Leprosy in the Bible–and its connection to slander

Tzaraat, the subject of this week’s portion (and, in part, of last week’s as well), has traditionally been translated as leprosy, a word seemingly derived from the Greek lepra (scales). Contemporary translators, reluctant to use the word, either substitute a euphemism like “skin blanch” (Robert Alter) or retain the Hebrew term (Everett Fox). In a parallel context, the World Health Organization has replaced “leprosy” with “Hansen’s disease.”

http://www.jidaily.com/slanderanditscomeuppance/e