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Leviticus 15:21 — Word Study

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WLCוְכָל־ הַנֹּגֵ֖עַ בְּמִשְׁכָּבָ֑הּ יְכַבֵּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־ הָעָֽרֶב׃

BSAand anyonekôl who touchesnâgaʻ [comes into physical contact with] her bedmishkâb [place of rest or intimacy] must washkâbaç [cleanse or purify] his clothesbeged [garments or outer covering] and batherâchats [immerse or wash the body] with watermayim [the liquid essential for life] and he will be uncleanṭâmêʼ [defiled or ceremonially impure] untilʻad [as far as or up to] eveningʻereb [time of sunset or day's end]

Word
Listen & take awayLeviticus 15
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 21 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 (ha.'A.rev) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Leviticus 15:21quick helps
In a sentenceAnyone who touches a woman’s bed during her menstruation must wash his clothes and bathe.
Who is speakingThe Lord, through Moses, giving laws about ritual purity.
Where we areThe laws regarding bodily discharges and their implications for ceremonial cleanliness.
The hard wordטָמֵ֥א
Take awayTouching a menstruating woman's bed results in ceremonial impurity.
4 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them › clause verbכָּבַס 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 15:21

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 of Puritygenerated

20Anything on which she lies or sits during her menstruation will be unclean,
21and anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
22Whoever touches any furniture on which she was sitting must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
23And whether it is a bed or furniture on which she was sitting, whoever touches it will be unclean until evening.

Leviticus 15:21 is part of a larger section detailing laws about bodily discharges, specifically addressing the implications of touching objects associated with a woman during her menstrual period. This context emphasizes the importance of ritual purity in the Israelite community, as seen in the surrounding verses that outline what is considered unclean and the necessary actions to restore cleanliness.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Leviticus 15:5–6Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
2Isaiah 22:14The LORD of Hosts has revealed in my hearing: “Until your dying day, this sin of yours will never be atoned for,” says the Lord GOD of Hosts.
32 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
4Hebrews 9:26Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
5Revelation 7:14“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to

And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.Leviticus 15:5–6 Isaiah 22:14 2 Corinthians 7:1 Hebrews 9:26 Revelation 7:14

The Key Word טָמֵ֥א, tame'generated

The verb טָמֵא (tame') means to be unclean or defiled, particularly in a ceremonial context. It covers various forms of impurity, including moral and ritual aspects, indicating a state of being that requires restoration. The parsing as a Qal verb in the perfect tense shows that this state is a completed action, indicating the person is now unclean.

This word is significant in the context of Leviticus, where it often relates to the laws surrounding purity and the actions required to regain cleanliness. The implications of being tame' affect one's ability to participate in communal worship and rituals.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses unclean for טָמֵ֥א.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יְכַבֵּ֧ס (he will wash) governs the main action of the sentence, with several phrases detailing the conditions and consequences. The structure emphasizes the sequential actions required after contact with the bed.

The order of the Hebrew words places the subject and action at the forefront, followed by the necessary conditions (washing clothes and bathing), which highlights the importance of these actions in restoring purity.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates טָמֵ֥א as καὶ (and), indicating a direct correspondence to the Hebrew's meaning of being unclean. This choice maintains the focus on the state of impurity resulting from contact.

The Greek word ἕως (until) aligns with the Hebrew עַד־, reinforcing the temporal aspect of the unclean state lasting until evening.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Leviticus 15:21 states that anyone who touches a woman's bed during her menstruation must wash his clothes and bathe with water, becoming unclean until evening. This law emphasizes the importance of ritual purity in the community.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to be unclean?

To be unclean means to be in a state of ceremonial impurity, which affects one's ability to participate in worship and community activities.

Why is touching a menstruating woman's bed significant?

Touching a menstruating woman's bed is significant because it renders a person ceremonially unclean, highlighting the importance of purity laws in ancient Israel.

What actions must be taken to regain cleanliness?

To regain cleanliness, one must wash their clothes and bathe with water, as prescribed in the law.

What is the significance of the evening in this context?

The evening marks the end of the period of uncleanness, indicating when one can return to normal activities and worship.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do purity laws in Leviticus apply to our understanding of cleanliness today?
  2. What can we learn from the importance of ritual purity in the Israelite community?
  3. In what ways can we maintain spiritual cleanliness in our lives?
  4. How does understanding these laws enhance our appreciation of the biblical text?

Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Leviticus 15:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

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

And whosoever toucheth her bed,.... The same thing that is said of a profluvious man, and so in Leviticus 15:22.

Read John Gill on Leviticus 15 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. If a woman have an issue.

Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 15 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21-22) And whosoever toucheth her bed.—The regulations in these three verses are the same as those laid down in Leviticus 15:4-6.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 15 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

As regards women (19–30) 19–24. Normal periodical issues. The uncleanness of these issues is similar to that in the preceding case (cp. Leviticus 15:4-11), but no sacrifice is required at the close of the period. For the belief in early religions that in such cases special precautions were needed against maleficent spiritual agencies, see Rob.-Sm. Rel. Sem.2 447 ff., and Frazer, G.B.3, Pt II. pp. 145 ff.

Read Cambridge 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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

and anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

and anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And whoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Whosoeuer also toucheth her bedde, shall wash his clothes, and wash himselfe with water, and shalbe vncleane vnto the euen.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And whoever toucheth her bed shall wash his garments, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the even.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and any one who is coming against her bed doth wash his garments, and hath bathed with water, and been unclean till the evening.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and anyone who is coming against her bed washes his garments, and has bathed with water, and been unclean until the evening.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; that person will be unclean until evening.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And every thing that she sleepeth on, or that she sitteth on in the days of her separation, shall be defiled.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

and anyone who touches her bed must wash their clothes and wash themselves with water, and will be unclean until the evening.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And anyone touching her bed will have to have his clothing washed and his body bathed in water and be unclean till evening.

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.

וְandclauseclausenoun phrase · subjectכָלeverynoun phraseהַ(the).[onenoun phraseclauseverbנֹּגֵ֖עַwho].touchesprepositional phrase · prepositionalבְּ(in)noun phraseמִשְׁכָּבָ֑bedהּherverbיְכַבֵּ֧סhe.will.washnoun phrase · objectבְּגָדָ֛יgarmentsוhisוְandclauseverbרָחַ֥ץhe.will.washprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּwithnoun phrase(the)מַּ֖יִםwaterוְandclauseverbטָמֵ֥אhe.will.be.uncleanprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַדuntilnoun phraseהָtheעָֽרֶבevening

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. The Septuagint matches the Hebrew closely, with a consistent translation of the key terms. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restorations but align with the overall meaning of the Masoretic Text.

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

וְכָל־ הַנֹּגֵ֖עַ בְּמִשְׁכָּבָ֑הּ יְכַבֵּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־ הָעָֽרֶב׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וְכָל־πᾶςהַנֹּגֵ֖עַἅψηταιבְּמִשְׁכָּבָ֑הּαὐτῆςיְכַבֵּ֧סπλυνεῖבְּגָדָ֛יוαὐτοῦוְרָחַ֥ץλούσεταιבַּמַּ֖יִםὕδατιוְטָמֵ֥אκαὶעַד־ἕωςהָעָֽרֶב׃ἑσπέρας

10 of the 10 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

וכל הנגע במשׁכבה יכבס בגדיו ורחץ במים וטמא עד הערב

Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q23a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[וכל] [הנגע] [במשכב׳ה] [יכבס] [בגדי׳ו] [ורחץ] [במים] וטמא עד הערב

2 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 7 supplied entire by an editor.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 4Q26a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

[וכול] [הנגע] [במשכב׳ה] [יכבס] [בגדי׳ו] [ורחץ] [במים] [וטמא] עד הערב

2 words on the leather — 8 supplied entire by an editor.

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 15:21כֹּלand everyand everyכֹּלנָגַע[one who] t[one who] touchנָגַעמִשְׁכָּבbed herbed herמִשְׁכָּבכָּבַסhe will washe will washכָּבַסבֶּ֫גֶדgarments higarments hisבֶּ֫גֶדרָחַץand he willand he will wasרָחַץמַיwith waterwith waterמַיטָמֵאand he willand he will be טָמֵאעַדuntiluntilעַדעֶ֫רֶבthe eveningthe eveningעֶ֫רֶבכָּלַלto perfectto perfectכָּלַלשָׁכַבto lie dowto lie down: laשָׁכַבבָּגַדto act treto act treacherבָּגַדעָרַבto grow dato grow darkעָרַבעַדperpetuityperpetuityעַדרָחַץto wash: wto wash: washרָחַץבֶּ֫גֶדtreacherytreacheryבֶּ֫גֶדכָּבַסto washto washכָּבַסעֶ֫רֶבeveningeveningעֶ֫רֶבעֵדָהcongregaticongregationעֵדָהעֲבֹדָהserviceserviceעֲבֹדָהטָמֵאuncleanuncleanטָמֵאנְבֵלָהcarcasscarcassנְבֵלָהחֶ֫דֶרchamberchamberחֶ֫דֶרזָכָרmalemaleזָכָרקָרַעto tearto tearקָרַעשָׁתָהto drinkto drinkשָׁתָהמָתַיhowhowמָתַי
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 15:21

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 every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
וְכָל־ve.khol and every H3605 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
5,415× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Tyndale gloss
all
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

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)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

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

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

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)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absolute
HC/Ncmsa
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
הַנֹּגֵ֖עַha.no.Ge.a' [one who] touches H5060 Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
150× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to touch or reach something, and can also mean to strike or defeat someone. It is used in Exodus to describe God's power and in Psalms to describe human emotions. The word has various translations, including beat, bring, and plague.
Amplified meaning
comes into physical contact with
Tyndale gloss
to touch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָגַע (naga`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to touch, reach, or strike. It encompasses a range of actions from physical contact to figurative implications like arriving or acquiring. The word can also denote being stricken or defeated, particularly in battle or by disease. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, including Qal, Niph, Piel, Pual, and Hiphil, each with specific nuances.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָגַע 150 vb. touch, reach, strike

Qal

touch

of י׳ touching earth, mountains, etc.

nearly = strike, pass. stricken

touch = harm

reach, extend to

Niph. be stricken, defeated (in battle), i.e. feign to be so

Pi. strike (with leprosy, 2 acc.)

Pu. be stricken by diseases

Hiph. cause to touch; reach, approach, arrive

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5060 נָגַע touch, reach, strike .. . touch

. of י׳ touching earth, mountains, etc.

. nearly = strike, pass. stricken

. touch = harm

. reach, extend to

. be stricken, defeated (in battle), i.e. feign to be so

. strike (with leprosy, 2 acc.)

. be stricken by diseases

. cause to touch; reach, approach, arrive

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5060 naga` naw-gah'

a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon

(for any purpose; euphem., to lie with a woman); by

implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire);

violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.):--beat,

(X be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near

(nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite,

strike, touch.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָגַע (na.ga) — to touch.

1) to touch, reach, strike

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to touch

1a2) to strike

1a3) to reach, extend to

1a4) to be stricken

1a4a) stricken (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to be stricken, be defeated

1c) (Piel) to strike

1d) (Pual) to be stricken (by disease)

1e) (Hiphil) to cause to touch, reach, approach, arrive

1e1) to cause to touch, apply

1e2) to reach, extend, attain, arrive, come

1e3) to approach (of time)

1e4) to befall (of fate)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | V-Qal — Particle · verb qal participle (active) masculine singular
HTd/Vqrmsa
and every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
בְּמִשְׁכָּבָ֑הּbe.mish.ka.Vah bed her H4904 Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
46× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mishkab refers to a bed, but can also mean sleep or even a bier. It's sometimes used to describe intimate relationships, as in Genesis. This word has various meanings depending on the context.
Amplified meaning
place of rest or intimacy
Tyndale gloss
bed
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִשְׁכָּב (mishkab) refers to a place of lying down, such as a bed or couch, and can also denote the act of lying, including sexual intercourse. It is derived from the root meaning to lie down. The term encompasses both literal and figurative uses, including references to sleep and bedrooms.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִשְׁכָּב 46 n.m. place of lying, couch; act of lying

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4904 מִשְׁכָּב place of lying, couch; act of lying

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4904 mishkab mish-kawb'

from 7901; a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep;

by euphemism, carnal intercourse:--bed((-chamber)), couch,

lieth (lying) with.

see HEBREW for 07901

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִשְׁכָּב (mish.kav) — bed.

1) a lying down, couch, bier, act of lying

1a) couch, bed

1b) act of lying, lying down or sleeping room, bedroom

1c) lying down (for sexual contact)

Aramaic equivalent: mish.kav (מִשְׁכַּב "bed" H4903)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs
and every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
יְכַבֵּ֧סye.kha.Bes he will wash H3526 Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
51× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To wash means to clean something, often by trampling or stamping on it with the feet, as seen in the process of washing clothes.
Amplified meaning
cleanse or purify
Tyndale gloss
to wash
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

כָּבַס (kabac) means to wash, specifically by treading, and is associated with the work of a fuller. It can refer to both literal washing of garments or people and figurative uses. The entries note various forms, including participles and different verb stems, indicating actions like washing and being washed.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כָּבַס] 51 vb. (tread), wash

Qal highway of fuller’s (= treader’s, washer’s) field

Pi.

wash garments (i.e. by treading)

wash person

Pu. be washed, of garment

Hothp. after the plague is washed out

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3526 כָּבַס (tread), wash

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3526 kabac kaw-bas'

a primitive root; to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by

stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the

fulling process) or figurative:--fuller, wash(-ing).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּבַס (ka.vas) — Washer's.

This name means to wash (by treading)

כָּבַס (ka.vas) — to wash.

1) to wash (by treading), be washed, perform the work of a fuller

1a) (Qal) washer, fuller, treader (participle)

1b) (Piel) to wash (garments, person)

1c) (Pual) to be washed

1d) (Hothpael) to be washed out

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine singular
HVpi3ms
and every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
בְּגָדָ֛יוbe.ga.Dav garments his H899 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
217× 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 clothing or a covering, like a garment or robe. It appears in books like Genesis and Exodus, describing what people wore. The word is often translated as 'apparel' or 'raiment'.
Amplified meaning
garments or outer covering
Tyndale gloss
treachery
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בֶּ֫גֶד (beged) has meanings related to both clothing and treachery. It can refer to a garment or covering, as well as deceit or betrayal. The word is built from a root that suggests a duality in its usage, appearing in contexts that range from apparel to treacherous actions, notably in Isaiah 24:16 and Jeremiah 12:1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בֶּ֫גֶד n.[m.] treachery Is 24:16 Je 12:1.

done

בֶּ֫גֶד n.m. garment, covering

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H899a בֶּ֫גֶד treachery H899b בֶּ֫גֶד garment, covering

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

899 beged behg'-ed

from 898; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or

pillage:--apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag,

raiment, robe, X very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe.

see HEBREW for 0898

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בֶּ֫גֶד (be.ged) — treachery.

treachery, deceit

בֶּ֫גֶד (be.ged) — garment.

(CLBL) garment, clothing (used indiscriminately)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

and every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
וְרָחַ֥ץve.ra.Chatz and he will wash H7364 Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
72× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word for washing or bathing, used in Exodus 30:19 where priests had to wash their hands and feet before entering the temple. It means to clean or purify oneself, as seen in 2 Kings 5:10 where Elisha tells Naaman to wash in the Jordan River.
Amplified meaning
immerse or wash the body
Tyndale gloss
to wash: wash
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רָחַץ (rachats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to wash or bathe. It covers various forms of washing, including washing oneself and being washed. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, such as Qal, Pual, and Hithpael, which reflect actions of washing and being washed. The lexicons do not present any significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רָחַץ 72 vb. wash, wash off, away, bathe

Qal 69

trans. wash (with water)

intrans. wash, bathe (oneself)

Pu. be washed

Hithp. if I washed myself in snow

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7364 רָחַץ wash, wash off, away, bathe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7364 rachats raw-khats'

a primitive root; to lave (the whole or a part of a

thing):--bathe (self), wash (self).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רָחַץ (ra.chats) — to wash: wash.

: wash

1) to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to wash, wash off, wash away

1a2) to wash, bathe (oneself)

1b) (Pual) to be washed

1c) (Hithpael) to wash oneself

2a) (Hithpael Passive) to be regarded clean, trustworthy

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
and every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
בַּמַּ֖יִםba.Ma.yim with water H4325 Preposition · noun common masculine plural absolute
581× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Amplified meaning
the liquid essential for life
Tyndale gloss
Water (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַי (mayim) is a Hebrew word meaning 'water' and is used in the plural form. It encompasses various meanings, including literal water, urine, and metaphorical uses related to refreshment or danger. The entries indicate it is derived from a primitive noun and is primarily referenced in contexts involving water.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מַי] 580 n.m. only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4325 מַי only pl. מַ֫יִם waters, water

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4325 mayim mah'-yim

dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense);

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:--+

piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַי (ma.yim) — water.

1) water, waters

1a) water

1b) water of the feet, urine

1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

מַי (ma.yim) — Water (Gate).

This name means water, refreshment

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

wo'-ter (mayim; hudor):

(1) The Greek philosophers believed water to be the original substance and that all things were made from it. The Koran states, "From water we have made all things." In the story of the creation (Ge 1:2) water plays an elemental part.

(2) Because of the scarcity of water in Palestine it is especially appreciated by the people there. They love to go and sit by a stream of running water. Men long for a taste of the water of their native village (1Ch 11:17). A town or village is known throughout the country for the quality of its water, which is described by many adjectives, such as "light," "heavy," etc.

(3) The rainfall is the only source of supply of water for Palestine. The moisture is carried up from the sea in clouds and falls on the hills as rain or snow.…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See CISTERN and WELLS.

In Isa 35:7, the Hebrew word for "parched ground" that shall become a pool of water, is the same with the Arabic term for the mirage, a peculiar optical illusion by which travelers in hot and dry deserts think they see broad lakes and flowing waters; they seem to discern the very ripple of the waves, and the swaying of tail trees on the margin in the cool breeze; green hills and houses and city ramparts rise before the astonished sight, recede as the traveler advances, and at length melt away in the hot haze. Not so the blessings of the gospel; they are no alluring mockery, but real waters of everlasting life, Isa 55:1 Joh 4:14 Re 22:1. Compare

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Creation of Ps 148:4,5

→ Covered the whole earth Ge 1:9

→ Daily allowance of Eze 4:11

→ City waterworks 2Ki 20:20

→ Vision of, by Ezekiel Eze 47:1-5

→ Of separation Nu 19:2-22

→ Libation of 1Sa 7:6

→ Irrigation with

See IRRIGATION

→ Miraculously supplied

To the Israelites Ex 17:1,6; Nu 20:11

To Samson Jud 15:19

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- One of the elements of the world

Ge 1:2

- GOD ORIGINALLY

. Created the firmament to divide

Ge 1:6,7

. Collected into one place

Ge 1:9

. Created fowls and fishes, &c from

Ge 1:20,21

- Necessary to vegetation

Ge 2:5,6; Job 14:9; Isa 1:30

- Some plants particularly require

Job 8:11

- Necessary to the comfort and happiness of man

Isa 41:17; Zec 9:11

- COLLECTED IN

. Springs

and every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
וְטָמֵ֥אve.ta.Me' and he will be unclean H2930 Verb · Qal · 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 or 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-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqq3ms
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 every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
עַד־'ad- until H5704 Preposition
1,261× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Amplified meaning
as far as or up to
Tyndale gloss
till
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while

prep.

of space

Of time

Of degree

conj.

until

While

Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus

of space

Of time

Of degree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

. conj. . until

. While

. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)

. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space

. Of time

. Of degree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5704 `ad ad

properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or

conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,

or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,

while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,

at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),

(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,

till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.

see HEBREW for 05703

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַד (ad) — till.

prep

1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as

1a) of space

1a1) as far as, up to, even to

1b) in combination

1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)

1c) of time

1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end

1d) of degree

1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like

conj

2) until, while, to the point that, so that even

Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and every [one who] touches bed her he will wash garments his and he will wash with water and he will be unclean until the evening
הָעָֽרֶב׃ha.'A.rev the evening H6153 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
134× 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 evening or sunset, like when God created daylight and darkness in Genesis. It refers to the time of day, often marking the end of a workday. This word is used in many verses, including Exodus and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
time of sunset or day's end
Tyndale gloss
evening
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֶ֫רֶב (ereb) refers to the time of day known as evening or dusk, originally associated with sunset. It can also denote night, particularly in poetic contexts. The phrase 'between two evenings' suggests a time frame between sunset and darkness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֶ֫רֶב 131 n.[m.] (sun)set, evening

evening, orig. sunset

du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark

(late poet.) = night

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6153 עֶ֫רֶב (sun)set, evening . . evening, orig. sunset

. du. in phrase between two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark

. (late poet.) = night

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6153 `ereb eh'-reb

from 6150; dusk:--+ day, even(-ing, tide), night.

see HEBREW for 06150

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֶ֫רֶב (e.rev) — evening.

1) evening, night, sunset

1a) evening, sunset

1b) night

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Evening

The period following sunset with which the Jewish day began (Gen. 1:5; Mark 13:35). The Hebrews reckoned two evenings of each day, as appears from Ex. 16:12: 30:8; 12:6 (marg.); Lev. 23:5 (marg. R.V., “between the two evenings”). The “first evening” was that period when the sun was verging towards setting, and the “second evening” the moment of actual sunset. The word “evenings” in Jer. 5:6 should be “deserts” (marg. R.V.).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The Hebrews reckoned two evenings in each day; as in the phrase, "between the two evenings," Ex 12:6 Nu 9:3 28:4. In this interval the Passover was to be killed, and the daily evening sacrifice offered, Ex 29:39-41, Hebrew. According to the Carites, this time between the evenings is the interval from sunset to complete darkness, that is, the evening is the interval from sunset to complete darkness, that is, the evening twilight. Compare De 16:6. According to the Pharisees and the rabbins, the first evening began when the sun inclined to descend more rapidly, that is, at the ninth hour; while the second or real evening commenced at sunset. See DAY.

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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