SCURVY.See Medicine, p. 599b.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
skûr?vi (גּרב, gārābh; ψώρα ἀγρία, psṓra agrı́a (Lev_21:20; Lev_22:22)): This word is used to denote an itchy, scaly disease of the scalp, probably any of the parasitic diseases which are known as tinea, porrigo or impetigo. These cases have no relation whatever to the disease now known as scorbutus or scurvy. The name was probably derived from its scaliness, and the old Greek physicians believed these diseases to be peculiarly intractable.
The name ?Gareb? is used in Jer_31:39 as the placename of a hill at or near the southeastern corner of Jerusalem, probably from the bare roughness of the surface of its slope at the southern end of the Wâdy er-Rabābi. Another hill of this name is mentioned near Shiloh in the Talmud, and the name is given to one of David's warriors (2Sa_23:38).
Scurvy etymologically means any condition of scaliness of skin which can be scraped off, such as dandruff.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.
(גָּדָב, garab, from גָּרַב, to scratch), scurf on the akin (Lev_21:20; Lev_22:22), perhaps of a malignant kind ("Scab," Deu_28:27). So also the word יַלֶּפֶת, yallepheth, rendered "scabbed" (Lev_21:20; Lev_22:22), signifies a sort of itching scab, scurf, tetter, so called as sticking fast. SEE LEPROSY. The disease known by the name of scurvy in modern times is usually caused by long confinement in cold and damp climates, without fresh provisions, and a due quantity of acescent food. In the progress of the disease the skin becomes dry and scaly, livid spots appear, and the sufferer experiences great debility.
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.