Hebrew word · H2902

טוּחַ

vetach

to overspread

To smear, coat, plaster or daub a surface. The closely related verb ṭûaḥ is used for plastering the stones of a house (Leviticus 14:42–43) and for daubing a flimsy wall with whitewash (Ezekiel 13:10–15; 22:28). HALOT links it with ṭûaḥ.

Appears 12 times in 11 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to spread over, overlay, plaster, cover over, coat, besmear

1a) (Qal) to overspread, coat, overlay

1b) (Niphal) to be coated, be plastered

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 44:18

Range of meaning

To smear, coat, plaster or daub a surface. The closely related verb ṭûaḥ is used for plastering the stones of a house (Leviticus 14:42–43) and for daubing a flimsy wall with whitewash (Ezekiel 13:10–15; 22:28). The form here, ṭaḥ, is often listed under a separate root ṭāḥaḥ, 'be besmeared', found only in this verse (so BDB). HALOT links it with ṭûaḥ. Either way the picture is the same: a layer of plaster over the eyes.

Against the English

Most English versions say 'shut' (KJV, ESV, WEB, BSB) or 'closed'. That keeps the result (they cannot see) but loses the image. YLT's 'daubed' and the 'smeared over' or 'plastered over' found in some modern versions keep the builder's word. 'Shut' sounds like eyelids that could open again. 'Plastered' sounds like a coating that has set hard.

How it drifted

Translators chose a smoother English verb, and many also supplied 'He' as the subject. The Hebrew has an image and no stated subject. English often has a doctrine and no image.

Used elsewhere in the period

The plastering usage is clear in Leviticus 14 and Ezekiel 13. The Septuagint renders the clause 'they were darkened/blinded (apēmaurōthēsan) from seeing'. The Vulgate's obliti sunt ('they are smeared over', from Latin oblinere) keeps the smearing picture. Isaiah 6:10 has a related idea with a different verb (hāšaʿ, 'smear over, make blind'): 'smear over their eyes'.

From the study of Ezekiel 13:11

Range of meaning

To coat, smear or overlay a surface. It is used of plastering a house, of overlaying walls with silver, and figuratively of eyes smeared shut.

Against the English

"Daub" (KJV, YLT) sounds sloppy, which suits the mood but is not in the verb itself. "Plaster" (WEB) is the neutral sense. The BSB's "those whitewashing" and the NLT's "whitewashers" keep the sense of an occupation.

Used elsewhere in the period

Leviticus 14:42-48 uses it for replastering a house after an outbreak of contamination; 1 Chronicles 29:4 for overlaying walls with precious metal; Isaiah 44:18 for eyes smeared so that they cannot see. Ezekiel returns to it throughout 13:10-15 and in 22:28.

From the study of Ezekiel 13:10

Range of meaning

To smear, coat, or plaster a surface with clay, lime or mortar. It can also mean to smear over the eyes so they cannot see (Isaiah 44:18).

Against the English

KJV 'daubed' and YLT 'daubing' capture the messy, surface-level smearing well. 'Whitewashing' (BSB) merges the verb and its object into one English idea.

Used elsewhere in the period

Leviticus 14:42–48 (replastering a house after an outbreak of mould); 1 Chronicles 29:4 (overlaying walls). Ezekiel 22:28: 'her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions.'

Similar words

Where it appears

Leviticus · 3

  1. Leviticus 14:42 וְטָ֥ח and he will plaster

    So different stones must be obtained to replace the contaminated ones, as well as additional mortar to replaster the house.

  2. Leviticus 14:43 הִטּֽוֹחַ׃ was plastered

    If the mildew reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house has been scraped and replastered,

  3. Leviticus 14:48 הִטֹּ֣חַ was plastered

    If, however, the priest comes and inspects it, and the mildew has not spread after the house has been replastered, he shall pronounce the house clean, because the mildew is gone.

    Here: A passive verb form: 'the house's having been daubed/plastered'. It means the fresh coat of mud or lime plaster put on in v. 42.

1 Chronicles · 1

  1. 1 Chronicles 29:4 לָט֖וּחַ to overlay

    three thousand talents of gold (the gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the buildings,

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 44:18 טַ֤ח it is besmeared

    They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.

    Here: The vivid word of the verse: 'smeared over, plastered shut', the way a wall is coated with plaster or wash. The verb is singular and names no subject. It can be read 'he has plastered', 'one has plastered', or simply 'their eyes are plastered over'.

Ezekiel · 7

  1. Ezekiel 13:10 טָחִ֥ים [are] plastering

    Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built,

    Here: 'Smearing over.' This is the plasterer's action of coating a surface. The same verb is used for replastering a house in Leviticus 14:42–48. Like 'building', it describes ongoing activity.

  2. Ezekiel 13:11 טָחֵ֥י [the] plasterers of

    tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth.

    Here: "Plasterers of": a label for people by what they habitually do. They did not build the wall; their trade is to coat it so that it looks finished and sound.

  3. Ezekiel 13:12 טַחְתֶּֽם׃ ס you plastered

    Surely when the wall has fallen, you will not be asked, ‘Where is the whitewash with which you covered it?’

  4. Ezekiel 13:14 טַחְתֶּ֥ם you plastered

    I will tear down the wall you whitewashed and level it to the ground, so that its foundation is exposed. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

  5. Ezekiel 13:15 וּבַטָּחִ֥ים הַטָּחִ֥ים and on <the> [those who] plastered, those [who] plastered

    And after I have vented My wrath against the wall and against those who whitewashed it, I will say to you: ‘The wall is gone, and so are those who whitewashed it—

  6. Ezekiel 22:28 טָח֤וּ they have plastered

    Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken.

    Here: A builder's word for smearing a coat of plaster over a wall (as in Lev 14:42). The completed-action form presents it as their settled practice: they have put a fresh-looking surface over what the officials did.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.