### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ṭumʼâh**, represented by `{{H2932}}`, signifies **religious impurity**, **filthiness**, and **unclean(-ness)**. Derived from the root word for being foul, `{{H2930}}`, it appears 37 times across 31 unique verses in the Bible. It describes a state of being ceremonially or morally contaminated, rendering a person, object, or the land itself unfit for the presence of a holy God.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In scripture, `{{H2932}}` applies to a wide range of impurities. It is used in Levitical law to denote ceremonial **uncleanness** stemming from bodily issues [[Leviticus 15:25]], contact with a dead body [[Numbers 19:13]], or touching an unclean thing [[Leviticus 5:3]]. This state of **uncleanness** defiled the tabernacle and required specific acts of atonement to be cleansed ([[Leviticus 15:31]], [[Leviticus 16:16]]). The term is also used metaphorically by the prophets to describe the moral **filthiness** of the people of Israel, often linked to idolatry and transgressions [[Ezekiel 22:15]]. God's judgment is portrayed as a response to this impurity, while his restoration includes a promise to cleanse his people from all their **filthiness** [[Ezekiel 36:25]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the scope of impurity and its remedy:
* `{{H2930}}` **ṭâmêʼ** (to be foul... defile... pollute... be unclean): This is the primitive root from which `{{H2932}}` is derived, indicating the action of becoming or being made impure. It is often used to describe how one becomes unclean [[Leviticus 5:3]].
* `{{H2891}}` **ṭâhêr** (to be... pure... cleanse... purify): As the direct opposite of becoming unclean, this word describes the process of cleansing and purification from `{{H2932}}`, a central theme in God's promise of restoration [[Ezekiel 36:25]].
* `{{H5079}}` **niddâh** (rejection; by implication, impurity, especially personal (menstruation) or moral (idolatry, incest)): This word for impurity is often used in parallel with `{{H2932}}` to emphasize the depth of Israel's defilement, comparing their sin to the **uncleanness** of a removed woman [[Ezekiel 36:17]].
* `{{H3722}}` **kâphar** (to cover... to expiate or condone... make an atonement... purge): This term is crucial for understanding the remedy for `{{H2932}}`. Priests would **make an atonement** to cleanse someone from their **uncleanness** [[Leviticus 14:19]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2932}}` is profound, establishing a clear distinction between the holy and the profane.
* **Separation from God:** The primary consequence of **uncleanness** is separation. A person in a state of `{{H2932}}` could be cut off from the community and was unfit to approach God's holy tabernacle ([[Leviticus 15:31]], [[Leviticus 22:3]]).
* **Moral and Spiritual Defilement:** Beyond ritual, `{{H2932}}` represents sin and moral corruption. It is linked with **lewdness** `{{H2154}}` in [[Ezekiel 24:13]] and with the **transgressions** `{{H6588}}` of the people in [[Ezekiel 39:24]]. In Zechariah, an "unclean spirit" `{{H7307}}` is something God will cause to pass out of the land [[Zechariah 13:2]].
* **Need for Divine Atonement:** The laws surrounding `{{H2932}}` underscore that impurity cannot be removed by human effort alone. It requires a divinely appointed means of atonement, such as a sin offering `{{H2403}}`, to be cleansed and made right before the Lord [[Leviticus 14:19]]. God himself ultimately promises to purge this **filthiness** [[Ezekiel 24:13]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2932}}` is a foundational biblical concept that extends far beyond simple physical dirtiness. It defines a state of ceremonial and moral impurity that creates a barrier between humanity and a holy God. From the detailed purity laws in Leviticus to the prophetic promises of spiritual cleansing in Ezekiel, the concept of **ṭumʼâh** highlights the seriousness of sin and the absolute necessity of divine atonement and purification for a relationship with God to be possible.
TRV