Leviticus 15:9 — Word Study
WLCוְכָל־ הַמֶּרְכָּ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִרְכַּ֥ב עָלָ֛יו הַזָּ֖ב יִטְמָֽא׃
BSAAnykôl [leather] saddlemerkâb [or chariot, vehicle] onʻal whichʼăsher [upon, above] the man with the dischargezûwb [who has the issue, with a discharge, to flow, a continuous movement] ridesrâkab▸ [to ride, to place upon a horse] will be uncleanṭâmêʼ▸ [to defile, become foul, morally or ceremonially contaminated]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְכָל־ | and every | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| הַמֶּרְכָּ֗ב | saddle | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אֲשֶׁ֨ר | which | Particle |
| יִרְכַּ֥ב | he will ride | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עָלָ֛יו | on it | Preposition, suffix |
| הַזָּ֖ב | the [one] discharging | Particle, verb qal participle (active) masculine singular |
| יִטְמָֽא׃ | it will be unclean | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Any saddle on which the man with the discharge rides will be unclean. |
| KJV | And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean. |
| ASV | And what saddle soever he that hath the issue rideth upon shall be unclean. |
| YLT | 'And all the saddle on which he rideth who hath the issue is unclean; |
| WEB | “‘Whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on shall be unclean. |
| BBE | And any leather seat on a horse on which the unclean man has been seated will be unclean. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of הַמֶּרְכָּב — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause states the outcome, with a subordinate phrase explaining the condition under which this occurs.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbרָכַב
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 15:9
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 — Regulations on Bodily Dischargesgenerated
Leviticus 15:9 is part of a section that details the laws concerning bodily discharges, which were significant for maintaining ceremonial purity in ancient Israel. This verse specifically addresses the implications of contact with a man who has a discharge, highlighting the broader themes of cleanliness and holiness that permeate the law.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 31:34 | Now Rachel had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban searched everything in the tent but found nothing. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַמֶּרְכָּב, ha.mer.Kavgenerated
The word הַמֶּרְכָּב (ha.mer.Kav) refers to a saddle or chariot, derived from the root meaning to ride. It encompasses both the vehicle itself and the seat used for riding, indicating its importance in the context of transportation in ancient Israel.
In this verse, it signifies any saddle that a man with a discharge uses, emphasizing the ceremonial implications of contact with items associated with impurity.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the term saddle for הַמֶּרְכָּב, with the BSB, KJV, and ASV all opting for this rendering.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs יִרְכַּ֥ב (he will ride) and יִטְמָֽא (it will be unclean) govern the sentence. The structure indicates a direct relationship between the riding and the resulting state of being unclean.
The sentence is organized with the subject being the saddle, followed by the prepositional phrase that specifies the condition under which it becomes unclean.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses the term ἐπίσαγμα to translate הַמֶּרְכָּב, indicating a focus on the riding seat or vehicle. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may imply a broader understanding of the term.
The Greek translation reflects the ceremonial implications of the saddle's use, emphasizing the importance of purity in the context of the law.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Leviticus 15:9 states that any saddle used by a man with a discharge will be considered unclean. This highlights the importance of purity in the laws regarding bodily discharges.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
In this context, unclean refers to a state of ceremonial impurity that requires specific actions to restore cleanliness.
Uncleanliness in the law signifies a separation from the community and the need for purification to maintain holiness.
This verse is part of a larger set of laws that govern bodily discharges, emphasizing the need for ritual purity in daily life.
One would need to follow the purification rituals outlined in the law to restore their own cleanliness.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do the laws of purity impact daily life in ancient Israel?
- What can we learn about the importance of cleanliness from this verse?
- In what ways do these regulations reflect the relationship between physical actions and spiritual states?
- How might understanding these laws help us appreciate the cultural context of the Bible?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Leviticus 15:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd what saddle soever he sitteth upon that hath the issue,.... When he rides upon any beast, horse, ass, or camel, whatever is put upon the creature, and he sits upon it, the saddle, and whatever
Read John Gill on Leviticus 15 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean. Saddle ... he rideth upon - (see the note at Genesis 31:34).
Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 15 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9) And what saddle soever.—Better, and any carriage. The word here translated “saddle” only occurs twice more: viz., 1 Kings 5:6 in Hebrew, or Leviticus 4:26 in English, where it is rendered “chariot” in the Authorised Version, and in Son 3:10, where it is translated “covering” but where it manifestly denotes the seat inside the palanquin. With the feminine termination the word in question occurs no less than forty-four times, and is invariably translated in the Authorised Version “chariot.” What kind of vehicle the masculine form of the expression in question denotes in the three passages in which it occurs must be decided from the context. In Kings, the horses which are used in…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 15 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9. saddle] any seat in a carriage or other kind of conveyance is included.
Read Cambridge on Leviticus 15 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible9. Saddle — The original word signifies any thing on which to ride. In1 Kings 4:26, it is translated chariots; in Son 3:10, covering. It occurs only in these places.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 15 →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
Any saddle on which the man with the discharge rides will be unclean.
“‘Whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on shall be unclean.
Any saddle on which the man with the discharge rides will be unclean.
Any means of riding the man with a discharge rides on will be unclean.
Tyndale line
And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.
And what saddle soever he that hath the issue rideth upon shall be unclean.
And what saddle soever he that hath the issue rideth upon shall be unclean.
And whatever saddle he rideth upon that hath the issue, shall be unclean.
And what saddle soeuer he rideth vpon, that hath the issue, shalbe vncleane,
Strictly literal
And what carriage soever he rideth upon that hath the flux shall be unclean.
'And all the saddle on which he rideth who hath the issue is unclean;
And all the saddle on which he who has the discharging rides is unclean;
And what saddle soever he that hath the issue may ride upon shall be unclean.
Any saddle which he who has a flow rides upon will be unclean.
From the Latin
The saddle on which he hath sitten shall be unclean.
Simplified
Whatever the man sits on when he's riding will be unclean.
And any leather seat on a horse on which the unclean man has been seated will be unclean.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word with the Hebrew text. The Septuagint matches six of the seven words, though its word order and articles differ from the Hebrew.
וְכָל־ הַמֶּרְכָּ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִרְכַּ֥ב עָלָ֛יו הַזָּ֖ב יִטְמָֽא׃
6 of the 7 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.
וכל המרכב אשׁר ירכב עליו הזב יטמא
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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.
Lexicons — every word in Leviticus 15:9
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.
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
מֶרְכָּב (merkab) refers to a chariot or a riding seat, including a saddle. It is derived from the root meaning to ride. The term encompasses both the vehicle itself and the concept of a seat within it.
מֶרְכָּב n.m. chariot, riding seat (prop. riding-place)
base
H4817 מֶרְכָּב
4817 merkab mer-kawb'
from 7392; a chariot; also a seat (in a vehicle):--chariot,
covering, saddle.
see HEBREW for 07392
מֶרְכָּב (mer.kav) — chariot.
1) chariot, place to ride, riding seat
1a) chariot
1b) seat (of a litter), saddle
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
base
בַאֲשֶׁר
in (that) which
adv. in (the place) where
conj. in that, inasmuch as
on account of whom?
base
מֵאֲשֶׁר
from (or than) that which
adv. from (the place) where
conj. from (the fact) that …, since
base
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
according to that which, according as, as
with a causal force, in so far as, since
with a temporal force, when
base
H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which
. adv. in (the place) where
. conj. in that, inasmuch as
. on account of whom?
H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which
. adv. from (the place) where
. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as
. with a causal force, in so far as, since
. with a temporal force, when
834 'aher ash-er'
a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)
when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X
alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +
from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,
wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where
(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +
whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is
indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun
expletively, used to show the connection.
אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.
A: 1) (relative part.)
1a) which, who
1b) that which
2) (conj)
2a) that (in obj clause)
2b) when
2c) since
2d) as
2e) conditional if
B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
D: Kaph+
1) (conj.), according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since
1c) with a temporal force: when
בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.
1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.
1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.
conj
1) according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
Rel — ParticleHTr
רָכַב (rakab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to ride, mount, or sit upon something, typically an animal or vehicle. It can also imply causing someone or something to ride or draw, as in plowing. The entries highlight its use in various forms, including a participle for 'rider' and figurative expressions.
רָכַב vb. mount and ride, ride
Qal
mount, mount and sit or ride
ride, be riding
pt., as subst., rider
Hiph.
cause to (mount and) ride
cause to draw (plough, etc.)
fig. cause hand to ride upon (grasp) bow
base
H7392 רָכַב mount and ride, ride .. mount, mount and sit or ride
. ride, be riding
. pt., as subst., rider
. . cause to (mount and) ride
. cause to draw (plough, etc.)
. fig. cause hand to ride upon (grasp) bow
7392 rakab raw-kab'
a primitive root; to ride (on an animal or in a vehicle);
causatively, to place upon (for riding or generally), to
despatch:--bring (on (horse-)back), carry, get (oneself) up,
on (horse-)back, put, (cause to, make to) ride (in a chariot,
on, -r), set.
רָכַב (ra.khav) — to ride.
1) to mount and ride, ride
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to mount, mount and sit or ride
1a2) to ride, be riding
1a3) rider (subst)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to ride, cause to (mount and) ride
1b2) to cause to draw (plough, etc)
1b3) to cause to ride upon (fig)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3ms
זוּב (zuwb) is a primitive root meaning to flow or gush, often used in the context of liquid discharge. It can refer to both physical flow, such as water, and metaphorically to a bodily flux or wasting away. The entries highlight its various applications, including a specific reference to issues from women.
[זוּב] vb. flow, gush
base
H2100 זוּב flow, gush
2100 zuwb zoob
a primitive root; to flow freely (as water), i.e.
(specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste
away; also to overflow:--flow, gush out, have a (running)
issue, pine away, run.
זוּב (zuv) — to flow: flowing.
: flowing
1) to flow, gush, issue, discharge
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to flow, gush
1a2) to die, pine away (fig.)
1a3) to flow (of issue from woman), have an issue, flux
1a4) flowing (participle)
זוּב (zuv) — to flow: discharge.
: bodily_discharge
1) to flow, gush, issue, discharge
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to flow, gush
1a2) to die, pine away (fig.)
1a3) to flow (of issue from woman), have an issue, flux
1a4) flowing (participle)
זוּב (zuv) — to flow: waste away.
: waste_away
1) to flow, gush, issue, discharge
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to flow, gush
1a2) to die, pine away (fig.)
1a3) to flow (of issue from woman), have an issue, flux
1a4) flowing (participle)
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singularHTd/Vqrmsa
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.
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
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
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.
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
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
See CLEAN.
→ (Ceremonially speaking)
Creatures designated as such Le 11; De 14
→ See UNCLEANNESS