טוּחַ
to smear, especially with lime
Definition
The Hebrew verb טוּחַ (ṭûwach) primarily means 'to smear' or 'to overlay' a surface with a substance. Its most specific sense is the act of plastering or daubing walls with lime or mortar, as seen in the laws for cleansing houses from mildew (Leviticus 14:42, 14:48). It also describes overlaying or plating objects with precious metals, such as gold (1 Chronicles 29:4). In a metaphorical sense, it is used for the futile act of 'whitewashing' or covering up flaws, particularly in Ezekiel's prophecy against false prophets who 'daubed' a wall with whitewash to give a false appearance of stability (Ezekiel 13:10-12).
Biblical Usage
This verb is used 11 times in the Old Testament, primarily in two distinct contexts. The first is ritual/legal, detailing the process of plastering a house during purification from mold (Leviticus 14:42-48). The second is prophetic and metaphorical, where Ezekiel uses it to condemn the deceptive practices of false prophets who cover spiritual corruption with a superficial facade (Ezekiel 13:10-12). A single instance describes the physical overlaying of temple furnishings with gold (1 Chronicles 29:4).
Etymology
טוּחַ is a primitive root. It is related to the noun טִיחַ (ṭîach, H2901), meaning 'whitewash' or 'plaster.' Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic (ṭāḥa, 'to plaster') and Aramaic, reinforcing the core meaning of spreading a coating over a surface. The semantic range developed from the physical act of smearing to include metaphorical concepts of concealment or superficial covering.
Semantic Range
This word carries significant theological weight in its metaphorical use. In Ezekiel 13, it becomes a powerful image for spiritual deception and false peace. False prophets 'daub' the people's sins with lies, creating an unstable wall that will collapse under God's judgment. This warns against superficial religion that covers deep corruption and highlights God's demand for true repentance and integrity. Understanding this Hebrew metaphor enriches the reading of prophetic condemnation.
In ancient Israelite culture, plastering a house with lime or clay was a common construction and maintenance practice. More specifically, the lime plaster mentioned in Leviticus 14 had practical hygienic and ritual purposes in dealing with mold. The prophetic metaphor in Ezekiel 13:10-12 would have been immediately understood by an agrarian society familiar with the practice of whitewashing a wall to make a dilapidated structure look sound—a vivid picture of hypocrisy.
סָכַךְ (sākak, H5526) — to cover over, protect, or screen (more about sheltering). טָפַח (ṭāpach, H2946) — to spread out, extend (broader, not specifically smearing a coating).
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 →