Purifying and Cleansing

† טָהֵר vb. be clean, pure (Arabic طَهَرَ, طَهُرَ id.; NH id., Pi. make or declare ceremonially clean; Aramaic טְהַר emptiness, טִיהֲרָא brightness; Sab. טהר Hal 682; Ethiopic አጥሀረ, ተጣሀረ purify, wash oneself with water)— Qal Pf. ט׳ Lv 11:32 + 12 times; 3 fs. טָֽהֲרָה Lv 12:7; 15:28; טָהֵ֑רָה Lv 12:8 etc., + 5 times Pf.; Impf. יִטְהַר Lv 15:13 Jb 4:17 etc., + 9 times Impf.; Imv. טְהָ֑ר 2 K 5:10, 13;— 1. be clean, i.e. (miraculously) freed from leprosy by washing in the Jordan 2 K 5:10, 12, 13, 14. 2. be clean ceremonially (only H P), Lv 15:13, 28(×2) (P), 22:4 (H); by washing with water, the flesh Lv 22:7 (H); garments Lv 13:6, 34, 58 Nu 31:24 (all P); both flesh and garments Lv 17:5 (H), 14:8, 9; 15:13 Nu 19:19 (all P); other articles Lv 11:32 (P); passing things through the fire Nu 31:23 (P); offering sin-offerings Lv 12:7, 8; 14:20 (P); by the ceremony of the two birds Lv 14:53 (P); by ashes of red heifer Nu 19:12(×2) (P). 3. be clean morally, of people, made clean by י׳’s scattering clean water upon them Ez 36:25; of Jerus., specif. made clean from idolatry, under fig. of adultery Je 13:27; also sq. מִן Ez 24:13(×2) (purification by י׳); made clean מִכָּל־חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם Lv 16:30 (P; by the sin-offering of the atonement day); also of the individual, be clean מֵחַטָּאוֹת Pr 20:9 (‖ זכה); become clean by use of hyssop ψ 51:9 (‖ אַלְבִּין); more generally אִם־מֵעֹשֵׂהוּ יִטְהַר־גָּ֑בֶר Jb 4:17 shall a man be more pure than his maker? (‖ יִצְדָּ֑ק). Pi. Pf. טִהַר Lv 13:3 + 4 times; sf. טִהֲרוֹ Lv 13:6 + 5 times; 2 ms. טִהַרְתָּ Nu 8:6, 15 etc. + 7 times Pf.; Impf. יְטַהֵר 2 Ch 34:5 etc. + 4 times Impf.; Imv. sf. טַהֲרֵנִי ψ 51:4; Inf. cstr. טַהֵר Ez 39:12 + 5 times; sf. טַהֲרִי Ez 36:33 etc. + 4 times Inf.; Pt. מְטַחֵר Lv 14:11 Mal 3:3;—chiefly P; 1. cleanse, purify: a. physically, metals from dross Mal 3:3; land from corpses Ez 39:12, 14, 16; heavens from clouds Jb 37:21; temple from unclean things 2 Ch 29:15, 16, 18; land and city from Asherim and images 2 Ch 34:3, 5, 8; store-chambers of temple from household stuff Ne 13:9; priesthood by exclusion of alien blood Ne 13:30. b. ceremonially, the altar of incense by the blood of the annual sin-offering Lv 16:19 (P); the people, gates, and wall (by some undefined ceremony) Ne 12:30; the altar of the court by the blood of sin-offerings Ez 43:26; of consecration of Levites by מֵי חטאת Nu 8:6, 7 (P), and חטאת Nu 8:15, 21 (P). c. morally Lv 16:30 (P), Ez 37:23 Mal 3:3; מֵחַטָּאֹת ψ 51:4; מֵעונ(ות) Je 33:8 Ez 36:33; מִטּמא(ו)ת Ez 24:13; 36:25. 2. pronounce clean, ceremonially Lv 13:6, 13, 17, 23, 28, 34, 37, 59; 14:7, 48 (all P). 3. perform the ceremony of cleansing Lv 14:11 (P). Pu. Pf. 3 ms. טֹהַר 1 S 20:26 (so read for MT טהור 𝔊 We Dr, he is not clean, because he hath not been cleansed); Pt. אֶרֶץ לֹא מְטֹהָרָה a land not cleansed Ez 22:24 (but 𝔊 Hi Ew Co SS read a land not rained upon, v. מטר). Hithp. Pf. 3 pl. הִטָּֽהֲרוּ Ezr 6:20; הִטֶּהָ֑רוּ (Köi 271) 2 Ch 30:18; Nu 8:7; 1 pl. הִטַּהַרְנוּ Jos 22:17; Impf. יִטָּֽהֲרוּ Ne 12:30; Imv. הִטָּֽהֲרוּ Gn 35:2; Pt. מִטַּהֵר Lv 14:7 + 11 times; pl. מִטַּהֲרִים Ne 13:22 Is 66:17;—reflexive: 1. purify oneself: a. ceremonially, especially in preparation for sacred duties Gn 35:2 (R), Nu 8:7 2 Ch 30:18 Ezr 6:20 Ne 13:22; also for heathen mysteries Is 66:17; of purifying priests, people, and wall Ne 12:30 (cf. Pi. 1 b). b. morally Jos 22:17 (P). 2. present oneself for purification, only pt. הַמִּטַּהֵר the candidate for purificaion Lv 14:4, 7, 8, 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 28, 29, 31 (P).

† [נָקָה] vb. be empty (?), clean (Ecclus 16:11b Niph. Impf. ינקה be unpunished, so 40:15; 31:5 = Pr 28:20; NH Pi. = BH; Aramaic נְקָא Pa. = BH, adj. נְקֵא clean; Ph. נקי adj. pure; Palm. נקא be clean (perhaps) in n.pr. SachauZMG xxxv (1881), 735 Lzb325; Assyrian nâḳû, pour out, pour libation, make offering, nikû, libation, offering; Old Aramaic נקיה perhaps = נוּקָיָה libation (Lzb326), cf. Syriac ܢܽܘܩܳܝܳܐ Cook83; Syriac ܢܰܩܺܝ Pa. pour out, make a libation; 𝔗 נְקָא Pa. = cleanse (with lye) Is 1:25; adj. נְקֵא clean of bread or fruit Gn 40:16 𝔗J i, Dt 6:3 𝔗J ii, = exempt (BH נָקִי) 1 K 15:22. on the other hand, Arabic نَقِىَ purus, mundus fuit Kam. Frey; ii. cleanse, etc., Lane3037.—Orig. meaning prob. empty out, hence pour and be empty, clean);— Qal Inf. abs. נָקֹה Je 49:12 (נָקֹה תִּנָּקֶה, prob. error for הנקה ת׳, cf. Je 25:29). Niph. Pf. 3 ms. נִקָּה Zc 5:3 + 5 times; f. נִקְּתָה Nu 5:28; נִקָּ֑תָה Is 3:26; 2 ms. נִקֵּיתָ Gn 24:8; 1 s. נִקֵּיתִי Ju 15:3 + 2 times; Impf. יִנָּקֶה Pr 6:29 + 6 times; 2 ms. תִּנָּקֶה Gn 24:41 + 2 times; pl. תִּנָּקוּ Je 25:29(×2); Imv. הִנָּקִי Nu 5:19; Inf. הִנָּקֵה Je 25:29;— 1. be cleaned out, of a plundered city Is 3:26; purged out, of liars and perjurers Zc 5:3(×2). 2. be clean, free from guilt, innocent, Je 2:35 c. מִן, מִפֶּשַׁע ψ 19:14; מֵעָוֹן Nu 5:31 (P); מִפְּלִשְׁתִּים from (at the hands of) the Philistines Ju 15:3. 3. be free, exempt from punishment, abs. Ex 21:19 (E) Nu 5:28 (P) 1 S 26:9; לֹא יִנָּקֶה Pr 6:29; 11:21; 16:5; 17:5; 19:5, 9; 28:20; Je 25:29(×3) 49:12b, נָקֹה תִּנָּקֶה v 12a. 4. free, exempt from obligation, c. מִן, from oaths Gn 24:8, 41 (J); מִמֵּי הַמָּרִים from effects of drinking the bitter water Nu 5:19 (P). Piel Pf. 1 s. נִקֵּיתִי Jo 4:21 (𝔊 𝔖 נִקַּמְתִּי; so Now SS Buhl); Impf. 3 ms. יְנַקֶּה Ex 20:7 + 2 times; יְנַקֵּ֑ה Nu 14:18 Na 1:3; 2 ms. sf. תְּנַקֵּנִי Jb 9:28; 10:14; תְּנַקֵּהוּ 1 K 2:9; 1 s. sf. אֲנַקֶּ֑ךָּ Je 30:11; 46:28; Imv. sf. נַקֵּנִי ψ 19:13; Inf. abs. נַקֵּה Ex 34:7 + 4 times;— 1. hold innocent, acquit, Jb 9:28; מֵעֲוֹנִי Jb 10:14; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת ψ 19:13. 2. leave unpunished: of man, c. acc. 1 K 2:9; elsewhere of God: abs. נַקֵּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה Ex 34:7(×2) = Nu 14:18(×2) (all J) = Na 1:3(×2); c. acc. לֹא יְנַקֶּה Ex 20:7 = Dt 5:11; נַקֵּה לֹא אֲנַקֶּךָּ Je 30:11(×2) = 46:28(×2), cf. Jo 4:21(×2) (but v. supr.).

† I. מָחָה vb. wipe, wipe out (NH id.; Arabic مَحَا, efface, erase, cancel, obliterate; Aramaic מְחָא (i), cf. Ph. למחת according to stroke = exactly HoffmPh. Inschr., Abh. GGW. xxxvi. May 1889, 9).— Qal Pf. 3 ms. מָחָה Nu 5:23 + 3 times 3 fs. מָֽחֲתָה Pr 30:20 + 4 times Pf.; Impf. יִמְחֶה 2 K 21:13; וַיִּמַח (Baer; var. וַיִּמַּח) Gn 7:23; 1 s. sf. אֶמְחֶנּוּ Ex 32:33; + 4 times Impf.; Imv. מְחֵה ψ 51:3, 11; sf. מְחֵנִי Ex 32:32; Inf. abs. מָחֹה Ex 17:14; cstr. לִמְחוֹת 2 K 14:27; Pt. מֹחֶה Is 43:25; fpl. (לְ)מֹחוֹת Pr 31:3 (Ges Fl Nö De Str for MT לַמְחוֹת);— 1. wipe, the mouth Pr 30:20; tears from (מעל) the face Is 25:8; written curse, into the water (אל־מים) for drinking Nu 5:23 (P); Moses’ name from the book (מספר) of God Ex 32:32, 33 (J); וּמָחִיתִי אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַם כַּאֲשֶׁר יִמְחֶה אֶת־הַצַּלַּחַת מָחָה וְהָפַךְ עַל־פָּנֶיהָ 2 K 21:13 and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipeth a dish,—he doth wipe and turn it (but read prob. מָחֹה וְהָפֹךְ) upside down. 2. blot out = obliterate from the memory, מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם from under heaven e.g. the name Dt 9:14; 29:19 2 K 14:27; the remembrance Ex 17:14(×2) (J), Dt 25:19; the name for ever ψ 9:6; transgressions (פשׁע; no more remembered by God against sinner) ψ 51:3 Is 43:25; 44:22; עָון ψ 51:11. 3. blot out = exterminate, כל־היקום all existing things Gn 7:23 (J) and mankind, מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה Gn 6:7; 7:4 (J); מֹחוֹת מְלָכִין Pr 31:3 (with the text-change, v. supr.) = destroyers of kings (i.e. impure women), but expression strange and dubious. Niph. Pf. 3 mpl. נִמְחוּ Ez 6:6; Impf. יִמָּחֶה Dt 25:6 Ju 21:17; יִמַּח ψ 109:13; 3 fs. תִּמָּ֑ח ψ 109:14; + 4 times Impf.;— 4. be wiped out מִסֵּפֶר חַיִּים ψ 69:29. 5. be blotted out, מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל of a name Dt 25:6, a tribe Ju 21:17; name (‖ posterity) ψ 109:13; from memory, of sins Ne 3:37 ψ 109:14; reproach, Pr 6:33. 6. be exterminated, מִן־הָאָרֶץ Gn 7:23 (J); of idolatrous works of Israel Ez 6:6. Hiph. . Impf. 2 ms. תֶּ֫מַח Ne 13:14; תֶּ֑מְחִי Je 18:23 (but tone suggests תֶּ֫מַח cf. Ges§ 75. R. 17; Gie reads Qal and doubts Hiph. altogether); Inf. לַמְחוֹת Pr 31:3 (= לְהַמְחוֹת but see Qal 3);—blot out, from the memory; pious acts Ne 13:14; sins Je 18:23.

† צָרַף vb. smelt, refine, test (NH id.; Ph. מצרף smelter: Assyrian ṣurrupu, refined, ṣarpu, silver, naṣraptu, crucible; Arabic صِرْفٌ is pure, unmixed (especially of wine);* very doubtful is Sab. צדף silver, money, cf. MordtmHim. Inschr. pp. 14, 29 CIS iv, No. 291, l. 1);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. צ׳ Je 6:29, sf. צְרָפָ֑תְהוּ ψ 105:19; 2 ms. sf. צְרַפְתָּנִי ψ 17:3, etc.; Impf. 1 s. אֶצְרֹף Is 1:25, sf. אֶצְרְפֶנּוּ Ju 7:4; Imv. ms. צרופה ψ 26:2 Kt, צָרְפָה Qr; Inf. abs. צָרוֹף Je 6:29; cstr. לִצְרוֹף Dn 11:35, etc.; Pt. act. sf. צוֹרְפָם Je 9:6, etc.; pass. צָרוּף ψ 12:7, etc.;— 1. smelt, refine: Je 6:29(×2) in vain hath he smelted continually (inf. abs.; fig. of purifying people); so smelt away Is 1:25 (acc. of dross; fig.); of silver Zc 13:9 ψ 66:10, כֶּסֶף צָרוּף בַּעֲלִיל 12:7 (all sim.); of אִמְרַת י׳ ψ 18:31 = 2 S 22:31, ψ 119:140 Pr 30:5 (אִמְרַת אֱלוֹהַּ); refine (men, by trials) Dn 11:35 (+ לְבָרֵר, לַלְבֵּן). 2. test Ju 7:4 I will test them (the warriors) for thee (י׳ subj.);—perhaps also v 3 (v. I. צפר); more gen., of י׳’s testing, trying (the hearts of) men (often ‖ בָּחַן) Je 9:6; Is 48:10; Zc 13:9 ψ 17:3; 26:2; 66:10. 3. test (& prove true) a man (subj. י׳’s saying) ψ 105:19. 4. Pt. act. as n. smelter, refiner, hence = goldsmith Ju 17:4; Je 10:9, 14; 51:17; Is 40:19(×2) (but perhaps del. vb, cf. Du Che Marti), 41:7; 46:6 Pr 25:4; as a guild Ne 3:8, 32. Niph. Impf. 3 mpl. יִצָּֽרְפוּ Dn 12:10 many shall be refined (by suffering; + יִתְבָּֽרְרוּ, יִתְלַבְּנוּ). Pi. Pt. מְצָרֵף as n. a refiner, כְּאֵשׁ מ׳ Mal 3:2 (sim. of י׳), cf. מְ׳ alone v 3 (+ מְטַהֵר כֶּסֶף).

κᾰθαρ-ίζω, future -ιῶNT:—cleanse, θυσιαστήριον LXX+NT; sift grain, Refs 3rd c.AD+; prune away, περισσὰ βλαστήματα Refs 1st c.AD+; clear ground of weeds, etc., Refs 4th c.AD+; keep a precinct clear, ἀπό τινων Refs 1st c.BC+ —in middle, future -ιοῦμαι, of the menses, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II of persons, purify, ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας LXX+NT; cleanse from leprosy, NTpassive, -ιζέστω ἀπὸ γυναικός κτλ. Refs

† [טוּחַ] vb. over-spread, over-lay, coat, besmear (NH id.; Aramaic id.; cf. Arabic طَاخَ re foeda contaminatus fuit, or contaminavit; مُطَيَّخٌ camel smeared with tar);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. וְטָח consec. Lv 14:42 (on טַח Is 44:18 v. טחח); 3 pl. טָחוּ Ez 22:28; טַחְתֶּם Ez 13:12, 14; Inf. cstr. לָטוּחַ 1 Ch 29:4; Pt. pl. טָחִים Ez 13:10 + 2 times; cstr. טָחֵי Ez 13:11; only P Ez Ch;—over-spread, coat (c. acc. of house) with earth (clay, עָפָר) Lv 14:42; over-lay (walls with gold and silver) c. acc. of wall 1 Ch 29:4; metaph. of coating over Jerusalem, under fig. of a wall, with a superficial coating, to hide its real weakness Ez 13:15 (acc. of wall), v 12 c. acc. of coating (טִיחַ); with תָּפֵל (q.v.) v 11; c. 2 acc. v 10, 14, 15; cf. וּנְבִיאֶיהָ טָחוּ להם תָּפֵל Ez 22:28 where sf. ref. to oppressive nobles, i.e. the prophets ‘whitewash’ for them (their evil deeds). Niph. Inf. cstr. הִטּוֹחַ be coated (with עפר) Lv 14:43; and, fully, הִטֹּחַ את־הבית 14:48 (both P).

ἁγνίζω, future ῐῶ (ἀφ-) LXX: perfect ἥγνικαNT: (ἁγνός): —wash off, cleanse away, especially by water (τὸ πῦρ καθαίρει.. τὸ ὕδωρ ἁγνίζειRefs 5th c.BC+ __2 cleanse, purify, χέρας σὰς ἁγνίσας μιάσματοςLXX+5th c.BC+:—middle, purify oneself,LXX+1st c.AD+:—passive, ἁγνίσθητιLXX+NT __3 especially ἁ. τὸν θανόντα purify the dead by fire, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, σώμαθ᾽ ἡγνίσθη πυρίRefs 5th c.BC+ __4 sacrifice, Refs 5th c.BC+ __5 hallow, consecrate, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __6 burn up, consume, Refs 5th c.BC+

ἐκ-κᾰθαίρω, Ionic dialectaorist I-εκάθηρα Refs 5th c.BC+, Attic dialect -εκάθᾱραRefs 4th c.BC+:— cleanse out: __1 with accusative of the thing cleansed, clear out, οὐρούς τ᾽ ἐξεκάθαιρον Refs 8th c.BC+; τὴν κοιλίην Hdt.[same place]; μήτρας, ὀδόντας, Refs 5th c.BC+; χθόνα ἐκκαθαίρει κνωδάλων he clears this land of monsters, Refs 4th c.BC+; τὸν βίον (i.e.the world) Refs 2nd c.AD+; ἐ.τινά, ὥσπερ ἀνδριάντα, εἰς τὴν κρίσιν clear him of all roughness, polish him up, metaphorically from the finishing touches of a sculptor, NT+5th c.BC+; ἐ.λογισμόν clear off an account, Refs 1st c.AD+:—passive, to be cleansed, purified, ἐκκεκαθαρμένοι τὰς ψυχάς Refs 5th c.BC+; to be cleared up, explained, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 with accusative of the thing removed, clear away, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὴν δωροδοκίαν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως Din.[same place]; κόπρον Refs

† I. בֹּר n.m. lye, potash, alkali used in smelting metals Is 1:25; Jb 9:30 (see בֹּרִית. Is 1:25 read prob. כַּכֻּר as in a furnace (Is 48:10); there seems no evidence that ‘lye’ (i.e. water mixed with the burnt ashes of plants containing potash, used formerly for washing) was ever used in refining gold or silver: cf. J. NapierAnc. Workers in Metal (1856), 15, 20, 25 WAW in SmithDB ii, 368; Amer. Rev. Ed. (1871, vol. iii), 1939.

† מַצְרֵף n.[m.] crucible (proposes place or instrument of refining); מ׳ לַכֶּסֶף וְכוּר לַזָּהָב Pr 17:3; 27:21.

κᾰθαίρω, future κᾰθᾰρῶ Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist 1 ἐκάθηρα Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐκάθᾱρα is found in codices of Refs 5th c.BC+, and commonly in later Gr., Refs 4th c.BC+; see below middle: perfect κεκάθαρκα (ἐκ-) Refs 5th c.BC+:— middle, future καθαροῦμαι Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐκαθηράμην Refs 5th c.BC+; later ἐκαθᾱράμην Refs 4th c.BC+: passive, future καθαρθήσομαι Refs 2nd c.AD+: aorist ἐκαθάρθην Refs 5th c.BC+ is falsa lectio in Refs 2nd c.AD+: perfect κεκάθαρμαι Refs 5th c.BC+: (καθαρός): __I cleanse, of things, καθήρατε δὲ κρητῆρας Refs 8th c.BC+ [prev. cited]; of wounds, Refs 5th c.BC+; γῆν clear of weeds,Refs 3rd c.BC+, etc.; χρυσόν purify, refine, Refs 5th c.BC+: metaphorically, purge, clear a land of monsters and robbers, Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, τὴν νηδὺν ἀνασχισθεῖσαν καὶ καθαρθεῖσαν Refs 5th c.BC+ __I.2 in religious sense, purify, [δέπας] ἐκάθηρε θεείῳ by fumigating with sulphur, Refs 8th c.BC+; κ. τινὰ φόνου purify him from blood, Refs 5th c.BC+; Δῆλον κ. Refs 5th c.BC+; στόλον κ., Latin classem lustrare, Refs 1st c.BC+:— middle, purify oneself, get purified, Refs 5th c.BC+; καθήρασθαι στόμα keep one's tongue pure, Refs 4th c.BC+:—passive, κεκαθαρμένος καὶ τετελεσμένος Refs 5th c.BC+ __I.3 in Medicine texts, purge, evacuate, either by purgatives or emetics, κ. κάτω ἢ ἄνω Refs 5th c.BC+:—middle, κατὰ κύστιν ἐκαθήρατο Refs 5th c.BC+ —passive Refs, etc.; also of menstruation, Refs; of the after-birth, τὰ λοχεῖα κ. Refs; καθαίρων, ὁ, name for ἶρις, Ps.-Refs 1st c.AD+ __I.4 prune a tree,i.e.clear it of superfluous wood, NT __I.5 sift, winnow grain, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __I.6 metaphorically, ={μαστιγόω}, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __II of the thing removed by purification, purge away, wash off, λύματα πάντα κάθηρεν Refs 8th c.BC+; clear away, τὰ λῃστικά Refs 4th c.BC+; also perhaps, clear up, explain an action, τὴν σύστασιν Refs 4th c.BC+ __III with double accusative, αἷμα κάθηρον.. Σαρπηδόνα cleanse him of blood, wash the blood off him, Refs 8th c.BC+ —passive, καθαίρομαι γῆρας I am purged of old age, Refs 5th c.BC+

† [מָרוּק] (Köii. 138) n.[m.] a scraping, rubbing;—only pl. sf. יְמֵי מְרוּקֵיהֶן Est 2:12 lit. the days of their (bodily) rubbings, i.e. the year’s preparation of girls for the harem.

† צֹרְפִי n.[m.] coll. goldsmiths;—only בֶּן־הַצּ׳ Ne 3:31 i.e. belonging to the goldsmiths, a member of their guild.