אֲדַמְדָּם

אֲדַמְדָּם

reddish

Definition

The Hebrew word אֲדַמְדָּם describes a reddish or somewhat red color. It is used exclusively in the context of diagnosing skin diseases and mold in the book of Leviticus. In Leviticus 13:19, 24, 42, 43, and 49, it describes the appearance of a spot or swelling on human skin, a key diagnostic marker for the priest. In Leviticus 14:37, the same term is applied to the discoloration found on the walls of a house, indicating a fungal or mold-like plague. The word signifies a specific shade that required ritual examination and purification.

Biblical Usage

This word is used six times, all within the priestly laws of Leviticus (chapters 13-14). Its usage is highly specialized, appearing only in diagnostic contexts for ritual purity. It describes the color of suspicious marks on human skin (Leviticus 13:19, 24, 42, 43, 49) and on the walls of houses (Leviticus 14:37). The pattern shows it was a technical term for priests to identify potential impurities requiring quarantine and ritual action.

Etymology

Derived from the root אָדַם (ʼādam, H119), meaning 'to be red' or 'ruddy.' It is a reduplicated form (adamdam), intensifying or specifying the color as 'reddish' or 'somewhat red.' This root is also the source for the word for 'man' (אָדָם, ʼādām) and the name 'Edom,' connecting the concept to the color of red earth or clay.

Semantic Range

This word is central to the Levitical concepts of purity and holiness. The precise identification of a 'reddish' mark was not a medical diagnosis but a ritual one, determining whether a person or dwelling was clean or unclean before God. Understanding this term highlights how God's holiness permeated everyday life in ancient Israel, with physical signs having spiritual consequences. It points to a God concerned with the totality of life's condition. In its original setting, this term was part of a detailed priestly diagnostic system. The 'reddish' appearance was a visible, objective criterion that removed diagnosis from personal opinion and placed it under divine law. It reflects an ancient understanding where physical ailments and household infestations were viewed not just practically, but through the lens of covenant relationship and ritual status. The color indicated a potential breach in purity that required priestly intervention. אָדֹם (ʼādōm, H122) — The basic color 'red,' used more broadly (e.g., red heifer, red thread). אֲדַמְדָּם specifies a particular, often fainter, reddish hue for ritual purposes.

Word Details