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leper
A person who suffers from a slowly progressing and incurable skin disease.
Leprosy (Heb. sara`at). The meaning is uncertain.
Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease characterized by sores, scabs, and
white shining spots beneath the skin.
Old Testament Law was quite detailed in its instructions regarding recognition
and quarantine of leprous persons. The Bible never implies that leprosy can be
cured by non-miraculous means, even though it does contain guidelines for
readmitting cured lepers into normal society. The Old Testament contains no
references to treatment or remedy.It was believed that leprosy could be cured only by
a miracle.
If the symptoms of leprosy showed up in a person, the priest was to decide if
this was leprosy or some other disease. Because of the need to control the
spread of a disease for which there was no cure, the law required that a leper be
isolated from the rest of society (Lev 13:45-46). While excluded, the leper was
required to wear mourning clothes, leave his hair in disorder, keep his beard
covered and cry "Unclean! Unclean!" so everyone could avoid him. As long as the
disease lasted, he was to live in isolation away from other people <Lev.
13:45-46>.
Any contact with a leper defiled the person who touched him. Sometimes leprosy
victims were miraculously cured. Moses (Ex 4:7), Miriam, his sister (Num
12:10), and
Naaman (2 Ki 5:1,10) are examples of such miracles. King Uzziah was a leper from
middle age until death (2 Chr 26:19-21).
Modern medicine provides cures for leprosy.
Jesus touched and healed the lepers.