### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ṭâmâh**, represented by `{{H2933}}`, is a term for being impure or defiled. It is a collateral form of the more common word for uncleanness, `{{H2930}}`. Defined as meaning **to be impure in a religious sense** or to **be reputed vile**, it appears just **2 times** in **2 unique verses**, highlighting specific aspects of defilement.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two uses of `{{H2933}}` show its distinct applications. In a social context, it conveys being held in contempt. Job asks, "Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and **reputed vile** in your sight?" [[Job 18:3]]. Here, the word describes being viewed as worthless by others. In a religious context, it refers to ceremonial uncleanness. Leviticus warns against contact with certain creatures, stating, "neither shall ye make yourselves **unclean** with them, that ye should be defiled thereby" [[Leviticus 11:43]], linking the word directly to the violation of dietary laws.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning of `{{H2933}}`:
* `{{H2930}}` **ṭâmêʼ** (to be foul... defile... pollute... unclean): As the root form, this word reinforces the concept of ceremonial and moral contamination. It is used to command against defiling the self [[Leviticus 11:44]] and God's sanctuary [[Ezekiel 5:11]].
* `{{H2803}}` **châshab** (to think, regard, value, compute): This word is used alongside `{{H2933}}` in [[Job 18:3]], where Job's friends are "counted" or esteemed as beasts. It shows that being "reputed vile" is a matter of perception and judgment.
* `{{H8262}}` **shâqats** (to be filthy... abhor, make abominable): This term appears in the same verse as `{{H2933}}` in [[Leviticus 11:43]], where the Israelites are commanded not to make themselves "abominable." It describes the deep loathing associated with things God has declared unclean.
* `{{H5315}}` **nephesh** (soul, life, person, self): The command in [[Leviticus 11:43]] warns against making "yourselves" (nephesh) unclean, indicating that this defilement affects the very essence or soul of a person.
* `{{H929}}` **bᵉhêmâh** (beast, cattle): In [[Job 18:3]], being "reputed vile" is directly compared to being "counted as beasts," emphasizing a state of being considered less than human.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2933}}` is tied to its dual contexts of social worth and religious purity.
* **Reputational Defilement:** The use in Job demonstrates that being "reputed vile" is a profound affliction. It is a state of being devalued and seen as contemptible in the eyes `{{H5869}}` of others, which is presented as a significant aspect of suffering.
* **Ceremonial Uncleanness:** The Levitical use highlights the importance of maintaining ritual purity as a reflection of God's holiness. To become unclean `{{H2933}}` is to be defiled `{{H2930}}` and to make oneself abominable `{{H8262}}`, violating the sacred separation between the clean and the unclean.
* **The Integrity of the Self:** The warning in Leviticus is against making one's **soul** `{{H5315}}` unclean, framing purity not merely as an external act but as a matter central to one's being and relationship with God.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2933}}` **ṭâmâh**, though rare, provides a nuanced understanding of impurity. It illustrates that defilement can be both a social state of being **reputed vile** and a religious state of ceremonial **uncleanness**. In both cases, the word points to a condition that is undesirable and separates one either from community or from a state of holiness before God.
TRV