זוֹב (zov)

The Hebrew noun zov refers to an abnormal bodily discharge or flow. It appears ten times in the Old Testament, primarily within the legal codes of Leviticus, where it describes a condition that rendered a person ritually unclean. The term is gender-neutral in its basic definition, covering both male and female conditions, though the specific contexts often distinguish between semen-related issues and other fluxes.

Lexical sources indicate that zov covers a range of discharges, including seminal emissions and symptoms associated with venereal disease or chronic illness in men, as well as irregular menstrual or pathological bleeding in women. It is not used for normal bodily functions but rather for conditions that were viewed as disrupting the body’s natural order and requiring purification rites.

The word carries significant theological weight in its original context. By categorizing these discharges as sources of uncleanness, the Law separated ritual purity from moral guilt; a person with zov was not necessarily sinful, but they were temporarily excluded from the sanctuary until healed and cleansed. This distinction highlights the ancient Israelite focus on holiness as wholeness and order, reflecting God’s life-giving nature.