טָרִי
properly, dripping; hence, fresh (i.e. recently made such)
Definition
The Hebrew word טָרִי (ṭârîy) describes something that is fresh, moist, or recently produced. Its core meaning, derived from the idea of 'dripping' or being moist, refers to a state of newness before it dries out or spoils. In Judges 15:15, it describes the 'fresh' jawbone Samson used as a weapon, emphasizing its recent, undried condition. In Isaiah 1:6, the same word is translated as 'putrefying' or 'festering' sores, depicting a wound that is still fresh, open, and oozing—the opposite of a healed, dry scab. Thus, the word captures the immediate, untreated state of an object or wound.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts that highlight its semantic range. In Judges 15:15, it is used positively for a 'fresh' (i.e., not yet dried out) jawbone of a donkey, a recently available tool. In Isaiah 1:6, it is used negatively in a medical/metaphorical context for the 'fresh' or 'festering' wounds of Judah, describing open, untreated sores that have not been cleansed or bound. Both uses emphasize a raw, recent, and unprocessed condition.
Etymology
טָרִי comes from an unused Hebrew root likely meaning 'to be moist' or 'to drip.' It is related to the concept of dew (טַל, ṭal, H2919) and shares a semantic field with freshness and recent moisture. The development from 'moist' to 'fresh' or 'new' is straightforward, as something newly made or gathered often retains moisture before drying.
Semantic Range
In Isaiah 1:6, טָרִי is theologically significant as it paints a vivid picture of spiritual sickness. The 'fresh wounds' symbolize the unaddressed sin and moral corruption of Judah, which God has not cleansed or healed due to their rebellion. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the metaphor, emphasizing the immediacy, pain, and need for urgent divine intervention, contrasting with the hope of healing and forgiveness offered later in the chapter.
In an ancient Near Eastern context without modern preservation, 'freshness' was a crucial and immediate quality for food, materials, and medical conditions. A 'fresh' jawbone (Judges 15:15) was likely stronger and more pliable than a dried, brittle one. For wounds (Isaiah 1:6), a 'fresh' sore was understood as painful, vulnerable to infection, and in need of prompt care—a powerful metaphor for a nation's spiritual state.
חָדָשׁ (ḥāḏāš, H2319) — new, often referring to time or renewal (e.g., new moon). טָרִי emphasizes physical moisture/recent state. רַעֲנָן (raʿănān, H7488) — fresh, green, flourishing (like vegetation), focusing on vitality rather than recentness.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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