from (the equiv. of) טוּחַ; mortar or plaster; daubing.
Transliteration:ṭîyach
Pronunciation:tee'akh
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun טִיחַ (ṭîyach), Strong's number `{{H2915}}`, denotes "mortar" or "plaster," and by extension, the act of "daubing" or "plastering." It is derived from the verbal root טוּחַ (ṭûach), Strong's number `{{H2902}}`, which means "to smear, daub, overlay, or plaster." Thus, ṭîyach refers to the material used for covering surfaces, typically walls, whether for structural integrity, sealing, or aesthetic finishing. The semantic range is quite narrow, focusing specifically on this type of building material or its application, distinguishing it from other types of mud or clay.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ṭîyach (`{{H2915}}`) appears exclusively in the book of Leviticus, specifically within the detailed instructions concerning the "leprous disease" (likely mold or mildew) in a house. Its three occurrences are:
* [[Leviticus 14:42]]: "Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other mortar (ṭîyach) and plaster the house." Here, ṭîyach refers to the fresh plaster used to repair a house after infected stones have been removed.
* [[Leviticus 14:43]]: "If the disease breaks out again in the house after he has pulled out the stones and after he has scraped the house and after it has been plastered (ṭîyach)," In this verse, ṭîyach refers to the act of plastering, implying the completed application of the material.
* [[Leviticus 14:45]]: "Then he shall break down the house, its stones, and its timbers, and all the mortar (ṭîyach) of the house, and he shall carry them out to an unclean place outside the city." Here, ṭîyach is identified as a component of the structure that must be utterly destroyed if the defilement persists.
In all contexts, ṭîyach is a material component of the house, directly implicated in its ritual purity or impurity. It highlights the meticulous nature of the Mosaic law regarding defilement, extending even to inanimate objects within a dwelling. The repeated reference to the plaster underscores its role as a visible surface and integral part of the house's integrity, which must be either renewed or utterly removed depending on the persistence of the "disease."
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is the verbal root `{{H2902}}` (ṭûach), from which ṭîyach is derived. While ṭîyach is the *material* or *act* of plastering, ṭûach is the *action* of smearing or plastering. This root is used in various contexts, including covering the ark with pitch (Genesis 6:14) and, significantly, in prophetic condemnations of false prophets who "plaster" with untempered mortar, signifying superficial or deceptive coverings (e.g., [[Ezekiel 13:10-15]], [[Ezekiel 22:28]]). While ṭîyach itself does not carry this metaphorical weight in its limited occurrences, its root certainly does, hinting at the potential for coverings to conceal rather than truly cleanse.
Other related concepts include:
* **Building materials:** While not directly related lexically, ṭîyach belongs to the broader category of materials used in construction, such as stone, timber, or various forms of clay (e.g., `{{H2916}}` ṭîṭ, "mire, clay").
* **Purity laws:** The context of ṭîyach is entirely within the Levitical purity code concerning defiling skin diseases and the defilement of houses. This links it to concepts of ritual uncleanness, purification, and the separation of the clean from the unclean.
* **Demolition and reconstruction:** The verses show ṭîyach as part of a process of dismantling and rebuilding, or complete destruction, emphasizing the transient nature of human constructions in contrast to divine permanence.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ṭîyach (`{{H2915}}`) is primarily derived from its unique placement within the Levitical purity laws. It is not merely a mundane building material but one that becomes an active participant in the ritual drama of cleanliness and defilement.
1. **The Pervasiveness of Impurity:** The fact that even the plaster of a house can become ritually unclean demonstrates the pervasive nature of sin and defilement in a fallen world. Nothing, not even inanimate objects, is entirely immune from the effects of corruption. This underscores the need for meticulous attention to purity in all aspects of life for the people of God.
2. **God's Demand for Thorough Cleansing:** The instructions concerning the house afflicted with "leprosy" illustrate God's absolute demand for complete removal of impurity. Superficial remedies, like merely scraping and replastering (as in [[Leviticus 14:42]]), are attempted first. However, if the "disease" persists, the entire house, including its plaster (`{{H2915}}`), must be utterly destroyed ([[Leviticus 14:45]]). This serves as a powerful physical metaphor for the spiritual reality that true cleansing requires radical action, sometimes even the complete dismantling of that which is defiled, rather than mere cosmetic covering.
3. **Holiness and Dwelling:** For Israel, a people called to holiness, even their dwellings were to reflect this divine attribute. The laws concerning the house's "leprosy" and the role of ṭîyach in its purification or destruction emphasize that God's holiness extends beyond the tabernacle or temple to the very homes of His people. This illustrates God's desire for a people and an environment that are wholly set apart for Him, free from defilement.
### Summary
The Hebrew noun טִיחַ (ṭîyach), `{{H2915}}`, meaning "mortar" or "plaster," is a rare term found exclusively in [[Leviticus 14]]. In these occurrences, it refers to the material used for plastering walls in the context of a house afflicted with a "leprous disease" (mold/mildew). Its presence in these purity laws elevates it beyond a mere building material, making it an integral element in the ritual process of identifying, attempting to purify, or ultimately destroying a defiled dwelling. Theologically, ṭîyach highlights the pervasive nature of impurity, God's uncompromising demand for thorough cleansing, and the extent to which divine holiness permeates even the physical environment of His people, requiring radical action when defilement persists.
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