טוּחַ (tu.ach)
tu.ach
to overspread; to be smeared
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tuach describes the physical act of spreading a substance over a surface, such as plastering, coating, or smearing. It appears in five verses across the Old Testament, with significant usage in Leviticus and Isaiah. In these contexts, the word captures the tangible process of covering something to protect it or prepare it for use.
In Leviticus 6:14, the text specifies that grain offerings made by priests must be baked in a pan and then "coated" with oil before being presented. This usage highlights the careful preparation involved in ritual worship, where the material state of the offering matters. Similarly, Isaiah 28:22 uses the imagery of a decree being "poured out" or spread over people, metaphorically extending the idea of a covering to describe an overwhelming judgment that leaves no room for escape.
The word’s root conveys a sense of complete coverage, whether literal or figurative. It does not imply a thin layer but rather a substantial application that changes the surface’s nature. Translators often render it as "plaster," "coat," or "besmear" depending on the context, ensuring the physical reality of the action remains clear to the reader.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tuach describes the simple, physical act of spreading a substance over a surface. In the Old Testament, it often refers to plastering a house or coating an offering with oil. This was not just maintenance; it was a deliberate act of preparation and protection. When a home was plastered, it sealed cracks and restored integrity. When an offering was coated, it honored God with care.
For your faith, this word reminds us that God pays attention to the details of our lives. Just as a house needed its walls smoothed and sealed to be safe and clean, we too are being prepared by God. He works in the ordinary moments of repair and restoration. His grace covers our flaws, not to hide them, but to make us whole and usable for His purposes.
Even when judgment is described as a heavy covering, it points to the seriousness of sin. Yet, the primary image is one of restoration. God invites us to trust Him in the process of being made new. He sees the cracks and offers the plaster of His mercy, turning broken places into foundations of peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- was plastered2×
- to/ overlay1×
- it is besmeared1×
- and/ he will plaster1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לָ/ט֖וּחַ1×
- טַ֤ח1×
- וְ/טָ֥ח1×
- הִטּֽוֹחַ\׃1×
- הִטֹּ֣חַ1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 14:42
They shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house.
This verse shows the literal use of tuach for plastering a house, highlighting the tangible effort required to restore a dwelling after a plague.
-
Leviticus 14:48
“If the priest shall come in, and examine it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the house, after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.
Here, the completed act of plastering leads to the priest pronouncing the house clean, linking the physical covering to spiritual restoration and healing.
-
I Chronicles 29:4
even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses;
David mentions using refined silver to overlay walls, illustrating how tuach can describe a precious coating that honors God in building His house.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word tuach mean?
Where does tuach appear in the Bible?
How is tuach different from other words for covering?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 3 books)
Leviticus 3 verses
They shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall…
Leviticus 14:43“If the plague comes again, and breaks out in the house after he has taken out the stones, and after he has scraped the…
Leviticus 14:48“If the priest shall come in, and examine it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the house, after the house was…