תְּמוּרָה (te.mu.rah)
te.mu.rah
exchange
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun tumrah denotes an exchange or substitution, referring to one thing given in place of another. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears only six times, primarily within the legal and poetic sections of Leviticus, Job, and Ruth. The term captures the concrete act of swapping items, such as livestock, rather than an abstract concept of change.
Its usage highlights a specific theological boundary in Leviticus 27:33, where the law forbids exchanging a consecrated animal for another. This prohibition ensures that what is set apart for God remains distinct and cannot be diluted by a simple trade. The word implies a direct replacement, maintaining the integrity of the original offering while acknowledging the practical reality of substitution.
Outside legal codes, tumrah carries the nuance of recompense or reward. In Job 8:21, it describes the restoration of joy or blessing that replaces sorrow. Here, the exchange is not transactional but restorative, suggesting that God’s favor can substitute for suffering. This dual usage—legal substitution and personal recompense—shows how the concept bridges ritual law with lived experience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tumrah describes a direct exchange or substitution, where one item replaces another. In Leviticus, this term appears in laws concerning consecrated animals. The text forbids swapping a holy animal for another, ensuring that what is set apart for God remains distinct and cannot be diluted by a simple trade. This boundary highlights the seriousness of dedicating something to the divine.
Outside these legal codes, tumrah takes on a more personal meaning in the book of Job. It speaks of restoration, where joy or blessing replaces sorrow. Here, the exchange is not a transaction but a gift of comfort. God’s favor can substitute for suffering, offering hope when life feels heavy. This dual usage bridges ritual law with lived experience.
Understanding tumrah helps us see how Scripture values both integrity in our commitments and the restorative power of grace. Whether we are dealing with sacred duties or personal trials, the concept reminds us that God honors what is truly set apart for Him and provides comfort in our times of need.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ substitute/ its2×
- trading/ his1×
- the/ exchange1×
- recompense/ his1×
- and/ [is] exchange/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּ֝מוּרָת֗/וֹ1×
- תְמוּרָתֽ/וֹ\׃1×
- וּ/תְמוּרָת֛/וֹ1×
- וּ/תְמוּרָת֖/וֹ1×
- וּ/תְמ֖וּרָתָ֣/הּ1×
- הַ/תְּמוּרָה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 27:10
He shall not alter it, nor exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good. If he shall at all exchange animal for animal, then both it and that for which it is exchanged shall be holy.
This verse establishes the legal boundary that consecrated animals cannot be swapped, ensuring the holiness of the original offering remains intact.
-
Leviticus 27:33
He shall not examine whether it is good or bad, neither shall he exchange it. If he exchanges it at all, then both it and that for which it is exchanged shall be holy. It shall not be redeemed.’”
The prohibition here prevents any examination or exchange of the animal, reinforcing that what is holy must not be treated as ordinary property.
-
Job 28:17
Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
In this poetic context, tumrah illustrates that wisdom cannot be traded for material wealth, highlighting its supreme value over gold or jewels.