Original Word: טָמֵא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tame'
Pronunciation: tah-MAY
Phonetic Spelling: (taw-may')
Definition: To be unclean, defile
Meaning: to be foul

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G169 (ἀκάθαρτος, akathartos) - unclean

- G2840 (κοινόω, koinoō) - to make common, to defile

Usage: The Hebrew verb "tame" primarily means to be or become unclean, defiled, or impure. It is used extensively in the Old Testament to describe a state of ritual impurity, which could result from various causes such as contact with a corpse, certain diseases, or moral transgressions. The concept of uncleanness is central to the Levitical laws, where it denotes a condition that separates individuals from the holiness required to approach God.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the concept of purity and impurity was deeply embedded in the religious and social life of the community. The laws concerning cleanliness were not merely about physical hygiene but were symbolic of spiritual and moral purity. Ritual impurity required specific purification rites to restore a person to a state of cleanliness, allowing them to participate in communal worship and activities. These laws underscored the holiness of God and the need for His people to be set apart from the surrounding nations.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be or become unclean
NASB Translation
became unclean (1), become defiled (3), become unclean (6), becomes unclean (13), becoming unclean (1), been defiled (2), defile (25), defiled (38), defilement (1), defiles (5), defiling (2), made unclean (3), make himself unclean (1), make yourselves unclean (1), make...unclean (1), pronounce him unclean (9), pronounced them unclean (1), remain unclean (2), surely pronounce (1), surely pronounce him unclean (1), unclean (44).

I. טָמֵא verb be or become unclean (Late Hebrew Pi`el pollute (ceremonially); Aramaic טְמָא and especially derivatives, Pa`el pollute; see RS^{K 307 ff.}) —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳ט Leviticus 11:25 22t.; 3 feminine singular טָֽמְאָה Leviticus 12:2 2t.; 2 feminine singular טָמֵאת Ezekiel 22:4; plural טָֽמְאוּ Leviticus 15:18; Imperfect יִטְמָא Leviticus 5:3 34t.; 3 feminine singular תִּטְמָא Leviticus 12:2 4t.; plural יִטְמְאוּ Psalm 106:39; Infinitive טָמְאָה Leviticus 15:32 6t.; — be or become unclean:

1 sexually, with בְּ Leviticus 18:20,23 (H), Ezekiel 23:17; the land Leviticus 18:25,27 (H).

2 religiously, with idols Ezekiel 22:3; with בְ Ezekiel 22:4; with necromancers Leviticus 19:31 (H); by sacrificing children to idols Psalm 106:39.

3 ceremonially, by contact with carcasses of unclean animals Leviticus 11:24,27,28,31,32,33,34 (twice in verse); Leviticus 11:35,36,40 (P); any carcass Leviticus 17:15 (H); eating of a carcass Leviticus 22:8 (H); by issues Leviticus 15:4,9,20 (twice in verse); Leviticus 15:24,27,32 (P); by contact with an unclean man Leviticus 5:3; Leviticus 15:4 (P), Leviticus 22:5 (H), or thing Leviticus 22:6 (H); by leprosy Leviticus 13:14,46; Leviticus 14:36,46 (P); by contact with the dead Numbers 6:12; Numbers 19:20 (P), Ezekiel 44:25, or with one unclean by such contact Numbers 19:22 (P), Haggai 2:13 (twice in verse); by contact with creeping things Leviticus 22:5 (H); certain animals were always unclean Leviticus 11:26,27 (P). In ordinary cases of uncleanness טמא עד הערב unclean till even Leviticus 11:24,25,27,28,31,32,39,40 (twice in verse); Leviticus 14:46; Leviticus 15:5; Leviticus 15:6; Leviticus 15:7; Leviticus 15:8; Leviticus 15:10 (twice in verse); Leviticus 15:11,16,17,18,19,21,22,23,27; Numbers 19:7; Numbers 19:8; Numbers 19:10; Numbers 19:21; Numbers 19:22 (all P), Leviticus 17:15; Leviticus 22:6 (H); but uncleanness lasted 7 days for woman bearings a son Leviticus 12:2 (twice in verse) (P), for lying with woman having an issue Leviticus 15:24 (P), or one coming in contact with the dead Numbers 19:11,14,16 (P); it lasted 14 days for a woman bearing a daughter Leviticus 12:5 (P).

Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נִטְמָא Hosea 5:3; Hosea 6:10; 3feminine singular נִטְמְאָה Numbers 5:27,28; נִטְמָ֑אָה Numbers 5:13 5t.; 1 singular נִטְמֵאתִי Jeremiah 2:23; 2masculine plural נִטְמֵתֶם Leviticus 11:43 (א omitted by scribal error; but Ges and others derive from טמה), etc. + 4 t. perfect; Participle plural נִטְמְאִים Ezekiel 20:30,31; — defile oneself, be defiled:

1 sexually, Leviticus 18:24 (H), Numbers 5:13,14 (twice in verse); Numbers 5:20,27,28,29 (P).

2 by idolatry conceived as whoredom Hosea 5:3; Hosea 6:10; Jeremiah 2:23; Ezekiel 20:30,31,43; Ezekiel 23:7,13,30.

3 ceremonially, by eating creeping things Leviticus 11:43.

4 be regarded as unclean (compare Pi`el 4), probably נִטְמִינִוּ Job 18:3 we are accounted as unclean; metal. from; on another view see טמה.

Pi`el Perfect טִמֵּא Genesis 34:5 15t.; suffix טִמְּאוֺ Leviticus 13:8 3t.; 2 feminine singular טִמֵּאת Ezekiel 5:11, etc. + 7 t. Perfect; Imperfect יְטַמֵּא 2 Kings 23:8, etc. + 12 t. Imperfect; Imperative plural טַמְּאוּ Ezekiel 9:7; Infinitive טַמֵּא Leviticus 13:44 2t.; suffix טַמְּאָם Leviticus 15:31, etc. + 4 t. Infinitive; — defile:

1 sexually Genesis 34:5,13,27 (R), Ezekiel 18:6,11,15; Ezekiel 22:11; Ezekiel 33:26; the land by sexual impurities of the people Leviticus 18:28 (H); Israel by spiritual whoredom Ezekiel 23:17.

2 religiously: the land by bloodshed Numbers 35:34 (P); by allowing the dead body of the murderer to hang on the tree over night Deuteronomy 21:23; by idolatry Jeremiah 2:7; Ezekiel 36:17,18; Israel defiled the sacred places by the sacrifice of children Leviticus 20:3 (H), Ezekiel 23:38, and God defiled him thereby Ezekiel 20:26; he defileth the sacred places by idolatry 2Chronicles 36:14; Jeremiah 7:30 = Jeremiah 32:34, Ezekiel 5:11; the holy name of ׳י Ezekiel 43:7,8; Josiah defiled the idolatrous places of worship by destroying them and making them unfit for use 2 Kings 23:8,10,13,16; of Israel defiling idolatrous images Isaiah 30:22, and the nations the temple of God Psalm 79:1.

3 ceremonially: by ceremonial uncleanness, the sacred places Leviticus 15:31; Numbers 19:13,20 (P); the camp Numbers 5:3 (P); the temple by dead bodies Ezekiel 9:7; the Nazirite's head of separation by a death occurring in his presence Numbers 6:9 (P); the people defile themselves (נפשׁתיכם) by creeping things Leviticus 11:44 (P).

4 pronounce or declare ceremonially unclean: the leper Leviticus 13:3,8,11,15,20,22,25,27,30,44 (twice in verse); Leviticus 13:59 (P); unclean animals Leviticus 20:25 (H).

Pu`al Participle נַפְשִׁי לֹא מְטֻמָּאָה Ezekiel 4:14 myself is not polluted.

Hithpa`el Imperfect יִטַּמָּא Leviticus 21:1 4t.; plural יִטַּמְּאוּ Ezekiel 14:11; Ezekiel 37:23; יִטַּמָּ֑אוּ Hosea 9:4; Ezekiel 44:25, etc. + 6 t. Imperfect — reflexive, defile oneself: by eating of an unaccepted peace-offering Hosea 9:4; with בְּ Leviticus 18:24,30 (H), Leviticus 11:43 (P), Ezekiel 14:11; Ezekiel 20:7,18; Ezekiel 37:23; with לְ for a dead person Leviticus 21:1,3,11 (H), Numbers 6:7 (P); by Leviticus 11:24 (P); without preposition Leviticus 21:4 (H), Ezekiel 44:25.

Hothpa`al Perfect אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר חֻטַּמָּ֑אָה Deuteronomy 24:4 after that she has been defiled (sexually); on form see Ges^{§ 54}. 3.

טָמְאָה noun feminine uncleanness (טָֽמְאָה, Bear, seems to rest upon a misinterpretation of the form) Micah 2:10 (so Thes MV SS); of ethical uncleanness, from wrong-doing.

defile self, pollute self, be make, make self, pronounce unclean, utterly

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.

בְּטַֽמַּאֲכֶ֖ם בְּטַמְּאָ֥ם בטמאכם בטמאם הֲיִטְמָ֑א הֻטַּמָּ֔אָה הטמאה היטמא וְטִמְּא֑וֹ וְטִמְּא֖וֹ וְטִמְּא֣וּ ׀ וְטִמְּא֥וֹ וְטִמְּא֧וֹ וְטִמֵּ֖א וְטִמֵּ֣א וְטִמֵּ֤א וְטִמֵּ֥א וְטִמֵּ֧א וְטִמֵּ֨א וְטִמֵּאתֶ֗ם וְטָֽמְאָה֙ וְטָמְא֖וּ וְטָמְאָ֖ה וְטָמְאָ֥ה וְטָמֵ֖א וְטָמֵ֣א וְטָמֵ֥א וְנִטְמָֽאָה׃ וַֽיְטַמְּאֵ֑הוּ וַֽיְטַמְּאוּ֙ וַיְטַמְּא֣וּ וַיְטַמְּא֥וּ וַיְטַמֵּ֣א וַיִּטְמְא֥וּ וַתְּטַמְּא֣וּ וַתִּ֨טְמָא־ וַתִּטְמָ֖א וַתִּטְמָ֣א וָאֲטַמֵּ֤א ואטמא וטמא וטמאה וטמאו וטמאתם ויטמא ויטמאהו ויטמאו ונטמאה׃ ותטמא ותטמא־ ותטמאו טִ֭מְּאוּ טִמְּא֖וּ טִמְּא֤וּ טִמְּאֽוּהָ׃ טִמֵּ֔א טִמֵּ֔את טִמֵּ֖א טִמֵּ֗א טִמֵּ֣א טִמֵּֽא׃ טִמֵּא֙ טִמֵּאתֶ֑ם טַמְּא֣וּ טַמֵּ֧א טַמֵּא֙ טָמְאָ֛ה טָמֵ֔את טָמֵ֖א טמא טמא׃ טמאה טמאו טמאוה׃ טמאת טמאתם יְטַמְּא֣וּ יְטַמְּאֶ֛נּוּ יְטַמְּאוּ֙ יִֽטַמְּא֣וּ יִטְמָ֑א יִטְמָ֖א יִטְמָ֗א יִטְמָ֥א יִטְמָֽא׃ יִטְמָא֒ יִטְמָא֙ יִטְמָא־ יִטַּמְּא֥וּ יִטַּמָּ֖א יִטַּמָּ֥א יִטַּמָּֽא׃ יִטַּמָּֽאוּ׃ יִטַמָּ֑אוּ יטמא יטמא־ יטמא׃ יטמאו יטמאו׃ יטמאנו לְטַמְּאֽוֹ׃ לְטַמֵּֽא׃ לְטָמְאָ֑ה לְטָמְאָ֣ה לְטָמְאָֽה׃ לְטָמְאָה־ לטמא׃ לטמאה לטמאה־ לטמאה׃ לטמאו׃ מְטֻמָּאָ֑ה מטמאה נִטְמְא֣וּ נִטְמְאִ֑ים נִטְמְאִ֤֨ים נִטְמְאָה֙ נִטְמְאָה֮ נִטְמֵ֑את נִטְמֵ֖את נִטְמֵ֗אתִי נִטְמֵאתֶ֖ם נִטְמָ֑אָה נִטְמָ֖א נִטְמָֽאָה׃ נטמא נטמאה נטמאה׃ נטמאו נטמאים נטמאת נטמאתי נטמאתם תְטַמְּאוּ֙ תְטַמֵּ֣א תְטַמֵּא֙ תִּֽטַּמְּא֖וּ תִּטְמָ֥א תִּטְמָֽא׃ תִּטַּמָּ֑אוּ תִּטַּמָּֽאוּ׃ תִֽטַּמְּא֖וּ תִֽטַּמְּאוּ֙ תטמא תטמא׃ תטמאו תטמאו׃ bə·ṭam·ma·’ă·ḵem bə·ṭam·mə·’ām bəṭamma’ăḵem betammaaChem bəṭammə’ām betammeAm hă·yiṭ·mā hayitMa hăyiṭmā huṭ·ṭam·mā·’āh huṭṭammā’āh huttamMaah lə·ṭā·mə·’āh lə·ṭā·mə·’āh- lə·ṭam·mê lə·ṭam·mə·’ōw ləṭāmə’āh ləṭāmə’āh- letameah letamMe ləṭammê ləṭammə’ōw letammeO mə·ṭum·mā·’āh məṭummā’āh metummaAh niṭ·mā niṭ·mā·’āh niṭ·mə·’āh niṭ·mə·’îm niṭ·mə·’ū niṭ·mê·ṯem niṭ·mê·ṯî niṭ·mêṯ nitMa niṭmā niṭmā’āh nitMaah niṭmə’āh niṭmə’îm niṭmə’ū nitmeAh nitmeIm nitMet niṭmêṯ nitmeTem niṭmêṯem nitMeti niṭmêṯî nitmeU ṭā·mê ṭā·mə·’āh ṭā·mêṯ ṭam·mê ṭam·mə·’ū taMe ṭāmê ṭāmə’āh tameAh taMet ṭāmêṯ tamMe ṭammê ṭammə’ū tammeU ṯə·ṭam·mê ṯə·ṭam·mə·’ū tetamMe ṯəṭammê ṯəṭammə’ū tetammeU ṭim·mê ṭim·mə·’ū ṭim·mə·’ū·hā ṭim·mê·ṯem ṭim·mêṯ timMe ṭimmê ṭimmə’ū ṭimmə’ūhā timMet ṭimmêṯ timmeTem ṭimmêṯem timmeU timmeUha tiṭ·mā tiṭ·ṭam·mā·’ū tiṭ·ṭam·mə·’ū ṯiṭ·ṭam·mə·’ū titMa tiṭmā tiṭṭammā’ū tittamMau tiṭṭammə’ū ṯiṭṭammə’ū tittammeU vaatamMe vaiyitmeU vattetammeU vattitMa vaytamMe vaytammeEhu vaytammeU venitMaah vetaMe vetameAh vetameU vetimMe vetimmeO vetimmeTem vetimmeU wā’ăṭammê wā·’ă·ṭam·mê wat·tə·ṭam·mə·’ū wat·tiṭ·mā wat·tiṭ·mā- wattəṭammə’ū wattiṭmā wattiṭmā- way·ṭam·mê way·ṭam·mə·’ê·hū way·ṭam·mə·’ū way·yiṭ·mə·’ū wayṭammê wayṭammə’êhū wayṭammə’ū wayyiṭmə’ū wə·niṭ·mā·’āh wə·ṭā·mê wə·ṭā·mə·’āh wə·ṭā·mə·’ū wə·ṭim·mê wə·ṭim·mə·’ōw wə·ṭim·mə·’ū wə·ṭim·mê·ṯem wəniṭmā’āh wəṭāmê wəṭāmə’āh wəṭāmə’ū wəṭimmê wəṭimmə’ōw wəṭimmə’ū wəṭimmêṯem yə·ṭam·mə·’en·nū yə·ṭam·mə·’ū yəṭammə’ennū yəṭammə’ū yetammeEnnu yetammeU yi·ṭam·mā·’ū yi·ṭam·mə·’ū yiṭ·mā yiṭ·mā- yiṭ·ṭam·mā yiṭ·ṭam·mā·’ū yiṭ·ṭam·mə·’ū yiṭammā’ū yitamMau yiṭammə’ū yitammeU yitMa yiṭmā yiṭmā- yittamMa yiṭṭammā yiṭṭammā’ū yittamMau yiṭṭammə’ū yittammeUInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts