### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H2101}}` (zôwb) is a masculine noun derived from the verb `{{H2100}}` (zûwb), which means "to flow," "to gush," or "to trickle." Consequently, `{{H2101}}` denotes a "flow," "flux," or "discharge." Its primary semantic range in the biblical text refers specifically to bodily emissions, particularly those of a reproductive nature: a seminal flux in men or a menstrual flux (or prolonged abnormal bleeding) in women. The term inherently carries the connotation of ritual impurity within the context of the Mosaic Law, signifying a state of defilement that required specific purification.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H2101}}` appears exclusively in the Pentateuch, primarily within the detailed purity laws of Leviticus and Numbers.
* **Leviticus 15:** This chapter is the most significant locus for `{{H2101}}`.
* [[Leviticus 15:2]]: "When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean." This verse introduces the concept of a male "issue" or `{{H2101}}`, laying the groundwork for subsequent regulations.
* [[Leviticus 15:3-15]]: These verses meticulously detail the laws concerning a man with a `{{H2101}}`, specifying how the discharge itself, and anything the man touches or sits on, becomes unclean. This uncleanness is contagious, spreading to others who come into contact with the affected person or object. The purification process involves a seven-day waiting period after the cessation of the discharge, ritual washing, and offering two doves or pigeons as a sin offering and a burnt offering.
* [[Leviticus 15:19]]: "When a woman has a discharge, if her discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her impurity for seven days." Here, `{{H2101}}` refers to regular menstruation, which also rendered a woman ritually unclean for a prescribed period.
* [[Leviticus 15:25]]: "If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond her period of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her menstrual impurity." This describes an abnormal, prolonged bleeding, often termed an "issue of blood," which is also designated by `{{H2101}}`. The regulations for this condition are similar to those for a man's `{{H2101}}`.
* **Numbers 5:**
* [[Numbers 5:2]]: "Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge, or is unclean through contact with the dead." This verse groups `{{H2101}}` with other severe sources of ritual impurity, emphasizing its defiling nature and the necessity of separating affected individuals from the holy space of the camp, which symbolized God's presence.
In summary, the biblical occurrences of `{{H2101}}` are consistently found within the legal framework of ritual purity. The term describes bodily fluxes that, while not necessarily sinful in themselves, rendered an individual ritually unfit to participate in the community's worship and required specific protocols for purification and restoration.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Root Verb `{{H2100}}` (zûwb):** The direct verbal root, meaning "to flow," provides the fundamental sense of continuous movement or discharge. This root is used in various contexts, such as a land "flowing" with milk and honey ([[Exodus 3:8]], [[Numbers 13:27]]), or water "gushing" forth.
* **Ritual Purity and Impurity:** The concept of `{{H2101}}` is deeply intertwined with the broader Old Testament categories of טָמֵא (ṭāmē', `{{H2930}}`, "unclean") and טָהוֹר (ṭāhôr, `{{H2889}}`, "clean"). A person with a `{{H2101}}` was טָמֵא, necessitating ritual cleansing to become טָהוֹר again.
* **Other Sources of Impurity:** `{{H2101}}` is one of several bodily conditions or events that caused ritual impurity under the Law, alongside leprosy (צָרַעַת, tsāraʿat), seminal emission, childbirth, and contact with a corpse. All these conditions relate to the boundaries of life and death, and the sanctity of the human body as created by God.
* **New Testament Parallel:** Although `{{H2101}}` is a Hebrew term, the condition it describes, particularly the "issue of blood" (Leviticus 15:25), finds a powerful parallel in the Gospels with the woman who suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years ([[Matthew 9:20]], [[Mark 5:25]], [[Luke 8:43]]). The Greek term used there, ῥύσις αἵματος (rhysis haimatos), literally "flow of blood," directly reflects the meaning of `{{H2101}}`. This narrative highlights the profound impact of this condition on a person's life under the Law and Jesus' radical approach to ritual purity.
### Theological Significance
The laws concerning `{{H2101}}` carry several layers of theological significance:
* **God's Holiness and Human Purity:** The meticulous regulations concerning `{{H2101}}` underscore God's absolute holiness and His demand for a holy people. Bodily discharges, especially those associated with the potential for life (semen) or the loss of life (blood), were seen as antithetical to the perfection and vitality of God's presence. They served as constant reminders of human fragility, the pervasive effects of the fall, and the need for separation from anything that diminished the sanctity required for dwelling in God's presence.
* **Ritual vs. Moral Impurity:** It is vital to distinguish between ritual impurity (such as that caused by `{{H2101}}`) and moral impurity (sin). Having a `{{H2101}}` was not a sin; it was a natural, albeit regulated, bodily state. The laws provided a framework for maintaining order and reverence within the covenant community, demonstrating the seriousness of approaching a holy God.
* **Divine Provision for Cleansing:** The prescribed rituals—washing, waiting periods, and sacrifices—for those with a `{{H2101}}` highlight God's gracious provision for cleansing and restoration. These acts allowed individuals to move from a state of impurity back into full participation in the community and worship, foreshadowing the ultimate and complete cleansing offered through Christ's atoning sacrifice.
* **Christ's Authority Over the Law:** The encounter between Jesus and the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5, etc.) offers a profound theological insight. Under the Law, anyone touching an individual with a `{{H2101}}` would become ritually unclean. However, when the woman touches Jesus, she is instantly healed, and Jesus is not defiled but rather imparts purity and wholeness. This demonstrates Jesus' divine authority to transcend and fulfill the Law's limitations, bringing about a new covenant where physical ailments and ritual barriers are overcome by His transformative power and grace. He brings cleansing and inclusion, rather than becoming defiled by contact with impurity.
### Summary
The Hebrew term `{{H2101}}` (zôwb) denotes a "flux" or "discharge," specifically referring to seminal or menstrual flows. Predominantly found in the Pentateuch, it is a crucial term within the Mosaic purity laws, signifying bodily emissions that rendered an individual ritually unclean. This state of uncleanness necessitated temporary separation from the community and specific purification rituals, including washing and sacrifices, to restore ritual purity. The concept of `{{H2101}}` underscores God's absolute holiness and the meticulous care required for His people to approach Him. While not inherently sinful, it represented a state of ritual defilement. The theological significance extends to the broader themes of holiness, God's provision for cleansing through atonement, and ultimately finds its most profound reinterpretation in the New Testament, where Jesus demonstrates His power to transcend ritual barriers and impart purity and healing to those considered unclean by the Law.
TRV