טְהוֹר (te.hor)
te.hor
pureness
H:N-M / H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M / H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ṭehor describes a state of being clean or pure. It applies to physical cleanliness, such as the ceremonial status of animals, and extends to moral integrity. This term captures both external purity and internal ethical soundness.
In Scripture, it appears in Habakkuk 1:13, where God is described as too pure to look on evil. Here, ṭehor emphasizes divine holiness that cannot tolerate sin. The word underscores a fundamental distinction between what is clean and what is defiled.
Its usage spans ritual law and ethical teaching. In Levitical texts, it distinguishes acceptable offerings from unclean ones. Prophetic literature often pairs it with justice, linking purity with righteous living. Translators render it variously as "pure," "clean," or "righteous" depending on context.
This term reflects a holistic view of purity in ancient Israelite thought. Physical cleanliness symbolized spiritual wholeness. Moral purity required both correct actions and right intentions. The concept remains central to understanding biblical standards of holiness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ṭehor describes a state of being clean or pure. It applies to physical cleanliness, such as the ceremonial status of animals, and extends to moral integrity. This term captures both external purity and internal ethical soundness.
In Habakkuk 1:13, God is described as too pure to look on evil. Here, ṭehor emphasizes divine holiness that cannot tolerate sin. The word underscores a fundamental distinction between what is clean and what is defiled.
Its usage spans ritual law and ethical teaching. In Levitical texts, it distinguishes acceptable offerings from unclean ones. Prophetic literature often pairs it with justice, linking purity with righteous living. Translators render it variously as "pure," "clean," or "righteous" depending on context.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [you are too] pure of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- טְה֤וֹר1×
Key Verses
-
Habakkuk 1:13
You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,
This verse uses the word to describe God's nature, emphasizing that His holiness cannot tolerate sin.