Lexical Summary
tame: To be unclean, defile
Original Word:טָמֵא
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:tame'
Pronunciation:tah-MAY
Phonetic Spelling:(taw-may')
KJV: defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, X utterly
NASB:unclean, defiled, defile, becomes unclean, pronounce him unclean, become unclean, defiles
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
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.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be or become unclean
NASB Translationbecame 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).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (Late Hebrew Pi`el
pollute (ceremonially); Aramaic and especially derivatives,
Pa`el
pollute; see RS
K 307 ff.) —
Perfect3masculine singularLeviticus 11:25 22t.; 3 feminine singularLeviticus 12:2 2t.; 2 feminine singularEzekiel 22:4; pluralLeviticus 15:18;ImperfectLeviticus 5:3 34t.; 3 feminine singularLeviticus 12:2 4t.; pluralPsalm 106:39;InfinitiveLeviticus 15:32 6t.; —be orbecome unclean:
, withLeviticus 18:20,23 (H),Ezekiel 23:17; the landLeviticus 18:25,27 (H).
Ezekiel 22:3; withEzekiel 22:4; with necromancersLeviticus 19:31 (H); by sacrificing children to idolsPsalm 106:39.
Leviticus 11:24,27,28,31,32,33,34 (twice in verse);Leviticus 11:35,36,40 (P); any carcassLeviticus 17:15 (H); eating of a carcassLeviticus 22:8 (H); by issuesLeviticus 15:4,9,20 (twice in verse);Leviticus 15:24,27,32 (P); by contact with an unclean manLeviticus 5:3;Leviticus 15:4 (P),Leviticus 22:5 (H), or thingLeviticus 22:6 (H); by leprosyLeviticus 13:14,46;Leviticus 14:36,46 (P); by contact with the deadNumbers 6:12;Numbers 19:20 (P),Ezekiel 44:25, or with one unclean by such contactNumbers 19:22 (P),Haggai 2:13 (twice in verse); by contact with creeping thingsLeviticus 22:5 (H); certain animals were always uncleanLeviticus 11:26,27 (P). In ordinary cases of uncleannessunclean till evenLeviticus 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 sonLeviticus 12:2 (twice in verse) (P), for lying with woman having an issueLeviticus 15:24 (P), or one coming in contact with the deadNumbers 19:11,14,16 (P); it lasted 14 days for a woman bearing a daughterLeviticus 12:5 (P).
Perfect3masculine singularHosea 5:3;Hosea 6:10; 3feminine singularNumbers 5:27,28;Numbers 5:13 5t.; 1 singularJeremiah 2:23; 2masculine pluralLeviticus 11:43 ( omitted by scribal error; but Ges and others derive from ), etc. + 4 t. perfect;Participle pluralEzekiel 20:30,31; —defile oneself, be defiled:
,Leviticus 18:24 (H),Numbers 5:13,14 (twice in verse);Numbers 5:20,27,28,29 (P).
Hosea 5:3;Hosea 6:10;Jeremiah 2:23;Ezekiel 20:30,31,43;Ezekiel 23:7,13,30.
Leviticus 11:43.
be regarded as unclean (compare ), probablyJob 18:3we are accounted as unclean; metal. from; on another view see .
PerfectGenesis 34:5 15t.; suffixLeviticus 13:8 3t.; 2 feminine singularEzekiel 5:11, etc. + 7 t. Perfect;Imperfect2 Kings 23:8, etc. + 12 t. Imperfect;Imperative pluralEzekiel 9:7;InfinitiveLeviticus 13:44 2t.; suffixLeviticus 15:31, etc. + 4 t. Infinitive; —defile:
Genesis 34:5,13,27 (R),Ezekiel 18:6,11,15;Ezekiel 22:11;Ezekiel 33:26; the land by sexual impurities of the peopleLeviticus 18:28 (H); Israel by spiritual whoredomEzekiel 23:17.
Numbers 35:34 (P); by allowing the dead body of the murderer to hang on the tree over nightDeuteronomy 21:23; by idolatryJeremiah 2:7;Ezekiel 36:17,18; Israel defiled thesacred places by the sacrifice of childrenLeviticus 20:3 (H),Ezekiel 23:38, and God defiled him therebyEzekiel 20:26; he defileth the sacred places by idolatry 2Chronicles 36:14;Jeremiah 7:30 =Jeremiah 32:34,Ezekiel 5:11; the holy name ofEzekiel 43:7,8; Josiah defiled the idolatrous places of worship by destroying them and making them unfit for use2 Kings 23:8,10,13,16; of Israel defiling idolatrous imagesIsaiah 30:22, and the nations the temple of GodPsalm 79:1.
Leviticus 15:31;Numbers 19:13,20 (P); the campNumbers 5:3 (P); the temple by dead bodiesEzekiel 9:7; the Nazirite's head of separation by a death occurring in his presenceNumbers 6:9 (P); the people defile themselves () by creeping thingsLeviticus 11:44 (P).
pronounce or declare ceremoniallyunclean: the leperLeviticus 13:3,8,11,15,20,22,25,27,30,44 (twice in verse);Leviticus 13:59 (P); unclean animalsLeviticus 20:25 (H).
ParticipleEzekiel 4:14myself is not polluted.
ImperfectLeviticus 21:1 4t.; pluralEzekiel 14:11;Ezekiel 37:23;Hosea 9:4;Ezekiel 44:25, etc. + 6 t. Imperfect — reflexive,defile oneself: by eating of an unaccepted peace-offeringHosea 9:4; withLeviticus 18:24,30 (H),Leviticus 11:43 (P),Ezekiel 14:11;Ezekiel 20:7,18;Ezekiel 37:23; withfor a dead personLeviticus 21:1,3,11 (H),Numbers 6:7 (P);byLeviticus 11:24 (P); without prepositionLeviticus 21:4 (H),Ezekiel 44:25.
PerfectDeuteronomy 24:4after that she has been defiled (sexually); on form see Ges§ 54. 3.
(, Bear, seems to rest upon a misinterpretation of the form)Micah 2:10 (so Thes MV SS); of ethical uncleanness, from wrong-doing.
Topical Lexicon
Root Idea and Biblical ContextThe verb טָמֵא occurs about one hundred sixty-one times and conveys the action of becoming, making, or being declared unclean. The range of usage stretches from concrete ritual impurity to the broader moral pollution of idolatry, injustice, and covenant infidelity. Scripture presents uncleanness as a barrier to worship, fellowship, and life in the covenant community, thereby revealing the holiness of God and the necessity of divine provision for cleansing.
Ritual Defilement in the Torah
1. Contact with carcasses, menstruation, seminal emission, childbirth, skin disease, mildew, and corpses brings ceremonial uncleanness (Leviticus 11–15;Numbers 19).
2. Uncleanness is temporary but real; it excludes from the sanctuary until purification procedures are completed.Leviticus 11:43 records, “Do not defile yourselves by any crawling creature; do not make yourselves unclean or become unclean by them”.
3. The Day of Atonement addresses accumulated impurities that “defile the sanctuary” (Leviticus 16:16).
4. The persistent refrain “and he shall be unclean until evening” shows both the pervasiveness of defilement in daily life and the gracious provision of restoration.
Personal Defilement
Uncleanness touches every stage of human experience—birth (Leviticus 12:2), disease (Leviticus 13:3), sexuality (Leviticus 15:18), death (Numbers 19:11). These laws train Israel to distinguish between what is ordinary and what belongs to the sphere of divine holiness, shaping a worldview in which purity of life reflects the character of the Lord.
Defilement of Objects and Spaces
Sacred furniture (Leviticus 15:31), camp areas (Deuteronomy 23:10-14), garments (Leviticus 13:47), and even the land itself (Leviticus 18:25) can be defiled. Pollution is never merely private; it infects community and creation, anticipating New Testament teaching that sin groans through the whole cosmos.
Moral and Spiritual Defilement
The Prophets adopt טָמֵא for moral transgression.
• Idolatry: “They defiled themselves with their idols” (Ezekiel 20:7).
• Bloodshed: “Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15) in parallel with being “defiled with blood” (Isaiah 59:3).
• Sexual immorality: “They have defiled themselves with all their detestable practices” (Leviticus 18:30;Hosea 5:3).
Thus ritual vocabulary becomes an ethical indictment; uncleanness is no longer restricted to cultic infractions but encompasses all rebellion against God.
Corporate and National Defilement
The nation defiles the promised land (Leviticus 18:24-28;Jeremiah 2:7), the city (Lamentations 4:14), and the temple (Ezekiel 5:11). Consequently, exile is portrayed as removal of pollution from the Lord’s presence (Ezekiel 36:17-19). Yet even in judgment, God purposes purification.
Divine Response: Cleansing and Atonement
1. Blood of sacrifices (Leviticus 17:11) and ashes of the red heifer (Numbers 19:17-19) purge uncleanness in anticipation of the perfect sacrifice of Messiah.
2. Prophetic promise: “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean” (Ezekiel 36:25).
3. Eschatological fountain: “On that day a fountain will be opened... to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 13:1).
4. Priesthood and people share responsibility to teach and maintain boundaries (Ezekiel 22:26;Malachi 1:7).
Prophetic Hope and Messianic Foreshadowing
The pervasive uncleanness of humanity underscores the need for a Redeemer who can touch the leper without contracting defilement (cf. foreshadowed inNumbers 19:21 where the priest remains holy while cleansing others). The Servant’s work, later fulfilled in Jesus Christ, answers the cry ofPsalm 51:7, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean.”
Practical Ministry Applications
• Preaching: Use the category of uncleanness to illustrate the gravity of sin and the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement.
• Counseling: Levitical categories offer pastoral language for shame; cleansing is not merely legal but restorative.
• Worship: Emphasize confession and assurance as modern echoes of ancient purification rites.
• Mission: The inclusion of the formerly unclean (Acts 10 echoesLeviticus 11) grounds evangelistic outreach to every people group.
Key Passages for Study and Teaching
Leviticus 11:24-45;Leviticus 16:16-34;Leviticus 18:24-30;Numbers 19:11-22;Deuteronomy 23:10-14;2 Samuel 11:4;Psalm 51:2-7;Isaiah 52:11;Jeremiah 2:7;Ezekiel 20:7, 36:17-33;Hosea 5:3;Haggai 2:13-14;Zechariah 13:1.
Forms and Transliterations
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 yittammeU
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