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טֻמְאָה

𐤈𐤌𐤀𐤄

ṭumʼâh

H2932 noun

SILEX Entry

Root טמא to be unclean, to become impure, to defile

Definition

A state or condition of ritual impurity, pollution, or uncleanness, especially as defined and regulated in priestly tradition; refers to an actual or symbolic state that disqualifies a person, object, or place from participation in sacred or ritual activity until specific rites of purification are performed. The semantic range covers both physical and moral dimensions but is primarily rooted in ritual status within Israelite law.

Semantic Range

ritual impurity, state of uncleanliness, ceremonial defilement, pollution (ritual or cultic), impurity resulting from contact with the dead, certain diseases, or prohibited items; metaphorical sense of corruption or unworthiness

Root / Etymology

Root: טמא, meaning 'to be or become unclean.' The noun טֻמְאָה is a derivative form expressing the state or result of being unclean, typically of ritual or cultic nature rather than simply hygienic or ethical.

Historical & Contextual Notes

טֻמְאָה is a key term in priestly and holiness traditions, especially within Leviticus and Numbers, where it denotes a state of ritual impurity brought about by contact with certain physical conditions (death, certain diseases such as skin afflictions, bodily emissions, particular foods, or contact with unclean animals). This condition renders individuals or objects temporarily unfit for sacred spaces or activities, requiring rites such as washing, sacrifice, or passage of time for restoration. In narrative and prophetic literature, it may acquire metaphorical or moral overtones but remains conceptually linked to the ritual order and purity required for participation in Israelite worship. Later religious traditions sometimes broadened the term’s moral sense, but this should not be read retroactively into the pre-exilic usage. English translations like "uncleanness" or "filthiness" often fail to convey the technical and ritual dimension, reducing the sense to hygiene or moral violation, which only partially captures the term’s biblical significance. Related words include טָהֳרָה (ṭahorāh, ritual purity) and טָמֵא (ṭamē’, to be impure).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from טָמֵא; religious impurity; filthiness, unclean(-ness).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

טמא (ṭ-m-ʾ) — to be unclean, to become impure, to defile

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2930 טָמֵא in defiling you
H2931 טָמֵא in a ritually-unclean state
H2933 טָמָה we became defiled

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2932-16 טֻמְאָת֔/וֹ tumeato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his uncleanness his ritual impurity 5
H2932-14 טֻמְאָתָ֗/הּ tumeatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her uncleanness her ritual impurity 5
H2932-13 טֻמְאָ֖ה tumeah HNcfsa unclean thing ritual impurity 3
H2932-04 הַ/טֻּמְאָ֖ה hatumeah HTd/Ncfsa of uncleanness the ritual impurity 2
H2932-02 בְּ/טֻמְאָתָ֔/ם betumeatam HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp with their uncleanness in their ritual impurity 2
H2932-18 טֻמְאוֹתֵי/כֶ֛ם tumeoteykhem HNcfpc/Sp2mp your-filthinesses your ritual impurities 2
H2932-19 וְ/טֻמְאָת֖/וֹ vetumeato HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms and his uncleanness and his ritual impurity 2
H2932-12 מִ/טֻּמְאֹת֙ mitumeot HR/Ncfpc because of the uncleannesses from ritual-impurities of 2
H2932-01 בְּ/טֻמְאַ֣ת betumeat HR/Ncfsc of uncleanness in ritual-impurity of 2
H2932-05 כְּ/טֻמְאַ֖ת ketumeat HR/Ncfsc like the uncleanness like ritual impurity of 2

Occurrences in Scripture

36 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2932-01 Leviticus 5:3 בְּ/טֻמְאַ֣ת betumeat HR/Ncfsc the uncleanness of in ritual-impurity of
H2932-16 Leviticus 5:3 טֻמְאָת֔/וֹ tumeato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his uncleanness his ritual impurity
H2932-19 Leviticus 7:20 וְ/טֻמְאָת֖/וֹ vetumeato HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms and his uncleanness and his ritual impurity
H2932-01 Leviticus 7:21 בְּ/טֻמְאַ֤ת betumeat HR/Ncfsc of uncleanness in ritual-impurity of
H2932-11 Leviticus 14:19 מִ/טֻּמְאָת֑/וֹ mitumeato HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms from his uncleanness his ritual impurity
H2932-16 Leviticus 15:3 טֻמְאָת֖/וֹ tumeato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his uncleanness his ritual impurity
H2932-16 Leviticus 15:3 טֻמְאָת֖/וֹ tumeato-2 HNcfsc/Sp3ms his uncleanness his ritual impurity
H2932-14 Leviticus 15:25 טֻמְאָתָ֗/הּ tumeatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her-uncleanness her ritual impurity
H2932-05 Leviticus 15:26 כְּ/טֻמְאַ֖ת ketumeat HR/Ncfsc like the uncleanness like ritual impurity of
H2932-14 Leviticus 15:30 טֻמְאָתָֽ/הּ tumeatah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her uncleanness her ritual impurity
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