בֹּ֫הַק

# בֹּ֫הַק (bohaq): A Rare Biblical Term for Skin Blemish The Hebrew word *bohaq* appears only once in the biblical text, making it one of the rarest terms in the Hebrew Bible. According to the lexical data, it refers to a "spot"—specifically, a visible mark or discoloration. Given its singular occurrence and classification as a dermatological term, the word likely denotes a particular type of skin ailment or blemish. The extreme rarity of *bohaq*—appearing just one time across the entire biblical corpus—severely limits what can be determined about its precise meaning, scope, or theological significance. Unlike more frequently occurring synonyms for skin conditions, which appear multiple times and allow for contextual comparison, *bohaq* cannot be analyzed through patterns of usage or varied applications. The single occurrence provides only one data point, making it impossible to establish whether the term refers to a common or uncommon condition, whether it carried diagnostic importance in ancient medical or priestly contexts, or how it related to other similar terms in Hebrew. For modern readers, *bohaq* represents a linguistic boundary: we know what word was used, and we know its general semantic field involves visible skin marks, but the evidence available does not permit deeper analysis of its specific characteristics, cultural context, or precise medical meaning.