feminine of זֶרֶם; a gushing of fluid (semen); issue.
Transliteration:zirmâh
Pronunciation:zir-maw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H2231, זִרְמָה (transliterated as *zirmâh*), is a feminine noun derived from `{{H2230}}` זֶרֶם (*zerem*), which signifies a "storm," "flood," or "pouring rain." This etymological connection is crucial, as it imbues *zirmâh* with the core sense of a forceful, gushing, or abundant outflow. Specifically, H2231 is defined as "a gushing of fluid (semen); issue." Its semantic range is thus narrow, pointing to an involuntary or natural bodily discharge, particularly that related to the male reproductive system, characterized by its fluid and outpouring nature.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term *zirmâh* occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in the book of Leviticus:
* **[[Leviticus 15:3]]**: "And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: his flesh having a running issue, or his flesh being stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness."
In this verse, *zirmâh* refers to the "issue" or discharge from a man's body that renders him ritually unclean. This passage is part of a broader section (Leviticus 15) detailing various bodily discharges that cause ritual impurity (*ṭum'ah*). The context is purely legal and ritualistic, defining the conditions under which an individual becomes temporarily separated from the community's sacred space and requiring specific purification rites to restore ritual purity (*ṭahorah*). It is distinct from a nocturnal emission (`{{H7901}}` *shikhbat zera*). The emphasis is not on sin or moral failing, but on a state of ritual defilement that impacts one's ability to participate in worship and interact with holy things.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding *zirmâh* is enhanced by examining its linguistic and conceptual neighbors:
* **`{{H2230}}` זֶרֶם (*zerem*):** The masculine root from which *zirmâh* is derived, meaning "storm," "flood," or "torrent." This connection underscores the forceful, abundant, and often uncontrolled nature of the "gushing" implied by *zirmâh*.
* **`{{H2100}}` זוּב (*zuv*):** A verb meaning "to flow," "to gush," or "to have a discharge." This verb is frequently used in Leviticus 15 to describe various bodily "issues" (e.g., [[Leviticus 15:2]], [[Leviticus 15:4]]). *Zirmâh* describes the specific *type* or *nature* of the discharge associated with the state of *zuv*.
* **`{{H2232}}` זֶרַע (*zeraʿ*):** Meaning "seed," "offspring," or "sowing." While *zirmâh* refers to the *act* or *fluid* of discharge, *zeraʿ* often refers to the *substance* itself (semen) or its biological *result* (offspring). There is a clear conceptual link between the outflow of fluid and the potential for life.
* **Ritual Purity and Impurity (טָהֳרָה / טֻמְאָה):** The overarching theological framework of Leviticus 15. The "issue" of *zirmâh* is one specific condition that brings about *ṭum'ah* (impurity), necessitating prescribed actions for *ṭahorah* (purity) to enable full participation in the covenant community.
### Theological Significance
The single occurrence of *zirmâh* in Leviticus 15, within the context of ritual purity laws, carries significant theological implications:
* **Holiness and Separation:** The regulations concerning *zirmâh* highlight the divine demand for holiness among the covenant people. Bodily discharges, particularly those associated with life-giving fluids, were seen as states of impurity that required temporary separation from the holy space of the Tabernacle and the pure community. This underscored the absolute purity of God and the need for Israel to reflect that purity in their lives.
* **Life and Its Boundaries:** Bodily fluids, notably blood and semen, were intrinsically linked to life and its potential. Their uncontrolled or unusual outflow (an "issue") could symbolize a diminishment of life or a state that, while natural, was outside the ideal, healthy order. Such states required ritual attention to re-establish the proper boundaries between the sacred and the common, life and its potential vulnerability.
* **Order and Disorder:** The meticulous nature of the Levitical laws reflects a divine desire for order—both cosmic and within the community. Bodily discharges, though not inherently sinful, represented a form of physiological "disorder" that, in the context of a holy people, necessitated specific protocols to maintain the sacred order and prevent defilement of the sanctuary.
* **Foreshadowing of Spiritual Purity:** While the Old Covenant laws addressed external, ritual purity, they foreshadowed a deeper, spiritual purity. The inability to fully approach God due to physical impurities like *zirmâh* points to humanity's inherent spiritual impurity (sin) that truly separates from God. The New Testament emphasizes that true cleansing and access to God come not through ritual washings but through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, who purifies the conscience from dead works ([[Hebrews 9:13-14]], [[Colossians 2:13-14]]).
### Summary
The Hebrew word H2231, *zirmâh*, uniquely describes a "gushing of fluid" or "issue," specifically a bodily discharge, particularly semen. Its sole biblical occurrence in [[Leviticus 15:3]] places it within the intricate framework of Mosaic ritual purity laws. Derived from `{{H2230}}` *zerem* ("storm, flood"), *zirmâh* conveys the forceful nature of this discharge. Theologically, *zirmâh* underscores the Israelite understanding of holiness and the meticulous requirements for maintaining ritual purity in the presence of a holy God. Such bodily "issues," while not sinful, rendered an individual temporarily impure, necessitating specific purification rites to restore full participation in the covenant community. These laws served to teach Israel about the sacredness of God and the need for purity, ultimately pointing to the profound spiritual cleansing available through divine grace.
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