Word Studies¶

From Word Studies Library¶

Core Defilement Vocabulary¶

tame (verb) — H2930¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H2930-tame.md

Word: טָמֵא (tame), primitive root verb
Occurrences: 142 unique verses (194 tokens) across 13 books
Definition: To be foul, especially in a ceremonial or moral sense; defile (self), pollute (self), be/make/pronounce unclean
Stem Distribution:
Qal (72) — be/become unclean (involuntary state change)
Piel (43) — defile, make unclean, pronounce unclean (causative/declarative)
Niphal (16) — be defiled (passive)
Hithpael (12) — defile oneself (reflexive — voluntary self-contamination)
Hotpael (1) — be made unclean (Deut 24:4 only)
Pual (1) — be defiled (Ezek 4:14 only)
Distribution: Leviticus 71 (50%), Ezekiel 28 (20%), Numbers 21
LXX: μιαίνω G3392 (86x, primary verb), ἀκάθαρτος G169 (53x, adjective)
Semantic categories: (1) Ritual impurity from contact, (2) Bodily discharges/skin conditions, (3) Priestly declaration (Piel), (4) Sexual defilement, (5) Idolatry/self-defilement (Hithpael), (6) Defilement of sacred space/land, (7) Josiah's deliberate desecration (Piel)
Key insight: Stem distribution maps directly onto the ritual/moral distinction: Qal = involuntary, Piel = causative/declarative, Hithpael = deliberate self-defilement (almost exclusively idolatry in Ezekiel)

tame (adjective) — H2931¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H2931-tame.md

Word: טָמֵא (tame), adjective
Occurrences: 78 unique verses across 15 books
Definition: Foul in a religious sense — defiled, infamous, polluted, unclean
Distribution: Leviticus 38 (49%), Numbers 11, Deuteronomy 8
LXX: ἀκάθαρτος G169 (69x, primary), ἀκαθαρσία G167 (8x)
Semantic categories: (1) Unclean animals, (2) Disease/leprosy, (3) Contact with death, (4) Bodily discharges, (5) The clean/unclean binary (Lev 10:10; 11:47; Ezek 44:23), (6) Moral/spiritual uncleanness (prophetic extension), (7) Unclean land
Key collocations: tahor H2889 (13x — the governing binary), kohen H3548 (10x — priest pronouncing), naga H5060 (14x — contact transmission)

tumah (noun) — H2932¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H2932-tumah.md

Word: טֻמְאָה (tumah), feminine noun
Occurrences: 31 unique verses (36 tokens) across 9 books
Definition: Religious impurity: filthiness, unclean(-ness)
Translation: "uncleanness" (77%), "filthiness" (19%), "unclean" (6%)
Distribution: Leviticus 14 (45%), Ezekiel 7 (23%)
LXX: ἀκαθαρσία G167 (26x, PMI 28.97 — near-exclusive rendering)
Semantic categories: (1) Bodily discharge impurity, (2) Contact/contagion, (3) Sanctuary pollution requiring DOA, (4) Nazirite/dietary separation, (5) National/moral uncleanness (prophetic), (6) Land pollution, (7) Persistent moral corruption
Key verses: Lev 16:16 (DOA addresses tumot), Lev 15:31 (ambient defilement clause), Lev 16:19 (cleanse altar from tumah)
Key collocations: kol H3605 "all" (14x, 45%), taher H2891 (5x — antonymic action), karath H3772 "cut off" (5x — penalty)

Core Cleanness Vocabulary¶

tahor (adjective) — H2889¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H2889-tahowr.md

Word: טָהוֹר (tahor), adjective
Occurrences: 86 unique verses across 17 books
Definition: Pure (physical, chemical, ceremonial, or moral sense): clean, fair, pure(-ness)
Translation: "pure" (44%), "clean" (36%)
Distribution: Exodus 28 (tabernacle "pure gold"), Leviticus 20
LXX: καθαρός G2513 (65x, PMI 7.06 — primary)
Semantic categories: (1) Pure gold/material purity, (2) Ceremonially clean persons, (3) Clean animals, (4) Skin disease verdicts, (5) Moral/inner purity, (6) Sacred distinction (Lev 10:10), (7) Pure worship
Antonym: tame H2931 (13x contrastive pair)

taher (verb) — H2891¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H2891-taher.md

Word: טָהֵר (taher), verb
Occurrences: 94 across 80 unique verses
Definition: To be bright; to be pure, clean; to cleanse, purify, pronounce clean
Stem Distribution:
Piel (37) — declare/pronounce clean; actively cleanse
Qal (34) — be clean (stative)
Hithpael (18) — cleanse oneself, purify oneself
Pual (1) — be cleansed
Distribution: Leviticus 53 (46%), Ezekiel 15
LXX: καθαρίζω G2511 (61x, primary)
Key pairing: kaphar H3722 (12x — "make atonement... and he shall be clean")
Key insight for DOA: Lev 16:30 uses kaphar + taher — atonement produces cleansing. This is the tahor step in the tame→tahor→tsadaq progression. salach (forgiveness) belongs to daily; taher (cleansing) belongs to annual.

WG-cleansing¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/WG-cleansing.md Referenced for the clean/unclean vocabulary cluster spanning both testaments.

Two-Axis Framework Vocabulary¶

qodesh (noun) — H6944¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H6944-qodesh.md

Word: קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh), masculine noun
Occurrences: 452 in OT across 31 books
Definition: Sacred place or thing; sanctity. "Holy, holiness, sanctuary, most holy"
Distribution: Leviticus 84, Exodus 70, Numbers 58, Ezekiel 51
LXX: ἅγιος G40 (346x, ~77% — overwhelming dominance)
Semantic categories: Sacred quality, sacred space (sanctuary), most holy (qodesh qodashim), abstract holiness, holy things, consecrated status
Key for this study: Qodesh is one pole of the first axis (qodesh/chol). It is fundamentally a noun of separation — what is withdrawn from common use for God.

chol (adjective/noun) — H2455¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H2455-chol.md

Word: חֹל (chol), masculine noun
Occurrences: 7 unique verses across 3 books (Leviticus, 1 Samuel, Ezekiel)
Definition: Properly "exposed"; profane, common, unholy. The opposite of qodesh.
Translation: "profane" (43%), "common" (29%), "unholy" (14%)
LXX: βέβηλος G952 (5x, PMI 20.42 — primary)
Key verses: Lev 10:10 (foundational); Ezek 22:26, 44:23 (priestly failure/restoration)
Key insight: The holy/common axis is independent of the clean/unclean axis. Something can be common (chol) and clean, or common and unclean. The dangerous intersection is when something holy (qodesh) becomes unclean (tame).

chalal (verb) — H2490¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H2490-chalal.md

Word: חָלַל (chalal), verb
Occurrences: 132 unique verses across 27 books
Definition: To bore/pierce; to profane, defile, break; to begin
Stem distribution: Piel 66 (profane), Hiphil 54 (begin)
Distribution: Ezekiel 31 (24%), Leviticus 15
LXX: βεβηλόω G953 (61x — "profane" sense)
Semantic categories: (1) Profaning God's name, (2) Profaning holy things/sanctuary, (3) Profaning Sabbath, (4) Profaning persons/priesthood, (5) Breaking covenant
Key difference from tame: chalal = treating the sacred as common (violating the qodesh/chol boundary); tame = ritual impurity (the tahor/tame axis)

qadash (verb) — H6942¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H6942-qadash.md

Word: קָדַשׁ (qadash), verb
Occurrences: 153 unique verses across 23 books
Definition: To be/make/pronounce holy; consecrate, sanctify
Stem distribution: Piel 41, Hiphil 13, Qal 7, Hithpael 4, Niphal 3
LXX: ἁγιάζω G37 (119x — near 1:1)
First occurrence: Gen 2:3 — God sanctified the seventh day

qadosh (adjective) — H6918¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H6918-qadowsh.md

Word: קָדוֹשׁ (qadosh), adjective
Occurrences: 108 unique verses across 20 books
Definition: Sacred (ceremonially or morally); the Holy One, saint
Key use: "The Holy One of Israel" — Isaiah's signature phrase (34 of 108 occurrences in Isaiah)
Key verses: Lev 11:44 "ye shall be holy; for I am holy"; Lev 19:2; 20:26

WG-holiness¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/WG-holiness.md Members: qodesh H6944, qadash H6942, qadosh H6918, miqdash H4720, kohen H3548, har H2022, hagios G40, hagiazo G37, hagiasmos G38, hagiosyne G42, hagiotes G41. Key passages where multiple members appear: Lev 10:10, Ezek 22:26, Ezek 44:23, Exo 29:43-44, Lev 19:2.

Translation Relationships (LXX Bridges)¶

TR: tame → akathartos¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/TR-tame-akathartos.md Chain: H2931 tame (78x OT) → G169 akathartos (69x LXX, PMI 31.22) → G169 akathartos (29x NT) Key shift: OT applies primarily to animals, diseased persons, dead bodies; NT applies primarily to unclean spirits (25 of 29 occurrences). Acts 10-11 explicitly transitions the word's application.

TR: tame → miaino¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/TR-tame-miaino.md Chain: H2930 tame verb (142x OT) → G3392 miaino (86x LXX, PMI 31.76) → G3392 miaino (4x NT) Key shift: OT overwhelmingly bodily/ceremonial impurity; NT 3 of 4 uses are moral/conscience defilement (Titus 1:15, Heb 12:15, Jude 1:8). Only John 18:28 preserves ritual sense. Perfect tenses in Titus 1:15 suggest settled state, not temporary condition.

TR: tumah → akatharsia¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/TR-tumah-akatharsia.md Chain: H2932 tumah (31x OT) → G167 akatharsia (26x LXX, PMI 28.97) → G167 akatharsia (10x NT) Key shift: OT overwhelmingly ritual-cultic; NT overwhelmingly moral-ethical (sexual sin, greed, hypocrisy). Ezekiel 36:17,25 forms the transitional bridge. Matt 23:27 applies classic corpse-contact impurity imagery to moral hypocrisy. 1 Thess 4:7: "God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" — akatharsia opposes hagiasmos.

TR: taher → katharizo¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/TR-taher-katharizo.md Chain: H2891 taher (94x OT) → G2511 katharizo (61x LXX) → G2511 katharizo (30x NT) Key continuity: Blood remains primary instrument (Lev 16 → Heb 9); God remains ultimate agent (Ezek 36:25 → 1 John 1:9); priestly declaration pattern persists (Lev 13 → Jesus in Matt 8). Key shift: From external ritual to internal spiritual; from priest-mediated to direct (Jesus declares "be thou clean"); from repeated to once-for-all (Heb 10:2).

TR: qodesh → hagios¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/TR-qodesh-hagios.md Chain: H6944 qodesh (452x OT) → G40 hagios (346x LXX) → G40 hagios (219x NT) Remarkably little shift. The command "be ye holy, for I am holy" transfers directly (Lev 19:2 → 1 Pet 1:16). The spatial holiness gradient preserved in Heb 9. "Saints" (hagioi) becomes standard term for believers.

TR: chol → bebelos¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/TR-chol-bebelos.md Chain: H2455 chol (7x OT) → G952 bebelos (5x LXX, PMI 20.42) → G952 bebelos (5x NT) The Lev 10:10 framework persists into NT, with both bebelos and koinos occupying the "common" slot. Key NT passage: Heb 12:16 — Esau as paradigm bebelos person (treating the sacred as common). Parallel axis: NT develops koinos G2839 as a second, less formal word for "common" — used in Acts 10-11 Gentile inclusion debate.

DOA/Sin Vocabulary¶

kaphar (verb) — H3722¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H3722-kaphar.md

Occurrences: 102 in OT
Stem: Piel 92 (90%), Pual 7
Translation: "make atonement" (72%), "purge" (8%), "reconcile" (7%)
Distribution: Leviticus 67 (66%), Numbers 19
Key verse for this study: Lev 16:16 (kaphar on the qodesh because of tumot, peshaim, chattat); Lev 16:30 (kaphar to taher)
Key pairing: kaphar + taher in Lev 16:30 — atonement produces cleansing. kaphar + salach in daily passages (Lev 4:26,31,35) — atonement produces forgiveness.

pesha (noun) — H6588¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H6588-pesha.md

Occurrences: 90 unique verses across 17 books
Definition: Revolt (national, moral, religious): rebellion, transgression
Translation: "transgression" (76%)
Key for DOA: Lev 16:16 lists peshaim as the second category the DOA addresses — willful rebellion, distinct from tumot (ritual impurities) and chattat (sins).
The root pasha (H6586) carries the sense of breaking away from just authority — active defection.

chattaah (noun) — H2403¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H2403-chattaah.md - Sin/sin offering. Third category in Lev 16:16. The daily sin offering transfers sin to the sanctuary via blood and priestly eating; the DOA addresses the accumulated chattat.

salach (verb) — H5545¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H5545-calach.md - "To forgive." Paired with kaphar in daily sin-offering passages (Lev 4:26,31,35: "the priest shall make atonement... and it shall be forgiven"). Absent from Lev 16 — the DOA uses taher, not salach. This vocabulary distinction confirms the daily/annual complementary system.

Abomination Vocabulary¶

shiqquts — H8251¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H8251-shiqquwts.md - Abomination/detestable thing. Used for idolatrous objects and practices. Ezek 5:11 "thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things."

sheqets — H8263¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H8263-sheqets.md - Filth, abominable thing. Applied specifically to unclean animals (Lev 11:10-13,20,23,41,42).

Additional Hebrew Vocabulary¶

niddah (noun) — H5079¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H5079-niddah.md - Impurity/menstrual separation. In Num 19:9,13,20,21, "water of niddah" (separation water) is the purification agent for corpse contamination. The term links bodily impurity with the purification system.

chaneph (verb) — H2610¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H2610-chaneph.md - To pollute/profane (moral pollution). Used in Num 35:33 for bloodshed polluting the land (Hiphil: "blood chaneph the land"). This is a DIFFERENT root from tame — chaneph represents moral pollution of the land, not ritual uncleanness. The parser confirms Hiphil form in Num 35:33.

piggul — H6292¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H6292-piggul.md - Fetid/unclean sacrifice (Lev 7:18; 19:7). A sacrifice that becomes abominable through improper handling.

miqdash (noun) — H4720¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/H4720-miqdash.md - Sanctuary/sacred place. The physical structure where holiness dwells and where defilement must not enter. Lev 15:31 uses mishkan (dwelling-place); Num 19:13,20 uses mishkan YHWH / miqdash YHWH. Both refer to the same reality.

NT Greek Vocabulary¶

akatharsia — G167¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/G167-akatharsia.md - Uncleanness/impurity (10x NT). Primary NT noun for the tumah concept via LXX bridge (PMI 28.97). Used in vice lists (Gal 5:19; Col 3:5; Eph 4:19), sexual contexts (Rom 1:24), and contrasted with holiness (1 Thess 4:7).

akathartos — G169¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/G169-akathartos.md - Unclean (29x NT). Primary adjective for tame via LXX. Overwhelmingly used for "unclean spirits" in NT (25 of 29 occurrences). The shift from physical/ritual to demonic/spiritual is the most dramatic NT transformation of the defilement concept.

katharizo — G2511¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/G2511-katharizo.md - To cleanse/purify (30x NT). Primary verb for taher via LXX. Used for Jesus cleansing lepers (Matt 8:2-3), God declaring clean (Acts 10:15), purifying hearts by faith (Acts 15:9), Christ's blood purging conscience (Heb 9:14), ongoing cleansing from sin (1 John 1:7,9).

katharos — G2513¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/G2513-katharos.md - Clean/pure (27x NT). Primary adjective for tahor via LXX. "Blessed are the pure in heart" (Matt 5:8). "Unto the pure all things are pure" (Titus 1:15).

koinos — G2839¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/G2839-koinos.md - Common/defiled (12x NT). NT parallel to chol — fills the "common/profane" slot in the two-axis framework. Key in Acts 10:14 where Peter pairs "common or unclean" (koinos e akathartos), mirroring the Lev 10:10 two-axis structure. Also Heb 10:29 — counting the blood of the covenant "an unholy thing" (koinon).

koinoo — G2840¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/G2840-koinoo.md - To make common/defile (12x NT). The key verb in Mark 7:15,18,20,23 — "nothing from without can koinoo (defile/make common) a man." Jesus uses the profanation verb, not miaino (the Levitical contamination verb). This is significant: Jesus is addressing the holy/common axis, not the clean/unclean axis.

miaino — G3392¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/G3392-miaino.md - To defile/sully (4x NT). The Levitical contamination verb (86x LXX for tame). Only 4 NT uses: John 18:28 (ritual), Titus 1:15 (moral — mind/conscience), Heb 12:15 (communal — root of bitterness), Jude 1:8 (moral — flesh).

miasma — G3393¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/G3393-miasma.md - Pollution/defilement (1x NT: 2 Pet 2:20). The foulness-substance resulting from contamination.

molyno — G3435¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/G3435-molyno.md - To soil/defile (3x NT). Figurative soiling — staining garments (Rev 3:4; 14:4) or conscience (1 Cor 8:7).

Word Groups¶

WG-defile (NT Defilement Vocabulary)¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/WG-defile.md Members: miaino G3392, koinoo G2840, molyno G3435, molysmos G3436, miasma G3393, miasmos G3394, amiantos G283, spiloo G4695. Key insight: No pairwise co-occurrences exist among these words — NT authors differentiated carefully among defilement types rather than stacking synonyms. Each carries a distinct nuance: ritual contamination (miaino), category violation (koinoo), moral soiling (molyno), visible blemish (spiloo).

WG-atonement¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/WG-atonement.md Referenced for the kaphar + taher pairing and the daily/annual distinction.

WG-sin¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/word-studies/WG-sin.md Referenced for the chattat/pesha/avon triad and their relationship to defilement categories in Lev 16:16.

Remaining Library Entries Read¶

H2892-tohar.md — tohar noun: brightness/purification (4x)
H2893-tohorah.md — tohorah noun: purification/cleansing (13x)
H2398-chata.md — chata verb: to sin/miss
H817-asham.md — asham: guilt/guilt offering
H5375-nasa.md — nasa: to bear/carry (relevant for Lev 10:17 "bear the iniquity")
TR-chata-hamartano.md — chata → hamartano LXX bridge
TR-chattaah-hamartia.md — chattaah → hamartia LXX bridge

Fresh Lookups (no library entry)¶

No fresh lookups were required. All Strong's numbers referenced in PROMPT.md have canonical library entries. The "Missing Library Entries" section of PROMPT.md confirmed: "All core Strong's numbers for this study already have canonical library entries."

Grammar Reference Entries Read¶

Hebrew Piel Stem¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/grammar-reference/hebrew/stem-piel.md - Relevant for tame Piel = priestly declaration of uncleanness (Lev 13:3,8,11,25 etc.) - Relevant for taher Piel = pronounce clean (Lev 13:6,13,17 etc.) - The Piel declarative function is critical: the priest does not make the person unclean/clean — he declares what already is. The same stem handles both the negative declaration (tame Piel = "pronounce unclean") and positive declaration (taher Piel = "pronounce clean").

Hebrew Hithpael Stem¶

Source: D:/bible/bible-studies/grammar-reference/hebrew/stem-hithpael.md - Relevant for tame Hithpael = deliberate self-defilement (12 occurrences) - The reflexive sense ("defile oneself") maps almost exclusively to idolatry contexts in Ezekiel (20:7,18,30,31) and Leviticus (18:24) - The Hithpael parsing of Lev 18:24 is confirmed by the hebrew_parser.py output: תִּֽטַּמְּא֖וּ = Hithpael.Impf.2mp - This maps directly to the ritual/moral distinction: involuntary defilement (Qal) vs. voluntary self-defilement through idolatry (Hithpael)

Hebrew/Greek Parsing Results (Summary)¶

Lev 10:10 — The Two-Axis Framework¶

Structure: ule-havdil beyn haqqodesh uveyn hachol uveyn hattame uveyn hattahor - havdil = Hiphil infinitive construct of badal "to separate/distinguish" - Four terms: haqqodesh (the holy), hachol (the profane), hattame (the unclean), hattahor (the pure) - Two independent pairs joined by repeated beyn...uveyn construction - Confirms two axes, not one spectrum

Lev 15:31 — Ambient Defilement Clause¶

wehizzartem (Hiphil perf 2mp of nazar "dedicate/separate") — separate the children of Israel
mittum'atam (from their tumah) — from their uncleanness
betam'am (Piel infinitive construct + 3mp of tame) — "when they defile" (causative: their defilement pollutes)
et-mishkani (my dwelling-place) — the object of defilement is God's dwelling
Critical finding: The Piel infinitive construct of tame shows causative action — the uncleanness actively defiles the tabernacle at a distance

Lev 16:16 — The Three-Category Formula¶

vekhipper (Piel perfect 3ms of kaphar) — "and he shall atone"
al-haqqodesh (upon the holy place) — the object of atonement is the sanctuary itself
mittum'ot (from the tumot — plural of tumah) — first category: uncleannesses
umipish'eihem (and from their peshaim) — second category: rebellions/transgressions
lekhol-chatto'tam (for all their chattat) — third category: sins
Structure: Three min-prepositions (mi-/u-mi-/le-) introduce three distinct categories
Final clause: hashshokhen ittam betokh tum'otam — "that dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses"

Lev 16:30 — The kaphar-taher Pairing¶

yekhapper (Piel imperfect 3ms of kaphar) — atonement
letaher (Piel infinitive construct of taher) — purpose: "to cleanse you"
mikol chatto'teikhem (from all your sins)
titharu (Qal imperfect 2mp of taher) — "you shall be clean"
Key: kaphar produces taher, not tsadaq. The DOA moves from tame to tahor, not directly to tsadaq.

Num 19:13 — Ambient Defilement Penalty¶

tame (Piel perfect 3ms of tame) — "he has defiled" — causative: the unpurified person actively defiles
et-mishkan YHWH — "the dwelling-place of the LORD" — same object as Lev 15:31
venikhretah (Niphal perfect 3fs of karat) — "shall be cut off" — capital/covenantal penalty
mei niddah lo-zoraq alav — "water of separation was not sprinkled upon him"
Confirms ambient mechanism: The person need not physically enter the tabernacle. Failing to purify = defiling the sanctuary at a distance.

Num 35:33 — Land Defilement (chaneph root)¶

tachaniphu (Hiphil imperfect 2mp of chaneph) — "do not pollute" — different root from tame
yachanif (Hiphil imperfect 3ms of chaneph) — "blood pollutes the land"
lo-yekhuppar (Pual imperfect 3ms of kaphar) — "cannot be atoned for" except by blood of the shedder
Confirms distinct vocabulary: chaneph (Hiphil) for land-pollution by bloodshed, tame for ritual/moral impurity

Hag 2:12-13 — The Asymmetry Test¶

v.12: If holy flesh (besar-qodesh) touches food via garment — hayiqdash? (Qal impf 3ms: "shall it be holy?") — Answer: No
v.13: If one unclean by a dead body (teme-nephesh) touches food — hayitma? (Qal impf 3ms: "shall it be unclean?") — Answer: Yes (yitma)
Asymmetry confirmed: Holiness does not transfer by secondary contact; uncleanness does. The purity system is inherently defensive.

Ezek 22:26 — Priestly Failure¶

yechalelu (Piel wayyiqtol 3mp of chalal) — "they profaned" (my holy things)
lo hivdilu (Hiphil perfect 3mp of badal) — "they did not distinguish" (between holy and profane)
lo hodi'u (Hiphil perfect 3mp of yada) — "they did not make known" (between unclean and clean)
va'echal (Niphal wayyiqtol 1cs of chalal) — "and I am profaned" among them
Two failures: (1) Not distinguishing qodesh from chol, (2) Not teaching tame from tahor

Lev 18:24 — Moral Defilement (Hithpael)¶

tittamme'u (Hithpael imperfect 2mp of tame) — "do not defile yourselves" — reflexive: voluntary self-defilement
nitme'u (Niphal perfect 3p of tame) — "the nations were defiled" — passive: they were defiled by these practices
Confirms: Hithpael tame in moral/sexual context, not ritual

Mark 7:15 — Greek Parsing¶

koinosai (Aorist Active Infinitive of koinoo G2840) — "to defile/make common"
koinounta (Present Active Participle of koinoo G2840) — "the things that defile"
Jesus uses koinoo, not miaino. He addresses the holy/common distinction (the qodesh/chol axis), not the clean/unclean distinction (the tahor/tame axis). The word choice is significant.

Heb 9:13-14 — Blood Purification¶

v.13: kekoinomenous (Perfect Middle/Passive Participle of koinoo G2840) — "those who have been defiled" — the settled state of defilement
hagiazo (Present Active Indicative of G37) — "sanctifies" — the Levitical blood sanctifies toward fleshly purity (sarkos katharoteta)
v.14: kathariei (Future Active Indicative of katharizo G2511) — "will cleanse" — Christ's blood cleanses the conscience (syneidesis)
Key contrast: Levitical system → purity of flesh; Christ's blood → purity of conscience. The NT internalizes the defilement/cleansing dynamic.