יֶזַע
sweat, i.e. (by implication) a sweating dress
Definition
The Hebrew noun יֶזַע (yezaʻ) refers literally to 'sweat' or perspiration. In its single biblical occurrence, it is used metonymically to describe a specific type of garment—a 'sweating dress' or linen undergarment worn by priests. This garment was designed to absorb sweat, preventing it from reaching the outer holy vestments during temple service. The word captures both the physical substance and an object directly associated with it, as seen in Ezekiel 44:18.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in Ezekiel 44:18. It is used in a very specific, legal context within a vision detailing the regulations for restored temple worship. The prophet Ezekiel receives instructions that the priests must wear linen turbans and linen undergarments (מִכְנְסֵי־פִשְׁתִּים), and they must not wear anything that causes 'yezaʻ' (sweat) while ministering in the inner courts.
Etymology
יֶזַע (yezaʻ) is derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to ooze' or 'to sweat.' It is a primary noun for perspiration. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, such as Arabic (ʿaraqa) and Aramaic, with similar meanings related to sweat or moisture, confirming its core semantic field.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is mundane, its single usage carries significant theological weight in the context of priestly holiness. In Ezekiel's temple vision (Ezekiel 44:18), the prohibition against garments that cause sweat while ministering symbolizes the need for absolute ritual purity and separation from human toil or defilement in God's direct presence. Understanding this detail enriches the reading by highlighting the extreme care and reverence required for approaching the holy, prefiguring the perfect, unmediated access to God achieved through Christ.
In the ancient Near East, sweat was associated with human labor, curse (cf. Genesis 3:19), and potential ritual impurity. Linen, a plant-based fabric, was considered more ritually pure than wool, which is animal-based and can retain odors and moisture. The priestly 'sweating dress' was therefore a practical and symbolic linen undergarment, designed to contain a natural human emission and prevent it from profaning the sacred outer garments during temple service.
זֵעָה (zeʻah, H2188) — The more common biblical word for 'sweat,' used literally (e.g., Genesis 3:19, Ezekiel 44:18). יֶזַע is a rarer, possibly more formal synonym.
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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