
Pronunciation: mis-pakh'-ath
Phonetic Spelling: (mis-pakh'-ath)
KJV: scab
NASB: scab
Word Origin: [from H5596 (סָפַח שָׂפַח - assign)]

1. scruf (as spreading over the surface)

scab

From caphach; scruf (as spreading over the surface) -- scab.

see HEBREW caphach

Word Origin
from the same as sappachath
Definition
scab
NASB Translation
scab (3).

מִסְמַּ֫חַת noun feminine id.; — absolute Leviticus 13:6,7,8.

Meaning and Imagery

מִסְפַחַת conveys the idea of a crusted scab or eruption that appears after an injury or infection of the skin. In everyday life a scab indicates either impending recovery or, in the ancient Israelite setting, potential danger if it masks something deeper. Scripture treats the term as a visible sign whose spiritual and communal implications far outweigh its small physical size.

Biblical Usage

All three occurrences of מִסְפַחַת fall within Leviticus 13, the comprehensive priestly manual for diagnosing infectious skin diseases:

• Leviticus 13:6 records the priest’s follow-up examination: “If the sore has faded and has not spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a scab.”
• Leviticus 13:7–8 describes the opposite outcome—spreading after the first verdict—requiring the priest to reverse the declaration and pronounce the individual unclean.

Because no other passages employ the word, its entire canonical function is bound to the Levitical purity system.

Ritual and Priestly Context

Within Leviticus, מִסְפַחַת belongs to the diagnostic vocabulary that allowed priests to distinguish between temporary ailments and the defiling skin disease commonly rendered “leprosy” (tzaraath). The priest’s role was medical, judicial, and pastoral:

1. Medical: careful observation over seven days determined whether the condition was static or active.
2. Judicial: an official verdict of “clean” or “unclean” governed the sufferer’s access to communal life and worship.
3. Pastoral: the process provided an avenue for restoration, emphasizing God’s desire to reintegrate rather than permanently exclude.

Historical-Cultural Background

Ancient Near Eastern societies feared contagious disease, yet Israel’s legislation is unique in pairing rigorous public-health measures with explicit theological purpose. By labeling the scab clean when stationary, the law prevented needless isolation while preserving holiness in the camp. Archaeological and medical studies suggest that many cases described in Leviticus would today include eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, or minor infections; the text uses observable criteria rather than modern pathology, underscoring the sufficiency of God-given guidelines for that era.

Theological Implications

1. Holiness and Wholeness: Even a superficial scab could become a vehicle of defilement, illustrating how sin, though seemingly minor, can spread if unchecked (Genesis 4:7; 1 Corinthians 5:6).
2. Divine Compassion: The possibility of a favorable outcome after re-examination shows God’s mercy, allowing space for healing before judgment is pronounced.
3. Mediation: The priest foreshadows the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ, who heals lepers with a word (Matthew 8:3) and presents believers “without spot or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:27).

Christological Foreshadowing

When Christ heals ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19), He supersedes the Levitical system yet honors its intent by sending the cleansed men to the priests. The external scab disappears under His touch, signaling the deeper spiritual cleansing promised in Isaiah 53:4-5. In Him, every believer’s sin-wound is not merely scabbed over but fully healed.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Pastoral Care: Leaders must examine spiritual “scabs”—lingering hurts or hidden sins—offering time for repentance but acting decisively when spread is evident (Galatians 6:1).
• Community Health: Churches can balance caution and compassion, providing accountability without stigmatization.
• Personal Reflection: A temporary scab reminds Christians that healing is a process; impatience may tear away what God is using to seal and restore.

Summary

מִסְפַחַת, though occurring only thrice, underscores crucial principles: the seriousness of defilement, the meticulous care of God’s appointed servants, and the gracious possibility of being declared clean. The modest scab thus becomes a profound signpost pointing from Levitical tents to the finished work of the Great High Priest who renders His people wholly healed and forever welcome in His presence.

הַמִּסְפַּ֖חַת הַמִּסְפַּ֙חַת֙ המספחת מִסְפַּ֣חַת מספחת ham·mis·pa·ḥaṯ hammisPachat hammispaḥaṯ mis·pa·ḥaṯ misPachat mispaḥaṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts