### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ṭohŏrâh**, represented by `{{H2893}}`, is a term for **ceremonial purification** and moral purity. It appears 13 times across 13 unique verses in the Bible. Its use is almost exclusively tied to the specific, prescribed processes required to achieve a state of ritual cleanness before God and the community.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2893}}` is central to the Levitical laws. It defines the required procedures for various conditions, such as the "law of the leper in the day of his **cleansing**" [[Leviticus 14:2]] and the period of time a woman must wait "in the blood of her **purifying**" after childbirth [[Leviticus 12:4]]. The term also applies to the **cleansing** of a Nazarite who has been defiled by sudden contact with the dead [[Numbers 6:9]]. In the context of temple worship, it describes the **purifying** of holy things [[1 Chronicles 23:28]] and the duties kept by the singers and porters related to "the ward of the **purification**" [[Nehemiah 12:45]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of purity and its opposite state, defilement:
* `{{H2891}}` **ṭâhêr** (to be pure): This is the primitive root from which `{{H2893}}` is derived. It describes the action of becoming or being made clean, as when God promises, "from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I **cleanse** you" [[Ezekiel 36:25]].
* `{{H2892}}` **ṭôhar** (purification): The masculine form of the noun, often used in parallel with `{{H2893}}`. It can refer to the same period of ritual purifying [[Leviticus 12:4]] but is also used more abstractly to describe brightness or **clearness**, such as the "body of heaven in his **clearness**" [[Exodus 24:10]].
* `{{H2930}}` **ṭâmêʼ** (to be foul): This root is the direct antonym of purity, meaning to be unclean or defiled. The process of **cleansing** `{{H2893}}` is the remedy for having been **defiled** `{{H2930}}`, as seen in the laws for the Nazarite [[Numbers 6:9]].
* `{{H1548}}` **gâlach** (to shave): This word describes a specific action required as part of a purification rite. For a defiled Nazarite, the law commands that he shall **shave** his head on the day of his **cleansing** `{{H2893}}` [[Numbers 6:9]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2893}}` is tied to the Old Testament system of holiness and access to God's presence.
* **Restoration to Community:** The process of **cleansing** was necessary to restore an individual from a state of ritual impurity back into fellowship. This is seen in the laws for a leper, who must undergo **cleansing** to be seen again by the priest [[Leviticus 13:7]].
* **A Defined Process:** Purification was not an ambiguous feeling but a specific, time-bound process. It required a set number of days, such as the "seven days for his **cleansing**" after an issue [[Leviticus 15:13]] or the thirty-three days for **purifying** after childbirth [[Leviticus 12:4]].
* **Sanctuary Holiness:** The concept is foundational to the sanctity of the worship space. God's house required the **purifying** of all holy things [[1 Chronicles 23:28]], and a person's heart could be prepared for God even if they were not cleansed according to the formal "purification of the sanctuary" [[2 Chronicles 30:19]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2893}}` is a precise legal and ritual term rather than a general concept. It outlines the specific means and duration for moving from a state of ceremonial uncleanness to cleanness. This word highlights the detailed requirements of the Mosaic law for dealing with defilement, ensuring that individuals, objects, and the sanctuary itself could be maintained in a state of holiness appropriate for the presence of God.
TRV