טָמֵא (H2930) — Hebrew Lexicon

טָמֵא

𐤈𐤌𐤀

ṭâmêʼ

H2930 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To be or become ritually unclean (impure), to be in a state of impurity, or to render someone or something ritually impure. The verb conveys entrance into a state that restricts participation in certain Israelite cultic practices or contact with holy objects and spaces, primarily due to physical contact with substances, persons, or situations regarded as sources of impurity. In additional contexts, the verb can be used for actions that render someone or something morally unacceptable or abominable, but the primary focus is ritual status.

Semantic Range

to become ritually unclean, to be in a state of impurity, to render someone or something ritually unclean, to be rendered unsuitable for sacred use, to describe moral abomination (in later or figurative contexts), to declare or pronounce unclean, to pollute or profane in a cultic sense

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root טמא, which fundamentally denotes the idea of being or becoming unclean or impure, primarily in a ritual sense. The verbal forms most often indicate the entering into, existing in, or causing of such a state.

Historical & Contextual Notes

טָמֵא is a central term in the Israelite purity system, used extensively in Leviticus and Numbers, and often paired with טָהוֹר (ṭāhôr, 'clean, pure') as its antonym. The root and its derivatives are almost exclusively concerned with cultic or legal categories having to do with one's eligibility for participation in the sacred communal life of Israel, more than personal hygiene or physical cleanliness. The sources of impurity may include bodily discharges, contact with corpses or certain animals, or skin diseases, among others. Although some post-biblical (later Second Temple or rabbinic) uses develop a greater emphasis on moral impurity, in the Hebrew Bible the primary concern is with ritual status and community boundaries. Standard English translations sometimes conflate ritual impurity with moral guilt, but the biblical categories distinguish between these. In narrative or later literary contexts, the verb can figuratively signify moral abomination or pollution, but this is secondary to its ritual meaning. Key occurrences are found in the priestly laws of Leviticus, narrative consequences (e.g., for those who touch the dead), and in the prophets' rhetorical use to describe Israel's collective violation of covenantal purity.

Translation Consistency

primary "become" 28 occurrences

The primary sense of טָמֵא in the SILEX is entering a state of ritual impurity — i.e., to come into or be in an unclean state. "Become" is a natural, neutral verb that fits the typical intransitive use (“become unclean”/“became unclean”) while still allowing passive/causative renderings where needed (e.g., “was become/was rendered unclean” or combined with context words like “made”/“rendered” in translation notes). It preserves the focus on change of state (the most common usage) and supports consistent, natural English across all forms.

Alternatives (22 occurrences):

"unclean" (8x) "became unclean" (5x) "render unclean" (2x) "rendered unclean" (2x) "made unclean" (1x) "pronounce unclean" (1x) "pronounce him unclean" (1x) "became ritually impure" (1x) "make him unclean" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

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.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

טמא (ṭâmêʼ) — to be(come) unclean, to defile, to bring impurity

Root טמא to be(come) unclean, to defile, to bring impurity

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H2931	טָמֵא	in a ritually-unclean state
H2932	טֻמְאָה	in ritual-impurity of
H2933	טָמָה	we became defiled

Word Forms

52 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H2930-52`	יִטְמָֽא	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean	34
`H2930-40`	וְ/טָמֵ֥א	vetame	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and be unclean	and he became unclean	and he shall be unclean	22
`H2930-23`	טִמֵּ֖א	time	`HVpp3ms`	he has defiled	he made unclean	he caused to become unclean	9
`H2930-06`	לְ/טָמְאָֽה	letameah	`HR/Vqc`	for defilement	to become unclean	to become unclean	7
`H2930-43`	וְ/טִמֵּ֣א	vetime	`HC/Vpp3ms`	then he shall pronounce unclean	and he rendered unclean	and he rendered unclean	7
`H2930-10`	נִטְמָֽאָה	nitemaah	`HVNp3fs`	has defiled	she has become ritually unclean	she has become ritually unclean	5
`H2930-49`	יִטַּמָּ֖א	yitama	`HVti3ms`	defile himself	he will make himself unclean	he will become unclean	5
`H2930-44`	וְ/טִמְּא֥/וֹ	vetimeo	`HC/Vpq3ms/Sp3ms`	then he shall pronounce him unclean	and he defiled him	and he made him become unclean	4
`H2930-07`	לְ/טַמְּאֽ/וֹ	letameo	`HR/Vpc/Sp3ms`	to defile it	to defile him	to cause him to become defiled	3
`H2930-17`	טַמֵּ֧א	tame	`HVpa`	he was defiled	ritually impure	he became ritually impure	3
`H2930-26`	טִמְּא֤וּ	timeu	`HVpp3cp`	they have defiled	they have made unclean	they have made unclean	3
`H2930-28`	תִּטַּמָּ֑אוּ	titamau	`HVtj2mp`	defile yourselves	you will defile yourselves	you will become defiled	3
`H2930-29`	תִֽטַּמְּאוּ֙	titameu	`HVti2mp`	defile-yourselves	you will defile yourselves	you will become defiled yourselves	3
`H2930-33`	וַ/תִּ֨טְמָא	vatitema	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and it was defiled	and she became unclean	and it became unclean	3
`H2930-36`	וַֽ/יְטַמְּאוּ֙	vayetameu	`HC/Vpw3mp`	and they defiled	and they defiled	and they defiled	3
`H2930-41`	וְ/טָֽמְאָה֙	vetameah	`HC/Vqq3fs`	and is unclean	and she became unclean	and she shall be unclean	3
`H2930-09`	נִטְמָ֖א	nitema	`HVNp3ms`	is defiled	became ritually unclean	became ritually unclean	2
`H2930-11`	נִטְמְאָה֮	nitemeah	`HVNp3fs`	she-has-defiled-herself	she became ritually unclean	she became ritually unclean	2
`H2930-12`	נִטְמְאִ֑ים	nitemeim	`HVNsmpa`	are defiling	being made unclean ones	are being made unclean	2
`H2930-13`	נִטְמֵ֖את	nitemet	`HVNp2fs`	you have defiled yourself	you became ritually unclean	you became ritually unclean	2
`H2930-21`	תְטַמֵּא֙	tetame	`HVpi2ms`	you shall defile	you will render unclean	you will render unclean	2
`H2930-30`	תִּטְמָֽא	titema	`HVqi3fs`	she shall be unclean	she becomes unclean	she shall become unclean	2
`H2930-48`	יְטַמְּא֣וּ	yetameu	`HVpi3mp`	they defile	they will defile	they will defile	2
`H2930-50`	יִטַּמָּֽאוּ	yitamau	`HVti3mp`	they may defile themselves	they will defile themselves	they will become unclean	2
`H2930-51`	יִטַּמְּא֥וּ	yitameu	`HVti3mp`	they defile themselves	they make themselves unclean	they will become unclean	2
`H2930-01`	בְּ/טַֽמַּאֲ/כֶ֖ם	betamaakhem	`HR/Vpc/Sp2mp`	in defiling you	in defiling you	in defiling you	1
`H2930-02`	בְּ/טַמְּאָ֥/ם	betameam	`HR/Vpc/Sp3mp`	by-their-defiling	in their defiling	by their defiling	1
`H2930-03`	הֲ/יִטְמָ֑א	hayitema	`HTi/Vqi3ms`	will it become unclean?	will he become unclean	and they responded	1
`H2930-04`	הֻטַּמָּ֔אָה	hutamaah	`HVup3fs`	she-has-been-defiled	she has been rendered unclean	she has been rendered unclean	1
`H2930-05`	לְ/טַמֵּֽא	letame	`HR/Vpc`	to be unclean	to render unclean	to render unclean	1
`H2930-08`	מְטֻמָּאָ֑ה	metumaah	`HVPsfsa`	been defiled	rendered ritually unclean	rendered ritually unclean	1
`H2930-14`	נִטְמֵאתֶ֖ם	nitemetem	`HVNp2mp`	you have defiled yourselves	you became unclean	you became unclean	1
`H2930-15`	נִטְמֵ֗אתִי	nitemeti	`HVNp1cs`	I am polluted	I have become unclean	I have become unclean	1
`H2930-16`	נִטְמְא֣וּ	nitemeu	`HVNp3cp`	they-were-defiled	they became unclean	they became defiled	1
`H2930-18`	טָמְאָ֛ה	tameah	`HVqp3fs`	uncleanness	she became unclean	it became unclean	1
`H2930-19`	טָמֵ֔את	tamet	`HVqp2fs`	you have defiled	you became unclean	you have defiled	1
`H2930-20`	טַמְּא֣וּ	tameu	`HVpv2mp`	Defile	Render unclean!	Render unclean	1
`H2930-22`	תְטַמְּאוּ֙	tetameu	`HVpj2mp`	defile-yourselves	may you render unclean	may you render unclean	1
`H2930-24`	טִמֵּ֔את	timet	`HVpp2fs`	you have defiled	you have made unclean	you have made unclean	1
`H2930-25`	טִמֵּאתֶ֑ם	timetem	`HVpp2mp`	you have defiled	you have rendered unclean	you have rendered unclean	1
`H2930-27`	טִמְּאֽוּ/הָ	timeuha	`HVpp3cp/Sp3fs`	they had defiled it	they defiled her	they defiled it	1
`H2930-31`	וָ/אֲטַמֵּ֤א	vaatame	`HC/Vpw1cs`	and I defiled	and I defiled	and I defiled	1
`H2930-32`	וַ/תְּטַמְּא֣וּ	vatetameu	`HC/Vpw2mp`	and-you-defiled	and you made unclean	and you made unclean	1
`H2930-34`	וַ/יְטַמֵּ֣א	vayetame	`HC/Vpw3ms`	and he defiled	he made unclean	he made unclean	1
`H2930-35`	וַֽ/יְטַמְּאֵ֑/הוּ	vayetameehu	`HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms`	and defiled it	he rendered him unclean	and he defiled it	1
`H2930-37`	וַ/יִּטְמְא֥וּ	vayitemeu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	they were defiled	they became unclean	they became unclean	1
`H2930-38`	וְ/נִטְמָֽאָה	venitemaah	`HC/VNq3fs`	and is defiled	and she became unclean	and she became unclean	1
`H2930-39`	וְ/נִטְמֵתֶ֖ם	venitemetem	`HC/VNq2mp`	that you become defiled	you become ritually unclean	you become ritually unclean	1
`H2930-42`	וְ/טָמְא֖וּ	vetameu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and be unclean	and they became unclean	and they shall be unclean	1
`H2930-45`	וְ/טִמֵּאתֶ֗ם	vetimetem	`HC/Vpq2mp`	and you will defile	and you will defile	and you will defile	1
`H2930-46`	וְ/טִמְּא֣וּ	vetimeu	`HC/Vpp3cp`	they defiled	they rendered unclean	they defiled	1
`H2930-47`	יְטַמְּאֶ֛/נּוּ	yetameenu	`HVpi3ms/Sp3ms`	him unclean	he will defile him	he will make him unclean	1

Occurrences in Scripture

162 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H2930-23`	Genesis 34:5	טִמֵּא֙	time	`HVpp3ms`	had defiled	he made unclean	he caused to become unclean
`H2930-23`	Genesis 34:13	טִמֵּ֔א	time	`HVpp3ms`	he had defiled	he made unclean	he caused to become unclean
`H2930-26`	Genesis 34:27	טִמְּא֖וּ	timeu	`HVpp3cp`	had defiled	they have made unclean	they had made unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 5:3	יִטְמָ֖א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	one becomes defiled	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-28`	Leviticus 11:24	תִּטַּמָּ֑אוּ	titamau	`HVti2mp`	you shall defile yourselves	you will defile yourselves	you will become defiled
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:24	יִטְמָ֥א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	he shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-40`	Leviticus 11:25	וְ/טָמֵ֥א	vetame	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and be unclean	and he became unclean	and he shall be unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:26	יִטְמָֽא	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:27	יִטְמָ֥א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-40`	Leviticus 11:28	וְ/טָמֵ֣א	vetame	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and be unclean	and he became unclean	and he became unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:31	יִטְמָ֥א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:32	יִטְמָ֗א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	it shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	it shall be unclean
`H2930-40`	Leviticus 11:32	וְ/טָמֵ֥א	vetame	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and it shall be unclean	and he became unclean	and it shall be unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:33	יִטְמָ֖א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	becomes unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:34	יִטְמָ֑א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:34	יִטְמָֽא	yitema-2	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:35	יִטְמָא֒	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:36	יִטְמָֽא	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 11:39	יִטְמָ֥א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-40`	Leviticus 11:40	וְ/טָמֵ֣א	vetame	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and-unclean	and he became unclean	and he became unclean
`H2930-40`	Leviticus 11:40	וְ/טָמֵ֥א	vetame-2	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and-unclean	and he became unclean	and he became unclean
`H2930-29`	Leviticus 11:43	תִֽטַּמְּאוּ֙	titameu	`HVti2mp`	make yourselves unclean	you will defile yourselves	you will become defiled yourselves
`H2930-39`	Leviticus 11:43	וְ/נִטְמֵתֶ֖ם	venitemetem	`HC/VNq2mp`	that you become defiled	you become ritually unclean	you become ritually unclean
`H2930-22`	Leviticus 11:44	תְטַמְּאוּ֙	tetameu	`HVpj2mp`	defile-yourselves	may you render unclean	may you render unclean
`H2930-41`	Leviticus 12:2	וְ/טָֽמְאָה֙	vetameah	`HC/Vqq3fs`	then she shall be unclean	and she became unclean	and she shall be unclean
`H2930-30`	Leviticus 12:2	תִּטְמָֽא	titema	`HVqi3fs`	she shall be unclean	she becomes unclean	she shall become unclean
`H2930-41`	Leviticus 12:5	וְ/טָמְאָ֥ה	vetameah	`HC/Vqq3fs`	she shall be unclean	and she became unclean	and she shall be unclean
`H2930-43`	Leviticus 13:3	וְ/טִמֵּ֥א	vetime	`HC/Vpq3ms`	and shall pronounce him unclean	and he rendered unclean	and shall pronounce unclean
`H2930-44`	Leviticus 13:8	וְ/טִמְּא֥/וֹ	vetimeo	`HC/Vpq3ms/Sp3ms`	then he shall pronounce him unclean	and he defiled him	and he made him become unclean
`H2930-44`	Leviticus 13:11	וְ/טִמְּא֖/וֹ	vetimeo	`HC/Vpq3ms/Sp3ms`	shall pronounce him unclean	and he defiled him	and he will pronounce him unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 13:14	יִטְמָֽא	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	he shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-44`	Leviticus 13:15	וְ/טִמְּא֑/וֹ	vetimeo	`HC/Vpq3ms/Sp3ms`	and pronounce him unclean	and he defiled him	and he made it become unclean
`H2930-44`	Leviticus 13:20	וְ/טִמְּא֧/וֹ	vetimeo	`HC/Vpq3ms/Sp3ms`	then he shall pronounce him unclean	and he defiled him	and he made him become unclean
`H2930-43`	Leviticus 13:22	וְ/טִמֵּ֧א	vetime	`HC/Vpq3ms`	then he shall pronounce unclean	and he rendered unclean	and he rendered unclean
`H2930-43`	Leviticus 13:25	וְ/טִמֵּ֤א	vetime	`HC/Vpq3ms`	and he shall pronounce unclean	and he rendered unclean	and he became unclean
`H2930-43`	Leviticus 13:27	וְ/טִמֵּ֤א	vetime	`HC/Vpq3ms`	then he shall pronounce unclean	and he rendered unclean	and he shall render unclean
`H2930-43`	Leviticus 13:30	וְ/טִמֵּ֨א	vetime	`HC/Vpq3ms`	then pronounce unclean	and he rendered unclean	and he rendered unclean
`H2930-17`	Leviticus 13:44	טַמֵּ֧א	tame-2	`HVpa`	unclean	ritually impure	he became ritually impure
`H2930-47`	Leviticus 13:44	יְטַמְּאֶ֛/נּוּ	yetameenu	`HVpi3ms/Sp3ms`	him unclean	he will defile him	he will make him unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 13:46	יִטְמָ֖א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	he shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-07`	Leviticus 13:59	לְ/טַמְּאֽ/וֹ	letameo	`HR/Vpc/Sp3ms`	to pronounce it unclean	to defile him	to cause him to become defiled
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 14:36	יִטְמָ֖א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	be made unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 14:46	יִטְמָ֖א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 15:4	יִטְמָ֑א	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	becomes unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 15:4	יִטְמָֽא	yitema-2	`HVqi3ms`	becomes unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean
`H2930-40`	Leviticus 15:5	וְ/טָמֵ֥א	vetame	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and be unclean	and he became unclean	and he will be unclean
`H2930-40`	Leviticus 15:6	וְ/טָמֵ֥א	vetame	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and be unclean	and he became unclean	and it became unclean
`H2930-40`	Leviticus 15:7	וְ/טָמֵ֥א	vetame	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and be unclean	and he became unclean	and he will be unclean
`H2930-40`	Leviticus 15:8	וְ/טָמֵ֥א	vetame	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and be unclean	and he became unclean	and be unclean
`H2930-52`	Leviticus 15:9	יִטְמָֽא	yitema	`HVqi3ms`	shall be unclean	he becomes unclean	he becomes unclean

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