טָמָה (ta.mah)
ta.mah
to defile
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tāmâ appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 18:3, where Bildad uses it to describe his friends’ mental state. In this Niphal form, it literally means "to be stopped up" or blocked. The image suggests that their understanding is clogged by anger or pride, preventing clarity of thought.
This rare usage connects physical obstruction with intellectual confusion. Rather than ritual impurity, the word points to a mind that cannot process truth because it is jammed shut. Translators often render this as "stupid" or "foolish," capturing the result of being blocked from seeing reality clearly.
The theological weight lies in its specificity. It does not describe general ignorance but a willful obstruction of insight. Bildad accuses his friends of having their minds sealed off, unable to receive correction. This single occurrence highlights how sin can act as a barrier to wisdom, not just morality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tāmâ appears only once in Scripture, found in Job 18:3. Bildad uses it to describe a mind that is blocked or clogged. This image suggests that anger or pride can seal off our understanding, making it difficult to process truth clearly. It is not about general ignorance but a specific obstruction caused by emotional turmoil.
When we feel stuck in conflict, our ability to see reality may become clouded. This rare verb reminds us that sin often acts as a barrier to wisdom. By acknowledging this blockage, we can seek clarity and open ourselves to correction. It invites us to examine what might be clogging our spiritual insight.
May you find peace in recognizing these moments of confusion. Let this word encourage you to pursue understanding with humility and grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- are we considered stupid?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִ֝טְמִ֗ינוּ1×
Key Verses
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Job 18:3
Why are we counted as animals, which have become unclean in your sight?
Bildad uses this rare Niphal form to accuse his friends that their minds are clogged by anger, preventing them from seeing reality clearly.