Meaning

• Clean
• Pure

Adjective.

The word טָהוֹר (from the root טהר) can be used to describe physical, ceremonial or moral purity, depending on the context. It is contrasted with the word טָמֵא which means unclean or impure.

In Leviticus and Numbers, טָהוֹר primarily refers to ritual cleanness - the state required to approach God or participate in worship. Examples include:

• Leviticus 10:10plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigLeviticus 10:10
  
  Hebrew וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ וּבֵ֣ין הַחֹ֑ל וּבֵ֥ין הַטָּמֵ֖א וּבֵ֥ין הַטָּהֽוֹר ESV You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, NIV You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, NLT ἀνὰμέσοντῶνἁγίωνκαὶτῶνβεβήλωνκαὶἀνὰμέσοντῶνἀκαθάρτωνκαὶτῶνκαθαρῶν… – Priests are to distinguish between the holy and the profane, the clean and the unclean
• Leviticus 11 – Animals fit for consumption are called “clean”; others are “unclean”
• Leviticus 13–15 – A person healed from leprosy or bodily discharge is declared clean after ritual purification
• Numbers 19:19plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigNumbers 19:19
  
  Hebrew וְהִזָּ֤ה הַטָּהֹר֙ עַל הַטָּמֵ֔א בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖י וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י וְחִטְּאוֹ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וְכִבֶּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָהֵ֥ר בָּעָֽרֶב ESV And the clean person shall sprinkle it on the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day. Thus on the seventh day he shall cleanse him, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and at evening he shall be clean. καὶὁκαθαρὸςἐπὶτὸνἀκάθαρτονἐντῇἡμέρᾳτῇτρίτῃκαὶἐντῇἡμέρᾳτῇἑβδό… – The ashes of the red heifer are used to cleanse a person who has become unclean through contact with a corpse

In ritual law, “clean” denotes a state of acceptability before God, achieved through obedience and purification rites.

Beyond ritual contexts, “clean” also refers to moral integrity and inner purity — especially in the Psalms and Proverbs. For example:

• Psalm 12:6plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPsalm 12:6
  
  Hebrew מִשֹּׁ֥ד עֲנִיִּים֮ מֵאַנְקַ֪ת אֶבְי֫וֹנִ֥ים עַתָּ֣ה אָ֭קוּם יֹאמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה אָשִׁ֥ית בְּ֝יֵ֗שַׁע יָפִ֥יחַֽ לֽוֹ ESV The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. NIV And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. τὰλόγιακυρίουλόγιαἁγνάἀργύριονπεπυρωμένονδοκίμιοντῇγῇκεκαθαρισμένον… (verse 7plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigאִֽמֲר֣וֹת יְהוָה֮ אֲמָר֪וֹת טְהֹ֫ר֥וֹת כֶּ֣סֶף צָ֭רוּף בַּעֲלִ֣יל לָאָ֑רֶץ מְ֝זֻקָּ֗ק שִׁבְעָתָֽיִם in Hebrew) – “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined seven times.”
• Psalm 24:4plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPsalm 24:4
  
  Hebrew נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּֽבַר לֵ֫בָ֥ב אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא נָשָׂ֣א לַשָּׁ֣וְא נַפְשִׁ֑י וְלֹ֖א נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לְמִרְמָֽה ESV He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. NIV He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. χερσὶνκαὶκαθαρὸςτῇκαρδίᾳὃςοὐκἔλαβενἐπὶματαίῳτὴνψυχὴναὐτοῦκαὶοὐκἐπὶδόλῳτῷπλησίοναὐτοῦ… – The one who may ascend God's hill is “he who has clean hands and a pure heart.”
• Proverbs 15:26plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigProverbs 15:6
  
  Hebrew בֵּ֣ית צַ֭דִּיק חֹ֣סֶן רָ֑ב וּבִתְבוּאַ֖ת רָשָׁ֣ע נֶעְכָּֽרֶת ESV In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. NIV The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble. ἐνπλεοναζούσῃδικαιοσύνῃἰσχὺςπολλήοἱδὲἀσεβεῖςἐκγῆςοἴκοιςδικαίωνἰσχὺςπολλήκαρποὶδὲἀσεβῶν… – “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are clean.”

Here, “clean” reflects a moral and spiritual quality — sincerity, truthfulness, and holiness that aligns with God's nature.

Sometimes “clean” has a straightforward physical sense, describing clear or unpolluted substances:

• Exodus 27:20plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigExodus 27:20
  
  Hebrew וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה אֶת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר תָּמִֽיד ESV “You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. NIV “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. καὶσὺσύνταξοντοῖςυἱοῖςΙσραηλκαὶλαβέτωσάνσοιἔλαιονἐξἐλαίωνκαθαρὸνκεκομμένονε… – “Pure olive oil” for the lamp
• Leviticus 24:4plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigLeviticus 24:4
  
  Hebrew עַ֚ל הַמְּנֹרָ֣ה הַטְּהֹרָ֔ה יַעֲרֹ֖ךְ אֶת הַנֵּר֑וֹת לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה תָּמִֽיד ESV He shall arrange the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the LORD regularly. NIV The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD must be tended continually. NLT Aaron and the priests must tend the lamps on the pure gold lampstand continually in the LORD's presence. ἐπὶτῆςλυχνίαςτῆςκαθαρᾶςκαύσετετοὺςλύχνουςἔναντικυρίουἕωςτὸπρωί… – “Pure gold” used in the tabernacle
• Ezekiel 22:24plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigEzekiel 22:24
  
  Hebrew בֶּן אָדָ֕ם אֱמָר לָ֕הּ אַ֣תְּ אֶ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א מְטֹהָרָ֖ה הִ֑יא לֹ֥א גֻשְׁמָ֖הּ בְּי֥וֹם זָֽעַם ESV “Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is not cleansed or rained upon in the day of indignation. NIV “Son of man, say to the land, 'You are a land that has had no rain or showers in the day of wrath.' υἱὲἀνθρώπουαὐτῇσὺεἶγῆἡοὐβρεχομένηοὐδὲὑετὸςἐπὶσὲἐνἡμέρᾳὀργῆς… – “Rain that is clean (or unmixed)”

In these cases, the emphasis is absence of contamination - the literal sense underlying its ritual and moral uses.

Prophets and poets often use “clean” symbolically for spiritual renewal:

• Psalm 51:10plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPsalm 51:10
  
  Hebrew תַּ֭שְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂ֣וֹן וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה תָּ֝גֵ֗לְנָה עֲצָמ֥וֹת דִּכִּֽיתָ ESV Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. NIV Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. NLT Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. καρδίανκαθαρὰνκτίσονἐνἐμοίὁθεόςκαὶπνεῦμαἐγκαίνισονἐντοῖςμου… (verse 12plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigלֵ֣ב טָ֭הוֹר בְּרָא לִ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְר֥וּחַ נָ֝כ֗וֹן חַדֵּ֥שׁ בְּקִרְבִּֽי in Hebrew) – “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” linking purity with inner transformation
• Ezekiel 36:25plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigEzekiel 36:25
  
  Hebrew וְזָרַקְתִּ֧י עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם מַ֥יִם טְהוֹרִ֖ים וּטְהַרְתֶּ֑ם מִכֹּ֧ל טֻמְאוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם וּמִכָּל גִּלּ֥וּלֵיכֶ֖ם אֲטַהֵ֥ר אֶתְכֶֽם ESV I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. NIV I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. καὶἐφὑμᾶςὕδωρκαθαρόνκαὶκαθαρισθήσεσθεἀπὸπασῶντῶνἀκαθαρσιῶνὑμῶνκαὶἀπὸπάντωντῶνεἰδώλωνὑμ… – God promises, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean,” a metaphor for forgiveness and spiritual renewal

This later prophetic use anticipates New Covenant imagery, where external purification points to inner cleansing by God's Spirit.

The Greek καθαρός, used in the Septuagint to translate טָהוֹר, carries these same meanings. Take for example, Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:8plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMatthew 5:8

Greek μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται. ESV “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. NIV Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. NLT God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. KJV Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God., “Blessed are the pure in heart,” which directly echoes Psalm 24:4plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPsalm 24:4

Hebrew נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּֽבַר לֵ֫בָ֥ב אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא נָשָׂ֣א לַשָּׁ֣וְא נַפְשִׁ֑י וְלֹ֖א נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לְמִרְמָֽה ESV He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. NIV He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. χερσὶνκαὶκαθαρὸςτῇκαρδίᾳὃςοὐκἔλαβενἐπὶματαίῳτὴνψυχὴναὐτοῦκαὶοὐκἐπὶδόλῳτῷπλησίοναὐτοῦ… and Psalm 51:10plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPsalm 51:10

Hebrew תַּ֭שְׁמִיעֵנִי שָׂשׂ֣וֹן וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה תָּ֝גֵ֗לְנָה עֲצָמ֥וֹת דִּכִּֽיתָ ESV Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. NIV Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. NLT Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. καρδίανκαθαρὰνκτίσονἐνἐμοίὁθεόςκαὶπνεῦμαἐγκαίνισονἐντοῖςμου….

Thus, טָהוֹר develops from ritual cleanness to moral integrity, and ultimately to inner holiness through God's transformatative action, a concept central to both Old and New Testament theology.