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Leviticus 13:22 — Word Study

Depth

WLCוְאִם־ פָּשֹׂ֥ה תִפְשֶׂ֖ה בָּע֑וֹר וְטִמֵּ֧א הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֹת֖וֹ נֶ֥גַע הִֽוא׃

BSAIfʼim [under these conditions, whether] it spreads any furtherpâsâh [to a greater extent, further] on the skinʻôwr [human skin, the body's outer layer] the priestkôhên [one who serves God, a spiritual leader] must pronounce him uncleanṭâmêʼ [defiled, ceremonially impure] ithûwʼ is an infectionnegaʻ [namely, constitutes, a plague, a disease, a contagious affliction]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 13
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 22 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (hi') — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Leviticus 13:22quick helps
In a sentenceThe priest must declare a person unclean if the infection spreads further on the skin.
Who is speakingThe priest, a spiritual leader responsible for declaring cleanliness or uncleanliness.
Where we areThis verse is part of the laws concerning skin diseases in Leviticus.
The hard wordנֶ֥גַע
Take awayThe declaration of uncleanliness is based on the spread of the infection.
7 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectהִיא verbפָּשָׂה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Leviticus 13:22

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Laws Concerning Skin Diseasesgenerated

21But when the priest examines it, if there is no white hair in it, and it is not beneath the skin and has faded, the priest shall isolate him for seven days.
22If it spreads any further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is an infection.
23But if the spot remains unchanged and does not spread, it is only the scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
24When there is a burn on someone’s skin and the raw area of the burn becomes reddish-white or white,

Leviticus 13:22 addresses the priest's role in determining cleanliness based on the condition of skin infections. This law emphasizes the importance of ritual purity in the community and the priest's authority in making such declarations. The surrounding verses outline the criteria for examination and the subsequent actions to be taken, highlighting the seriousness of skin afflictions in the context of ancient Israelite society.


Cross References


The Key Word נֶ֥גַע, Ne.ga'generated

The term נֶ֥גַע (nega') refers to a plague or affliction, particularly in the context of skin diseases like leprosy. It encompasses the idea of a wound or a mark and is often associated with divine judgment or moral impurity.

The noun is in the singular form, indicating a specific instance of affliction. Its usage in this verse highlights the condition being evaluated by the priest, who must determine whether the infection is severe enough to declare the individual unclean.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The verse contains a main clause led by the verb וְטִמֵּ֧א (and he will declare unclean), which governs the rest of the sentence. The structure includes a conditional phrase introduced by וְאִם־ (and if), indicating the circumstances under which the declaration is made.

The word order emphasizes the condition of the skin and the action of the priest, reflecting the seriousness of the evaluation process.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates נֶ֥גַע as ἁφὴ (aphē), which means touch or contact. This choice may suggest an interpretation focusing on the physical aspect of the affliction, emphasizing its contagious nature.

The Greek term carries a broader sense of affliction, aligning with the understanding of the Hebrew term while also reflecting the nuances of the Greek language.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 13:22 explains that if a skin infection spreads further, the priest must declare the person unclean. This highlights the priest's role in maintaining community purity and the seriousness of skin diseases.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the priest to declare someone unclean?

Declaring someone unclean signifies that the individual is considered defiled or ceremonially impure, which affects their ability to participate in communal worship and activities.

Why is the condition of the skin so important in this context?

The condition of the skin is crucial because it reflects not only physical health but also spiritual and communal purity, which were vital in ancient Israelite society.

What are the implications of being declared unclean?

Being declared unclean meant that the individual had to follow specific rituals to become clean again and could not participate in communal worship until they were declared clean.

How does this verse relate to the overall laws in Leviticus?

This verse is part of a larger set of laws regarding purity and cleanliness, emphasizing the importance of ritual observance in maintaining the holiness of the community.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways do I see the importance of community and purity reflected in my own life?
  2. How can I better understand the significance of spiritual cleanliness in my daily actions?
  3. What lessons can I learn from the priest's role in this passage regarding authority and responsibility?
  4. How might the concept of being 'unclean' apply to modern contexts of health and wellness?

Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 13:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And if it spread much abroad in the skin,.... Upon viewing it on the seventh day, though it is not expressed, the swelling or bright spot; or "in spreading spread"; [See comments on Leviticus 13:7];

Read John Gill on Leviticus 13 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed, a boil , [ shªchiyn (H7822), a burning sore, an inflamed ulcer; Septuagint, helkos]; and

Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 13 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Or, the plague, to wit, of leprosy, of which he is speaking.

Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 13 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Leviticus 13:22 And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a plague.Ver. 22. And if it spread much abroad.] So, if sin reign, there is no pardon: rebel it may, reign must not.

Read John Trapp on Leviticus 13 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) And if it spread much abroad.—If, on inspecting it again at the end of the seven days’ seclusion, the priest finds that the spot has spread, it was evident that the blood was vitiated, and that the distemper began to develop in the body. It is a plague.—That is, of leprosy. The word “leprosy,” which has here dropped out of the text, is still preserved in some of the ancient versions.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 13 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Leprosy developing in the place of an old boil or a burn (18–28) The distinguishing marks of leprosy are similar to those already indicated; it would seem that in these cases they are more easily recognised, for only one shutting up for seven days is required. The Heb. word (shĕ ?ḥ ?în) for ‘boil’ is used of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:7) and Job (Job 2:7); also for ‘the botch (boil R.V.) of Egypt’ (Deuteronomy 28:17). As Egypt was notorious for malignant skin diseases, this expression may denote some form of leprosy.

Read Cambridge on Leviticus 13 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

22. A plague — The plague of the leprosy.

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 13 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

If it spreads any further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is an infection.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

If it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

If it spreads any further on the skin, the priest must pronounce him unclean; it is an infection.

NETBNew English Translation2006

If it is spreading further on the skin, then the priest is to pronounce him unclean. It is an infection.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

and if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And if it hath spread much in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And if it spred abroad in the flesh, ye Priest shall pronounce him vncleane, for it is a sore.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and if it spread much in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the sore.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and if it spread greatly in the skin, then hath the priest pronounced him unclean, it [is] a plague;

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and if it spreads greatly in the skin, then the priest has pronounced him unclean—it [is] a plague;

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And if it now spread abroad in the skin, then shall the priest pronounce him unclean: it is the plague [of leprosy].

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

If it spreads widely in the skin, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is an infectious disease.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And if it spread, he shall judge him to have the leprosy:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If then the spot has spread further on the skin, the priest will declare them unclean; it is a disease.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And if it is increasing on the skin, the priest will say that he is unclean: it is a disease.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וְandclauseclauseאִםifclauseadverbialפָּשֹׂ֥הtruly.(spread)verbתִפְשֶׂ֖הit.will.spreadprepositional phrase · prepositionalבָּinnoun phrasetheע֑וֹרskinוְandclauseverbטִמֵּ֧אhe.will.declare.uncleannoun phrase · subjectהַtheכֹּהֵ֛ןpriestnoun phrase · objectאֹת֖וֹhimclausepredicateנֶ֥גַע[is].a.plaguesubjectהִֽואit

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show a high degree of agreement, with 7 of the 9 words matched. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, replacing הִֽוא (hi') with הוא (hu'), indicating a variation in the pronoun used.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וְאִם־ פָּשֹׂ֥ה תִפְשֶׂ֖ה בָּע֑וֹר וְטִמֵּ֧א הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֹת֖וֹ נֶ֥גַע הִֽוא׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְאִם־ἐὰνתִפְשֶׂ֖הδιαξέηταιבָּע֑וֹרδέρματιוְטִמֵּ֧אμιανεῖהַכֹּהֵ֛ןἱερεύςנֶ֥גַעἁφὴהִֽוא׃ἐστίν

7 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

אם פשׂה תפשׂה בעור וטמא הכהן אתו נגע הוא

1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: הוא (he)

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Leviticus 13:22אִםand ifand ifאִםפָּשָׂהcertainlycertainlyפָּשָׂהפָּשָׂהit will sprit will spreadפָּשָׂהעוֹרin the skinin the skinעוֹרטָמֵאand he willand he will decטָמֵאכֹּהֵןthe priestthe priestכֹּהֵןאֵתthe object the object markאֵתנֶ֫גַע[is] a plag[is] a plagueנֶ֫גַעהוּאititהוּאעוּרעוּראוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתנָגַעto touchto touchנָגַעכָּהַןto ministeto ministerכָּהַןעוֹרskinskinעוֹרחֵןfavorfavorחֵןיֵשׁtherethereיֵשׁאָדֹםto reddento reddenאָדֹםתַּ֫חַשׁleatherleatherתַּ֫חַשׁעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶברָחַץto wash: wto wash: washרָחַץאֶלְעָזָרEleazarEleazarאֶלְעָזָרצָדוֹקZadokZadokצָדוֹקמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁצָרַ֫עַתleprosyleprosyצָרַ֫עַתפָּשָׂהto spreadto spreadפָּשָׂהטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאעֵתtimetimeעֵת
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Leviticus 13:22

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and if certainly it will spread in the skin and he will declare unclean the priest the object marker him [is] a plague it
וְאִם־ve.'im- and if H518 Conjunction · particle
1,070× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Amplified meaning
under these conditions, whether
Tyndale gloss
if
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִם (im) is a Hebrew conjunction primarily meaning 'if' and is used in various contexts, including conditional clauses and interrogative situations. It can also express negation, alternatives, or exceptions, and appears frequently in the Old Testament. The lexicons note its use in oaths and its ability to connect different clauses, sometimes altering their meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִם conj.

hypoth. part. if

Interrog. part.

base

כִּי אם־

each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:

that if

for if

(About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—

limiting the prec. clause, except

the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

after an oath, surely

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H518a אִם conj. . hypoth. part. if

. Interrog. part.

H518b כִּי אם־ . each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause: . that if

. for if

. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause— . limiting the prec. clause, except

. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but

. after an oath, surely

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

518 'im eem

a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!;

interrog., whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh

that!, when; hence, as a negative, not:--(and, can-,

doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, +

more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or,

+ save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more,

none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when,

whereas, whether, while, + yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִם (im) — if.

: if/whether_or/though

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

[כִּי] אם (ki im) — if: except.

1) except if

1a) but if

אִם (im) — if: surely no.

: surely_no

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: surely yes.

: surely_yes

1) if

1a) conditional clauses

1a1) of possible situations

1a2) of impossible situations

1b) oath contexts

1b1) no, not

1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or

1d) when, whenever

1e) since

1f) interrogative particle

1g) but rather

אִם (im) — if: until.

: until/except

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | Conj — Conjunction · particle
HC/Tc
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and if certainly it will spread in the skin and he will declare unclean the priest the object marker him [is] a plague it
פָּשֹׂ֥הpa.Soh certainly H6581 Verb · Qal · infinitive absolute
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to spread something out, like arms or wings. It is used to describe God's care and protection in Psalm 61:4. This verb is about making something wider or broader.
Amplified meaning
to a greater extent, further
Tyndale gloss
to spread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּשָׂה (pasah) is a primitive root meaning 'to spread.' The entries indicate that it is used intransitively, focusing on the action of spreading without specifying an object. The Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon notes it as a verb, while Strong's and the Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon confirm the same meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּשָׂה 21 vb. spread, intrans.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6581 פָּשָׂה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6581 pasah paw-saw'

a primitive root; to spread:--spread.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּשָׂה (pa.sah) — to spread.

(Qal) to spread

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Ptc — Verb · Qal · infinitive absolute
HVqaa
and if certainly it will spread in the skin and he will declare unclean the priest the object marker him [is] a plague it
תִפְשֶׂ֖הtif.Seh it will spread H6581 Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
22× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to spread something out, like arms or wings. It is used to describe God's care and protection in Psalm 61:4. This verb is about making something wider or broader.
Tyndale gloss
to spread
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּשָׂה (pasah) is a primitive root meaning 'to spread.' The entries indicate that it is used intransitively, focusing on the action of spreading without specifying an object. The Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon notes it as a verb, while Strong's and the Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon confirm the same meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּשָׂה 21 vb. spread, intrans.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6581 פָּשָׂה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6581 pasah paw-saw'

a primitive root; to spread:--spread.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּשָׂה (pa.sah) — to spread.

(Qal) to spread

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HVqi3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singular
HVqi3fs
and if certainly it will spread in the skin and he will declare unclean the priest the object marker him [is] a plague it
בָּע֑וֹרba.'or in the skin H5785 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
99× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means skin, like human skin or animal hide, and is used in the Bible to describe leather. It appears in Exodus 25:5 to describe the materials used to build the tabernacle. The word is also used in Genesis 3:21 to describe the clothing God made for Adam and Eve.
Amplified meaning
human skin, the body's outer layer
Tyndale gloss
skin
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עוֹר (owr) means skin or hide, specifically referring to the skin of humans and the hides of animals. It is derived from a root that implies nakedness. The term appears frequently in the Old Testament, with 55 occurrences related to human skin and 44 to animal hides.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עוֹר 99 n.m. skin

of men (55 t.)

hide of animals (44 t.)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5785 עוֹר skin . of men (55 t.)

. hide of men (44 t.)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5785 `owr ore

from 5783; skin (as naked); by implication, hide,

leather:--hide, leather, skin.

see HEBREW for 05783

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עוֹר (or) — skin.

1) skin, hide

1a) skin (of men)

1b) hide (of animals)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(`or, geledh, "human skin" (Job 16:15), basar, "flesh," in the sense of "nakedness" (Ps 102:5 the King James Version); derma):

Literal:

The word `or designates the skin of both men and animals, the latter both raw and in tanned condition: "Yahweh God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins (`or), and clothed them" (Ge 3:21); "She put the skins (`or) of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck" (Ge 27:16); "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" (Jer 13:23). The Hebrew geledh is found in the sense of human skin: "I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Clothes of Ge 3:21

→ For covering the tabernacle Ex 25:5; Nu 4:8-14

→ Diseases of Le 13:38,39; De 28:27; Job 7:5

→ See BOILS

→ See LEPROSY

and if certainly it will spread in the skin and he will declare unclean the priest the object marker him [is] a plague it
וְטִמֵּ֧אve.ti.Me' and he will declare unclean H2930 Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
162× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to be foul or contaminated, often in a moral or ceremonial sense. It is used in the Bible to describe something that is unclean or polluted. In the book of Leviticus, it talks about being unclean and how to become clean again.
Amplified meaning
defiled, ceremonially impure
Tyndale gloss
to defile
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָמֵא (tame') is a Hebrew root meaning to be or become unclean, covering various contexts such as sexual, religious, and ceremonial impurity. The noun form, טָמְאָה (tam'ah), refers to uncleanness itself. The entries indicate that the word can be used reflexively to mean defiling oneself.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

טָמֵא vb. be or become unclean

Qal be or become unclean

Niph. defile oneself, be defiled

Pi. defile

Pu. myself is not polluted

Hithp.—reflexive, defile oneself

Hothp. after that she has been defiled

base

טָמְאָה n.f. uncleanness Mi 2:10

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2930a טָמֵא be or become unclean .be or become unclean

. defile oneself, be defiled

. defile

. myself is not pulluted

.—reflexive, defile oneself

. after that she has been defiled

H2930b טָמְאָה uncleanness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2930 tame' taw-may'

a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or

moral sense (contaminated):--defile (self), pollute (self), be

(make, make self, pronounce) unclean, X utterly.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָמֵא (ta.me) — to defile.

1) to be unclean, become unclean, become impure

1a) (Qal) to be or become unclean

1a1) sexually

1a2) religiously

1a3) ceremonially

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to defile oneself, be defiled

1b1a) sexually

1b1b) by idolatry

1b1c) ceremonially

1b2) to be regarded as unclean

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to defile

1c1a) sexually

1c1b) religiously

1c1c) ceremonially

1c2) to pronounce unclean, declare unclean (ceremonially)

1c3) to profane (God's name)

1d) (Pual) to be defiled

1e) (Hithpael) to be unclean

1f) (Hothpael) to be defiled

טָמְאָה (tam.ah) — uncleanness.

uncleanness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vpq3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See CLEAN.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ (Ceremonially speaking)

Creatures designated as such Le 11; De 14

→ See UNCLEANNESS

and if certainly it will spread in the skin and he will declare unclean the priest the object marker him [is] a plague it
הַכֹּהֵ֛ןha.ko.Hen the priest H3548 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
750× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, a priest is a person who serves God and leads others in worship, like the Levitical priests in Exodus. They were responsible for making sacrifices and following God's laws. This term is also used to describe Jesus as a priest-king.
Amplified meaning
one who serves God, a spiritual leader
Tyndale gloss
priest
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כֹּהֵן (kohen) means 'priest' and is derived from the active participle of a related root. It encompasses various types of priests, including Levitical, Aaronic, and even pagan priests, as well as chief rulers or principal officers. The term is used in contexts referring to both Jewish and non-Jewish priestly roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֹּהֵן 750 n.m. priest

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3548 כֹּהֵן priest

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3548 kohen ko-hane'

active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a

priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a

layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal

officer.

see HEBREW for 03547

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֹּהֵן (ko.hen) — priest.

1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler

1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)

1b) pagan priests

1c) priests of Jehovah

1d) Levitical priests

1e) Zadokite priests

1f) Aaronic priests

1g) the high priest

Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

prest (kohen, "priest," "prince," "minister"; hiereus archiereus; for hiereus megas, of Heb 10:21, see Thayer's Lexicon, under the word hiereus:

I. NATURE OF THE PRIESTLY OFFICE

1. Implies Divine Choice

2. Implies Representation

3. Implies Offering Sacrifice

4. Implies Intercession

II. THE TWO GREAT PRIESTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, MELCHIZEDEK AND AARON

III. PRIESTLY FUNCTIONS AND CHARACTER

1. A Strictly Religious Order

2. Priestism Denied

3. The High Priest's Qualifications

4. Symbolism of Aaron's Rod

IV. CONSECRATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS (EXODUS 29; LEVITICUS 8)

1. Symbolism of Consecration

2. Type and Archetype

LITERATURE

A priest is one who is duly authorized to minister in sacred things, particularly to offer sacrifices at the altar, and who acts as mediator between men and God. In the New Testament the term is applied to priests of the Gentiles…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Priest

The Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one who offers sacrifices.

At first every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God. Afterwards that office devolved on the head of the family, as in the cases of Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (12:7; 13:4), Isaac (26:25), Jacob (31:54), and Job (Job 1:5).

The name first occurs as applied to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18). Under the Levitical arrangements the office of the priesthood was limited to the tribe of Levi, and to only one family of that tribe, the family of Aaron. Certain laws respecting the qualifications of priests are given in Lev. 21:16-23. There are ordinances also regarding the…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin. --The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct of sin. Men feel that they have broken a law. The power above them is holier than they are, and they dare not approach it. They crave for the intervention of some one of whom they can think as likely to be more acceptable than themselves. He must offer up their prayers, thanksgivings, sacrifices. He becomes their representative in "things pertaining unto God." He may become also (though this does not always follow) the representative of God to man. The functions of the priest and prophet may exist in the same person. No trace of a hereditary or caste priesthood meets us in the worship of the patriarchal age. Once and once only does the word cohen meet us as…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

One who officiated in the public worship of God, especially in making expiation for sin, being "ordained for men in things pertaining to God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." In the Old Testament, the priesthood was not annexed to a certain family till after the promulgation of the law by Moses. Before that time, the firstborn of each family, the fathers, the princes, the kings, were priests in their own cities and in their own houses. Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Job, Abimelech and Laban, Isaac and Jacob offered personally their own sacrifices. In the solemnity of the covenant made by the Lord with his people, at the foot of Mount Sinai, Moses performed the office of mediator, and young men were chosen from among Israel to perform the office of priests, Ex 24:5. But after the Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to…

and if certainly it will spread in the skin and he will declare unclean the priest the object marker him [is] a plague it
אֹת֖וֹ'o.To the object marker him H853 Particle · suffix
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo/Sp3ms — Particle · suffix
HTo/Sp3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and if certainly it will spread in the skin and he will declare unclean the priest the object marker him [is] a plague it
נֶ֥גַעNe.ga' [is] a plague H5061 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
78× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word refers to a plague or disease, like leprosy. It is used in Leviticus to describe the effects of sin and in Deuteronomy to warn against disobedience. The word can also mean a wound or a spot.
Amplified meaning
namely, constitutes, a plague, a disease, a contagious affliction
Tyndale gloss
plague
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נֶ֫גַע (nega`) refers to a stroke or plague, often associated with disease or a mark, particularly in the context of leprosy. It is built from the root meaning 'to strike' and encompasses various forms of affliction, including wounds and spots. The term captures both literal and metaphorical implications of injury or illness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נֶ֫גַע 78 n.m. stroke, plague, mark, plague-spot

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5061 נֶ֫גַע stroke, plague, mark, plague-spot

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5061 nega` neh'-gah

from 5060; a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by

implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous person or

dress):--plague, sore, stricken, stripe, stroke, wound.

see HEBREW for 05060

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נֶ֫גַע (ne.ga) — plague.

1) stroke, plague, disease, mark, plague spot

1a) stroke, wound

1b) stroke (metaphorical of disease)

1c) mark (of leprosy)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

plag (negha`, makkah, maggephah; mastix, plege): This word which occurs more than 120 times is applied, like pestilence, to such sudden outbursts of disease as are regarded in the light of divine visitations. It is used in the description of leprosy about 60 times in Le 13 and 14, as well as in De 24:8. In the poetical, prophetic and eschatological books it occurs about 20 times in the general sense of a punitive disaster. The Gospel references (Mr 3:10; 5:29,34; Lu 7:21) use the word as a synonym for disease.

The specific disease now named "plague" has been from the earliest historic times a frequent visitant to Palestine and Egypt. Indeed in the Southeast between Gaza and Bubastis it has occurred so frequently that it may…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Plague

A “stroke” of affliction, or disease. Sent as a divine chastisement (Num. 11:33; 14:37; 16:46-49; 2 Sam. 24:21). Painful afflictions or diseases, (Lev. 13:3, 5, 30; 1 Kings 8:37), or severe calamity (Mark 5:29; Luke 7:21), or the judgment of God, so called (Ex. 9:14). Plagues of Egypt were ten in number.

(1.) The river Nile was turned into blood, and the fish died, and the river stank, so that the Egyptians loathed to drink of the river (Ex. 7:14-25).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See PESTILENCE.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ As a judgment on the Egyptians Ps 105; 135:8,9; Ac 7:36

→ The plague of

Blood Ex 7:14-25

Frogs Ex 8:1-15

Lice Ex 8:16-19

Flies Ex 8:20

→ On cattle Ex 9:1-7

→ Of boils and open sores Ex 9:8-12

→ Hail Ex 9:18-34

→ Locusts Ex 10:1-20

→ Darkness Ex 10:21-23

→ Death of the firstborn Ex 11:4-7; 12:17,29,30

and if certainly it will spread in the skin and he will declare unclean the priest the object marker him [is] a plague it
הִֽוא׃hi' it H1931 Pronoun
1,879× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Tyndale gloss
he/she/it
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

הוּא (hu) is a third-person singular pronoun meaning he, she, or it, used for emphasis or when no verb is present. It can also refer to oneself or serve as a demonstrative pronoun. The word has various nuances, including resuming the subject with emphasis or expressing it unobtrusively. It can indicate 'that' or 'those' when used with the definite article.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

הוּא m. הִיא f., pron. of the 3rd ps. sing. he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it

an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

It resumes the subj. with emph.

Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

As an emph. predicate, of God

In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1931 הוּא, הִיא he, she, used also (in both genders) for the neuter it . an emph. he (she, it, they), sometimes equivalent to himself (herself, itself, themselves), or (esp. with the art.) that (those)

. It resumes the subj. with emph.

. Where, however, the pron. follows the pred., its position gives it the minimum of emphasis, and it expresses (or resumes) the subject as unobtrusively as possible

. It anticipates (as it seems) the subject

. As an emph. predicate, of God

. In a neuter sense, that, it (of an action, occurrence, matte, etc.)

. With the art.: so regularly when joined to a subst. defined itself by the art.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1931 huw' hoo

of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is hiyw {he}; a

primitive word, the third person pronoun singular, he (she or

it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also

(intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same;

sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally

(instead of copula) as or are:--he, as for her, him(-self),

it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they,

this, those, which (is), who.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

הוּא (hu) — he/she/it.

pron 3p s

1) he, she, it

1a) himself (with emphasis)

1b) resuming subj with emphasis

1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate)

1d) (anticipating subj)

1e) (emphasising predicate)

1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron

2) that (with article)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron — Pronoun
HPp3fs
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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