תְּמוּרָה
barter, compensation
Definition
The Hebrew noun תְּמוּרָה (tᵉmûwrâh) primarily denotes the act or concept of exchange, substitution, or compensation. In legal and ritual contexts, it refers to a formal exchange, such as substituting one sacrificial animal for another, which is forbidden (Leviticus 27:10, 27:33). In a more general economic or social sense, it signifies compensation or recompense, as seen in the exchange of property in Ruth 4:7 or the idea of ill-gotten gain being given back as restitution (Job 20:18). It can also describe something of equivalent value, like wisdom being beyond any exchange (Job 28:17).
Biblical Usage
This word is used six times in the Old Testament, appearing in legal, narrative, and wisdom literature. In Leviticus, it is used in ritual law concerning vows and tithes, specifically prohibiting the exchange of dedicated animals (Leviticus 27:10, 33). In the narrative of Ruth, it describes the legal custom of exchanging a sandal to confirm a property redemption (Ruth 4:7). In the poetic books of Job, it is used metaphorically: Job 15:31 warns against trusting in emptiness or 'exchange' (i.e., worthless gain), Job 20:18 speaks of ill-gotten wealth being given back as 'recompense,' and Job 28:17 declares wisdom's value beyond any 'exchange.'
Etymology
The noun תְּמוּרָה (tᵉmûwrâh) is derived from the root מוּר (H4171), which means 'to change' or 'to exchange.' It is related to the verb הָמַר (H2015), which also carries the sense of changing or altering. This root connection firmly establishes the core meaning of substitution or alteration from one state or item to another.
Semantic Range
This word touches on themes of integrity, equivalence, and divine order. In Leviticus, the prohibition against exchanging dedicated animals underscores the seriousness of vows to God and the principle that what is consecrated is not subject to human bartering. In Job, its use highlights the supreme, non-negotiable value of wisdom and the inevitable principle of divine justice where ill-gotten gain is repaid. It reinforces that some things—like a vow to God or true wisdom—are beyond earthly equivalence or substitution.
In its cultural setting, תְּמוּרָה reflects a society where barter and direct exchange were common economic practices. The ritual prohibition in Leviticus 27:10 likely aimed to prevent people from offering a inferior substitute for a vowed animal, protecting the sanctity of worship from commercial bargaining. The act in Ruth 4:7, involving the exchange of a sandal, was a symbolic, publicly witnessed legal gesture to finalize a property transaction, a custom distinct from modern contract law.
חֲלִיפָה (chalîyphâh, H2487) — also means 'exchange' or 'change,' but can more broadly refer to a set of clothes or a course of events. כֶּפֶר (kopher, H3724) — means 'ransom' or 'price of a life,' focusing on compensation for a life rather than a general exchange of goods.
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.
Full methodology & sources →