Hebrew adjective · H2931
טָמֵא
tametaw-may'
unclean
88 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: ṭâmêʼ
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H2931is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 15 of 39Old Testament books
- 44spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H2931
foul in a religious sense
The King James renders it: defiled, [phrase] infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean.
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
tame is rendered "unclean". It stands 88 times in the Hebrew text, across fifteen books.
- Forty-seven of the uses stand in Leviticus, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Leviticus 5:2Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty.
- The Greek text spells it forty-four different ways.
The first use
Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty.
Leviticus 5:2טָמֵא֒
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
Forty-seven of the word's eighty-eight uses are in Leviticus.
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- unclean54
- the unclean15
- unclean of4
- an unclean3
- and unclean2
- a unclean1
- a unclean of1
- and an unclean1
- and the unclean1
- and to the unclean1
- for the unclean1
- from an unclean1
and 3 more, 88 uses in all
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| טָמֵא | tame | to defile | Uses162 |
Other numbers on this spelling
Strong gave these words the same spelling and different numbers, so the site counts and defines them apart.
The words it stands beside
All 88, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
44 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- טָמֵ֥א17
- טָמֵ֖א7
- הַטָּמֵ֖א5
- טָמֵ֣א5
- טְמֵאִ֥ים5
- טָמֵֽא׃4
- הַטָּמֵ֔א2
- הַטָּמֵ֤א2
- טָמֵ֑א2
- טְמֵא־2
- טְמֵאָ֗ה2
- טְמֵאָ֔ה2
and 32 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- adjective · masculine singular41HAamsa
- the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singular11HTd/Aamsa
- adjective · feminine singular9HAafsa
- adjective · masculine plural8HAampa
- adjective · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)4HAamsc
- adjective · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)2HAafsc
- conjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singular2HC/Aamsa
- preposition + adjective · masculine singular2HR/Aamsa
- preposition with the article + adjective · masculine singular2HRd/Aamsa
- the definite article (“the”) + adjective · feminine singular2HTd/Aafsa
- the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine plural2HTd/Aampa
- conjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine plural1HC/Aampa
Leviticus
forty-seven uses
Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty.
- טָמֵא֒tame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
- טְמֵאָ֗הtemeahadjective · feminine singulartagged: unclean
- טְמֵאָ֔הtemeahadjective · feminine singulartagged: unclean
- טָמֵ֑אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
- טָמֵ֖אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
Meat that touches anything unclean must not be eaten; it is to be burned up. As for any other meat, anyone who is ceremonially clean may eat it.
- טָמֵא֙tame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
If one touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable thing, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.”
- טָמֵ֗אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
- טְמֵאָ֗הtemeahadjective · feminine singulartagged: unclean
- טָמֵ֔אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean,
- הַטָּמֵ֖אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
But of those that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, you are not to eat the following: The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
The rock badger, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.
- טְמֵאָ֥הtemeahadjective · feminine singulartagged: unclean
And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.
- טְמֵאִ֥יםtemeimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: unclean
Every animal with hooves not completely divided or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you. Whoever touches any of them will be unclean.
- טְמֵאִ֥יםtemeimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: unclean
All the four-footed animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening,
- טְמֵאִ֥יםtemeimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: unclean
and anyone who picks up a carcass must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening. They are unclean for you.
- טְמֵאִ֥יםtemeimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: unclean
The following creatures that move along the ground are unclean for you: the mole, the mouse, any kind of great lizard,
- הַטָּמֵ֔אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
These animals are unclean for you among all the crawling creatures. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening.
- הַטְּמֵאִ֥יםhatemeimthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: the unclean
Anything upon which one of their carcasses falls will be unclean. If it is an oven or cooking pot, it must be smashed; it is unclean and will remain unclean for you.
- טְמֵאִ֣יםtemeimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: unclean
- וּטְמֵאִ֖יםutemeimconjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: and unclean
but if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between animals that may be eaten and those that may not.’”
- הַטָּמֵ֖אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
it is a chronic skin disease and the priest must pronounce him unclean. He need not isolate him, for he is unclean.
- טָמֵ֖אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
When the priest sees the raw flesh, he must pronounce him unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; it is a skin disease.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
the priest is to examine him, and if the scaly outbreak has spread on the skin, the priest need not look for yellow hair; the person is unclean.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
the man is diseased; he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean because of the infection on his head.
- טָמֵ֣אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
A diseased person must wear torn clothes and let his hair hang loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
- וְטָמֵ֥א׀vetame'conjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and unclean
- טָמֵ֖אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.
- טָמֵ֣אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
On the seventh day the priest shall reexamine it, and if the mildew has spread in the fabric, weave, knit, or leather, then regardless of how it is used, it is a harmful mildew; the article is unclean.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
After it has been washed, the priest is to reexamine it, and if the mildewed article has not changed in appearance, it is unclean. Even though the mildew has not spread, you must burn it, whether the rot is on the front or back.
- טָמֵ֣אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
he must order that the contaminated stones be pulled out and thrown into an unclean place outside the city.
- טָמֵֽא׃tame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
And he shall have the inside of the house scraped completely and the plaster that is scraped off dumped into an unclean place outside the city.
- טָמֵֽא׃tame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
the priest must come and inspect it. If the mildew has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew; the house is unclean.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
It must be torn down with its stones, its timbers, and all its plaster, and taken outside the city to an unclean place.
- טָמֵֽא׃tame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
to determine when something is clean or unclean. This is the law regarding skin diseases and mildew.”
- הַטָּמֵ֖אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
“Say to the Israelites, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
When a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days at a time other than her menstrual period, or if it continues beyond her period, she will be unclean all the days of her unclean discharge, just as she is during the days of her menstruation.
- טְמֵאָ֥הtemeahadjective · feminine singulartagged: unclean
Any bed on which she lies or any furniture on which she sits during the days of her discharge will be unclean, like her bed during her menstrual period.
- טָמֵ֣אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
of a woman in her menstrual period, of any male or female who has a discharge, and of a man who lies with an unclean woman.’”
- טְמֵאָֽה׃ פtemeahadjective · feminine singulartagged: an unclean
You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.
- לַטְּמֵאָ֔הlatemeahpreposition with the article + adjective · feminine singulartagged: and the unclean
- הַטָּמֵ֖אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen,
- טְמֵא־teme'-adjective · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: unclean of
But if the vow involves any of the unclean animals that may not be brought as an offering to the LORD, the animal must be presented before the priest.
- טְמֵאָ֔הtemeahadjective · feminine singulartagged: unclean
But if it is among the unclean animals, then he may redeem it according to your valuation and add a fifth of its value. If it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.
- הַטְּמֵאָה֙hatemeahthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · feminine singulartagged: the unclean
Numbers
eleven uses
“Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
But there were some men who were unclean due to a dead body, so they could not observe the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and Aaron that same day
- טְמֵאִים֙temeimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: unclean
and said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?”
- טְמֵאִ֖יםtemeimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: unclean
“Tell the Israelites: ‘When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a dead body, or is away on a journey, he may still observe the Passover to the LORD.
- טָמֵ֣א׀tame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.
- הַטְּמֵאָ֖הhatemeahthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · feminine singulartagged: the unclean
Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.
- טָמֵ֣אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
and any open container without a lid fastened on it is unclean.
- טָמֵ֖אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh water over them.
- לַטָּמֵ֔אlatame'preposition with the article + adjective · masculine singulartagged: for the unclean
The man who is ceremonially clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and that evening he will be clean.
- הַטָּמֵ֔אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
Anything the unclean person touches will become unclean, and anyone who touches it will be unclean until evening.”
- הַטָּמֵ֖אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
Deuteronomy
eight uses
But whenever you want, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you. Both the ceremonially clean and unclean may eat it as they would a gazelle or deer,
- הַטָּמֵ֤אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
Indeed, you may eat it as you would eat a gazelle or deer; both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it.
- הַטָּמֵא֙hatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
But of those that chew the cud or have a completely divided hoof, you are not to eat the following: the camel, the rabbit, or the rock badger.
- טְמֵאִ֥יםtemeimadjective · masculine pluraltagged: unclean
Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof. They are unclean for you, as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
but you may not eat anything that does not have fins and scales; it is unclean for you.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
Eat it within your gates; both the ceremonially unclean and clean may eat it as they would a gazelle or a deer.
- הַטָּמֵ֤אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything You commanded me.
- בְּטָמֵ֔אbetame'preposition + adjective · masculine singulartagged: in unclean
Joshua
one use
If indeed the land of your inheritance is unclean, then cross over to the land of the LORD’s possession, where the LORD’s tabernacle stands, and take possession of it among us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.
- טְמֵאָ֜הtemeahadjective · feminine singulartagged: unclean
Judges
one use
Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean.
- טָמֵֽא׃tame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
2 Chronicles
one use
He stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that nothing unclean could enter for any reason.
- טָמֵ֖אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: a unclean
Job
one use
Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
- מִטָּמֵ֗אmitame'preposition + adjective · masculine singulartagged: from an unclean
Ecclesiastes
one use
It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.
- וְלַטָּמֵ֔אvelatame'conjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and to the unclean
Isaiah
six uses
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
- טְמֵֽא־teme'-adjective · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: unclean of
- טְמֵ֣אteme'adjective · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: unclean of
And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.
- טָמֵ֖אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
- וְטָמֵֽא׃vetame'conjunction (“and”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: and an unclean
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
- טָמֵ֖אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: an unclean
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
- כַטָּמֵא֙khatame'preposition with the article + adjective · masculine singulartagged: like the unclean
Jeremiah
one use
The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like that place, Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.”
- הַטְּמֵאִ֑יםhatemeimthe definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine pluraltagged: the unclean
Lamentations
one use
“Go away! Unclean!” men shouted at them. “Away, away! Do not touch us!” So they fled and wandered. Among the nations it was said, “They can stay here no longer.”
- טָמֵ֞אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
Ezekiel
five uses
Then the LORD said, “This is how the Israelites will eat their defiled bread among the nations to which I will banish them.”
- טָמֵ֑אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
Those near and far will mock you, O infamous city, full of turmoil.
- טְמֵאַ֣תtemeatadjective · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: O unclean of
In you they have uncovered the nakedness of their fathers; in you they violate women during their menstrual impurity.
- טְמֵאַ֥תtemeatadjective · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: unclean of
Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
- הַטָּמֵ֥אhatame'the definite article (“the”) + adjective · masculine singulartagged: the unclean
They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: an unclean
Hosea
one use
They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
Amos
one use
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan soil. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”
- טְמֵאָה֙temeahadjective · feminine singulartagged: unclean
Haggai
two uses
So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered.
- טְמֵא־teme'-adjective · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: a unclean of
Then Haggai replied, “So it is with this people and this nation before Me, declares the LORD, and so it is with every work of their hands; whatever they offer there is defiled.
- טָמֵ֥אtame'adjective · masculine singulartagged: unclean
Where it leads
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.
