זוֹב
a seminal or menstrual flux
Definition
The Hebrew word זוֹב (zôwb) refers to a bodily discharge, specifically a pathological or abnormal flow from the reproductive organs. In the biblical context, it primarily denotes a chronic genital discharge, which could be either a seminal emission in men (Leviticus 15:2-3) or a menstrual irregularity or prolonged flow in women (Leviticus 15:25). This condition rendered a person ritually unclean according to the Mosaic Law. The term covers both the initial condition and the ongoing state of impurity it causes.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the legal material of Leviticus 15, which details the laws of ritual purity. All ten occurrences are found in this chapter, which systematically outlines the regulations for both men and women experiencing such a discharge. The usage is highly specific and technical, describing the condition itself (Leviticus 15:3), the procedures for purification after it ceases (Leviticus 15:13-15), and the implications for objects and people the affected individual touches (Leviticus 15:26-27).
Etymology
זוֹב (zôwb) is a noun derived from the root verb זוּב (zûwb, H2100), which means 'to flow' or 'to issue forth.' This root conveys the basic sense of a liquid discharge. The noun form specifically denotes the substance or condition of that flow. Related words from this root can describe the flowing of water or other liquids, but זוֹב is specialized for this particular bodily issue.
Semantic Range
This word is central to the biblical concepts of ritual purity and holiness as outlined in the Levitical law. It highlights the distinction between the common and the holy, and the need for separation from sources of impurity to approach a holy God. Understanding זוֹב enriches the reading of the Gospels, as Jesus' healing of the woman with a chronic discharge (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48) directly confronts and overturns these purity laws, demonstrating his power to restore both physical health and social/religious standing.
In ancient Israelite culture, a זוֹב was not merely a medical issue but a serious religious and social one. It caused ritual impurity, which meant exclusion from worship at the tabernacle/temple and required quarantine from normal community life until purification was complete. This reflected a worldview where physical conditions had spiritual and communal consequences, deeply intertwining health, holiness, and social identity.
נִדָּה (niddâh, H5079) — Typically refers to regular menstrual impurity, whereas זוֹב often indicates an abnormal or prolonged flow. טָמֵא (ṭāmē', H2931) — A much broader term meaning 'unclean' or 'defiled,' describing the ritual state caused by conditions like זוֹב, not the condition itself.
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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