a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated); defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly.
Transliteration:ṭâmêʼ
Pronunciation:taw-may'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H2930}}` (ṭâmêʼ) conveys the fundamental idea of being "foul," "contaminated," or "unclean." Its semantic range extends across both ritual (ceremonial) and moral dimensions. In its most basic sense, it describes a state of impurity that renders a person, object, or place unfit for sacred use or interaction with the holy. The root can function as a verb, indicating the act of becoming unclean ("to be defiled"), or the act of making something unclean ("to defile," "to pollute"). It also encompasses the legal pronouncement of uncleanness by a priest. The passive sense, "to be unclean," is frequently encountered, describing an existing state. The definition also notes an idiomatic usage, "utterly," which implies a complete or thorough state of defilement. This multifaceted nature underscores the pervasive impact of ṭâmêʼ within the biblical worldview, representing a state antithetical to purity and holiness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of `{{H2930}}` are concentrated in the Pentateuch, particularly the books of Leviticus and Numbers, where the laws of ritual purity are meticulously detailed.
1. **Ceremonial Uncleanness:** This is the most frequent usage. It describes a temporary state of impurity resulting from contact with specific substances or conditions deemed defiling. Examples include:
* **Contact with a corpse:** Anyone touching a dead body or entering a tent where a person has died becomes ṭâmêʼ for seven days, requiring a purification ritual involving the ashes of a red heifer ([[Numbers 19:13]], [[Numbers 19:20]]).
* **Bodily discharges:** Men with seminal emissions or women with menstruation or abnormal discharges are declared ṭâmêʼ, requiring bathing and a waiting period ([[Leviticus 15:16]], [[Leviticus 15:25]]).
* **Certain animals:** Eating or touching the carcasses of animals deemed "unclean" (e.g., pigs, specific birds, creeping things) renders a person ṭâmêʼ until evening ([[Leviticus 11:43-44]]).
* **Leprosy (tsara'at):** A person afflicted with this skin disease is pronounced ṭâmêʼ by the priest and must live outside the camp ([[Leviticus 13:3]], [[Leviticus 13:46]]).
These forms of uncleanness were not inherently sinful but necessitated separation from the community and the sanctuary, highlighting the strict boundaries between the holy and the common, and the clean and the unclean. Purification rituals were prescribed to restore ritual purity.
2. **Moral Uncleanness:** Beyond ritual impurity, `{{H2930}}` is critically used to describe profound moral and spiritual defilement, often associated with sin.
* **Sexual Immorality:** Incest, adultery, and other illicit sexual acts are explicitly stated to "defile" (ṭâmêʼ) the land and the people ([[Leviticus 18:24-25]], [[Leviticus 18:27]]). Such actions are an abomination and lead to the land "vomiting out" its inhabitants.
* **Idolatry:** Worshipping other gods or engaging in practices like child sacrifice is a grave defilement, polluting the sanctuary and the people ([[Leviticus 20:3]], [[Ezekiel 36:17]]).
* **Bloodshed:** The shedding of innocent blood defiles the land ([[Numbers 35:33]]).
* **Prophetic Usage:** Prophets frequently use ṭâmêʼ to condemn the moral corruption of Israel, lamenting how the people have defiled themselves and the land through their sin and rebellion ([[Jeremiah 2:7]], [[Isaiah 6:5]]). This moral uncleanness is far more serious than ritual impurity, requiring repentance and divine intervention for true cleansing.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of `{{H2930}}` (ṭâmêʼ) is best understood in direct antithesis to `{{H2891}}` (ṭāhôr), meaning "clean" or "pure." These two terms form a fundamental binary within the Israelite cultic system and moral framework.
Other related concepts include:
* **Holiness (`{{H6942}}` qadosh):** Uncleanness is diametrically opposed to holiness. God's absolute holiness necessitates the separation of His people and His sanctuary from anything ṭâmêʼ. The purity laws serve to protect the holy from defilement.
* **Atonement (`{{H3722}}` kaphar):** The means by which defilement, particularly that which affects the sanctuary, is dealt with. Sacrifices and rituals of atonement cleanse from sin and impurity, allowing the divine presence to remain among the people.
* **Sin (`{{H2403}}` chatta't, `{{H6588}}` pesha', `{{H5771}}` 'awon):** Moral ṭâmêʼ is a direct consequence and manifestation of sin. While not all ritual uncleanness is sin, all sin leads to moral uncleanness.
* **Abomination (`{{H8441}}` to'ebah):** Many acts that cause moral ṭâmêʼ are simultaneously labeled an abomination, signifying their repugnance to God.
* **Defilement (often a translation of `{{H2930}}`):** The English term "defilement" directly captures the essence of ṭâmêʼ, highlighting the act or state of being made impure.
### Theological Significance
The concept of `{{H2930}}` is profoundly significant for understanding the biblical worldview, particularly in the Old Testament.
1. **God's Absolute Holiness:** The pervasive nature of ṭâmêʼ laws underscores the transcendent holiness of YHWH. God is utterly pure and cannot tolerate anything impure in His presence. The meticulous regulations regarding uncleanness serve to protect the sanctity of the divine presence among His people.
2. **The Pervasiveness of Sin:** While some forms of ṭâmêʼ are ritual and temporary, the moral application reveals the deep-seated problem of human sin. Sin is not merely a transgression of law but a contaminating force that defiles individuals, communities, and even the land itself. This highlights humanity's inherent fallenness and inability to stand pure before a holy God.
3. **The Need for Separation and Purification:** Uncleanness necessitates separation (from the camp, the sanctuary) and demands purification. This system teaches Israel the constant need for cleansing and the consequences of impurity. It foreshadows the ultimate need for a perfect sacrifice to cleanse from the defilement of sin.
4. **Pedagogical Tool:** The ritual laws concerning ṭâmêʼ served as a pedagogical tool, teaching Israel about the nature of holiness and sin. By experiencing ritual defilement and the need for cleansing, they were to grasp the deeper spiritual reality of moral defilement and the necessity of divine grace for true purity.
5. **Anticipation of a Greater Cleansing:** The inability of the sacrificial system to fully and permanently remove moral ṭâmêʼ points to a future, more efficacious cleansing. This theological trajectory finds its fulfillment in the New Covenant, where the blood of Christ provides a definitive cleansing from all sin and defilement, making believers truly pure before God ([[Hebrews 9:14]], [[1 John 1:7]]).
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H2930}}` (ṭâmêʼ) is a foundational term signifying "unclean" or "defiled." It encompasses both ritual impurity, which is temporary and remedied by prescribed purification rites, and profound moral contamination, resulting from sin. This concept is central to the Israelite purity laws, delineating what separates individuals, objects, and the land from the holy presence of God. The pervasive nature of ṭâmêʼ highlights God's absolute holiness and the pervasive reality of human sin, which defiles and alienates. Ultimately, the biblical emphasis on ṭâmêʼ underscores humanity's inherent need for divine intervention and a radical cleansing to restore purity and enable fellowship with a holy God.
TRV