from an unused root apparently meaning to be moist; properly, dripping; hence, fresh (i.e. recently made such); new, putrefying.
Transliteration:ṭârîy
Pronunciation:taw-ree'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H2961 (ṭârîy) derives from an unused root, which appears to convey the sense of "to be moist" or "dripping." This foundational meaning extends naturally to describe something as "fresh," implying a state of being recently made, acquired, or in its prime, not yet dried out or aged. The primary application of "fresh" in the biblical text relates to materials that retain their moisture and therefore their strength or pliancy, or to individuals in the early stages of life.
Intriguingly, the semantic range also encompasses "putrefying" or "newly rotten." This seemingly contradictory meaning is reconciled by understanding H2961 as indicating a *recent* or *new* state. Thus, "fresh" can refer to something recently vital and strong, or something recently entered into a state of decay. The common thread is the temporal aspect of "newness" or "immediacy" rather than an inherent quality of goodness or badness. It describes a condition that has just begun or is currently in its initial phase.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H2961 appears four times in the Hebrew Bible, offering distinct contextual insights into its meaning:
1. **Judges 15:15**: "And he found a [[Judges 15:15]]fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck down a thousand men." Here, "fresh" (ṭârîy) describes the jawbone, implying it was recently acquired, not dried out or brittle, thus retaining its strength and efficacy for Samson's extraordinary feat. The moisture content is key to its utility.
2. **Judges 16:7-8**: In two instances, Delilah attempts to bind Samson. "If they bind me with seven [[Judges 16:7]]fresh bowstrings that have not been dried..." and "Then Delilah took [[Judges 16:8]]fresh bowstrings and bound him with them..." Similar to the jawbone, "fresh" here denotes new, undried, and therefore strong, pliable, and presumably effective materials. The intent is to use the most robust available means to subdue Samson.
3. **1 Samuel 17:12**: David is introduced as the "youngest" (ṭârîy) of Jesse's sons: "Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul, the man was old, advanced in years. The three [[1 Samuel 17:12]]oldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle... David was the youngest." In this context, "ṭârîy" signifies youth or the most recent in birth, aligning with the "new" or "recently made" aspect of the core meaning. It highlights David's age relative to his brothers.
4. **Job 16:15**: This verse presents the most challenging and illuminating usage: "I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and defiled my horn in the dust. My face is flushed from weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness. Though there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place! Behold, even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high. My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God. Oh that one might plead for a man with God, as a son of man for his neighbor! For when a few years have come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return. My skin is [[Job 16:15]]freshly putrefying." Here, Job laments his physical deterioration. "ṭârîy" modifies the state of decay, indicating that the putrefaction is *new* or *recently begun*. It emphasizes the immediacy and active process of his bodily decay, rather than a long-established state of decomposition. This usage reconciles the seemingly opposite meanings by focusing on the temporal "newness" of a condition, whether it be vitality or decay.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H2961 intersects with several other Hebrew terms:
* **`{{H3892}}` (lach)**: Meaning "moist," "fresh," or "green," often used for living trees or plants. This word shares the core idea of moisture and vitality, similar to H2961 when describing a fresh jawbone or bowstrings.
* **`{{H2318}}` (chadash)**: Meaning "new," "renew," or "restore." While H2961 emphasizes a state of being *recently* new or fresh, `{{H2318}}` often refers to the act of making new or the quality of being new in general.
* **`{{H1245}}` (bāqār)**: While primarily meaning "cattle," it can also be associated with "firstborn" or "early," suggesting a "fresh" or "new" beginning, particularly in the context of morning or youth.
* **Concepts of Youth and Vitality**: The use of H2961 for David in [[1 Samuel 17:12]] connects it to the broader biblical theme of youth, often associated with strength, potential, and divine selection despite apparent weakness (e.g., David vs. Goliath).
* **Concepts of Decay and Mortality**: The usage in [[Job 16:15]] links H2961 to the somber themes of human frailty, suffering, and the inevitability of physical decay, a stark reminder of mortality.
### Theological Significance
While H2961 does not carry profound theological weight in itself, its contextual applications offer subtle insights:
1. **Divine Empowerment and Human Limitations**: In the Samson narratives ([[Judges 15:15]], [[Judges 16:7-8]]), the "fresh" materials highlight human attempts to exert control or achieve victory. Samson's use of a "fresh" jawbone underscores the extraordinary divine power working through him, making a seemingly ordinary object into a formidable weapon. Conversely, Delilah's use of "fresh" bowstrings and cords signifies the strongest human efforts to bind Samson, which ultimately fail against God's purposes for him. This subtly points to the inadequacy of human strength and ingenuity when pitted against divine will.
2. **Divine Choice and Unexpected Beginnings**: David being described as "ṭârîy" ([[1 Samuel 17:12]]) emphasizes his youth and relative unimportance in the eyes of men. Yet, it is precisely this "newness" or "freshness" of life that God chooses to anoint, demonstrating that divine selection often bypasses conventional expectations, favoring the humble and seemingly unready. This resonates with God's pattern of choosing the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
3. **The Reality of Suffering and Mortality**: Job's lament in [[Job 16:15]] powerfully uses "ṭârîy" to convey the immediate and active process of his physical disintegration. This raw portrayal of "freshly putrefying" skin underscores the brutal reality of suffering and the rapid onset of decay in a fallen world. Theologically, it confronts the reader with the tangible effects of sin and the curse, even as it highlights Job's profound anguish and his wrestling with God amidst physical torment. It serves as a stark reminder of human mortality and the fragility of life.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H2961 (ṭârîy) primarily conveys the meaning of "fresh" or "new," stemming from an underlying sense of "moist" or "dripping." This "freshness" can denote a state of vitality and strength, as seen in the "fresh" jawbone and bowstrings used in the Samson narratives ([[Judges 15:15]], [[Judges 16:7-8]]), or it can refer to youth, as in the description of David as the "youngest" ([[1 Samuel 17:12]]). Crucially, the word's semantic range extends to describe something as "freshly putrefying" or "newly rotten," as found in Job's lament ([[Job 16:15]]). This seemingly contradictory usage is reconciled by understanding H2961 as emphasizing the *immediacy* or *newness* of a particular state, whether it be one of vigor or decay. Thus, H2961` speaks to conditions that have recently come into being, highlighting either a burgeoning vitality or a commenced deterioration, offering a nuanced temporal perspective on various states of being in the biblical text.
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