### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word `{{H1252}}` (bôr) is an abstract noun derived directly from the verbal root `{{H1305}}` (bārar), which means "to purify," "to cleanse," "to select," or "to make bright." Consequently, `{{H1252}}` carries the core meaning of "cleanness" or "pureness." It denotes the state or quality of being pure, unblemished, or uncorrupted. While the root `{{H1305}}` can imply a process of refinement or separation, `{{H1252}}` refers to the resulting condition of purity. Its semantic range is primarily focused on moral and ethical purity, though it can also touch upon physical or ceremonial cleanness in certain contexts, always with an underlying spiritual implication.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{H1252}}` appears a limited number of times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in poetic and wisdom literature, consistently emphasizing a state of moral integrity or blamelessness.
* **[[2 Samuel 22:21]] and [[Psalm 18:20]]**: In these parallel passages, part of David's psalm of deliverance, he declares, "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the *cleanness* of my hands He has recompensed me." Here, "cleanness of hands" (בֹּר כַּפָּי) is a metaphorical expression signifying innocent actions, blameless conduct, and moral integrity before God. It is directly paralleled with "righteousness" (צִדְקִי), indicating an ethical uprightness rather than ritual purity.
* **[[2 Samuel 22:25]] and [[Psalm 18:24]]**: Again, in parallel, David reiterates, "Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my *cleanness* before His eyes." The phrase "before His eyes" (לְנֶגֶד עֵינָיו) underscores that this purity is perceived and judged by God Himself, emphasizing divine vindication of David's character and actions against his adversaries.
* **[[Job 9:30]]**: Job, wrestling with the overwhelming nature of God's justice, states, "If I wash myself with snow water and make my hands *pure* with lye, yet You would plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes would abhor me." Here, `{{H1252}}` describes a physical attempt at external cleansing ("make my hands pure"). However, the context is deeply theological: Job uses hyperbole to express the utter futility of human efforts to achieve true purity or justification before an infinitely holy God, highlighting that no external act can purify the inner self to God's satisfaction.
* **[[Job 22:30]]**: Eliphaz, in his final speech to Job, asserts, "He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the *cleanness* of your hands." Eliphaz suggests that if Job were truly pure (had "cleanness of hands"), his intercession could save others. This implies that the state of `{{H1252}}` is a prerequisite for effective prayer and divine favor, again pointing to moral and ethical integrity.
In all these occurrences, `{{H1252}}` consistently refers to a state of moral uprightness, freedom from guilt, or ethical integrity, often in contrast to human sinfulness or in relation to divine judgment and vindication.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of "cleanness" or "purity" is rich in the Hebrew Bible and `{{H1252}}` interacts with several key terms:
* **`{{H1305}}` (bārar)**: The verbal root from which `{{H1252}}` is derived. This verb signifies the active process of purifying, refining, or selecting. While bārar is the action, bôr is the resulting state, indicating a close semantic relationship.
* **`{{H2893}}` (ṭāhôr)** and **`{{H2892}}` (ṭohorāh)**: These are the most common Hebrew words for "clean" (adjective) and "cleanness/purity" (noun), frequently used in ritual contexts (e.g., clean and unclean animals, ritual purification laws in Leviticus). While `{{H1252}}` shares the general concept of purity, its specific usage in the Bible tends to emphasize moral and ethical purity more distinctly than the often ritualistic focus of *ṭāhôr*.
* **`{{H6664}}` (tsaddîq)** and **`{{H6666}}` (tsedeq)**: "Righteous" and "righteousness." As seen in David's psalms, `{{H1252}}` is directly paralleled with righteousness (tsedeq). This highlights that "cleanness" in this context is not merely the absence of defilement but the active presence of right conduct and character aligned with God's standards.
* **`{{H8537}}` (tāmîm)**: "Blameless," "complete," "perfect." This term often describes a person of integrity, whose life is whole and undivided in devotion to God. `{{H1252}}` contributes to this broader picture of a blameless life, particularly concerning one's actions.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H1252}}` is profound, touching upon divine justice, human responsibility, and the nature of true righteousness.
* **Divine Standard of Purity**: The very existence of a word like `{{H1252}}` underscores that God operates by a standard of absolute purity and righteousness. Human "cleanness" is always measured against this divine perfection.
* **Human Inability to Self-Purify**: Job's lament in [[Job 9:30]] powerfully illustrates the theological truth that human beings, through their own efforts, cannot achieve the kind of bôr that satisfies God's holy standard. External rituals or outward acts of cleansing are insufficient; true purity must be a deeper, internal transformation. This sets the stage for the New Testament understanding of justification and sanctification through divine grace.
* **Righteousness as Vindication**: David's claims of "cleanness of hands" in [[2 Samuel 22]] and [[Psalm 18]] are not claims of sinless perfection but rather of integrity and blamelessness in specific situations, particularly in the face of false accusations or unjust aggression. God's reward and recompense are seen as divine vindication of this ethical bôr, affirming that God sees and honors genuine righteousness. This foreshadows the concept of God's justice in recognizing and rewarding faith-driven obedience.
* **Ethical Demand**: The consistent association of `{{H1252}}` with "hands" (actions) emphasizes that this purity is not merely an internal thought or feeling but must be manifested in one's conduct. It is an ethical quality that demands righteous living and moral integrity in the world.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H1252}}` (bôr), derived from `{{H1305}}` (bārar), denotes "cleanness" or "pureness." Its limited but significant occurrences in the biblical text highlight its primary focus on moral and ethical integrity rather than merely ritual purity. In the Psalms and Samuel, it describes David's "cleanness of hands" as a metaphor for his righteous and blameless conduct before God, leading to divine vindication. In the book of Job, it underscores the futility of human attempts at self-purification and the necessity of true moral uprightness in God's sight. Theologically, `{{H1252}}` points to God's demand for a profound ethical purity, reveals the inadequacy of human efforts to achieve it independently, and affirms that genuine "cleanness" is a quality recognized and honored by a righteous God, ultimately foreshadowing the divine provision for true spiritual purification.
TRV