Hebrew word · H5079

נִדָּה

nidah

impurity

Has three closely linked senses: (1) menstruation, or the menstrual flow, as a source of impurity (Lev 12:2, 5; 15:19–26); (2) the woman in that state, “the menstruant” (Lev 15:33; Ezek 18:6; 22:10); (3) more broadly, impurity or an abhorrent thing (Lev 20:21; Zech 13:1; Lam 1:8, 17; Ezra 9:11; 2...

Appears 29 times in 24 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) impurity, filthiness, menstruous, set apart

1a) impurity

1a1) of ceremonial impurity

1a2) of menstruation

1b) impure thing (fig.)

1b1) of idolatry, immorality

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 Ezekiel 36:17

Range of meaning

Has three closely linked senses: (1) menstruation, or the menstrual flow, as a source of impurity (Lev 12:2, 5; 15:19–26); (2) the woman in that state, “the menstruant” (Lev 15:33; Ezek 18:6; 22:10); (3) more broadly, impurity or an abhorrent thing (Lev 20:21; Zech 13:1; Lam 1:8, 17; Ezra 9:11; 2 Chr 29:5). In Numbers 19 the phrase mê niddâ means “water for impurity,” the water used to remove corpse-impurity. The word's origin is disputed. Many link it to a root meaning “to put away, expel” (so Milgrom: the discharge that is expelled, then the impurity). Others link it to a root meaning “to flee, wander, be apart,” which yields the woman who is kept apart.

Against the English

BSB and WEB say “a woman’s (in her) impurity.” ESV and NIV name menstruation outright. KJV's “removed woman” and YLT's “separated one” keep the old idea of separation, but a modern reader would hardly guess that menstruation is meant. Plain “impurity” can sound like moral filth, while the Hebrew points to one exact, well-known ritual state.

How it drifted

In English, “unclean” and “impure” have come to mean morally dirty or disgusting. In Leviticus, menstrual impurity is a normal, temporary condition. It is not a sin. It is ended by waiting and washing, and it matters because it must be kept away from the holy. Ezekiel draws on both sides: the ritual picture is the vehicle, and moral wrongdoing is what it describes.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Leviticus 15:19–24 the menstruant is impure for seven days, and her bed and seat pass the impurity on. Leviticus 18:19 and 20:18 forbid intercourse during niddah. Ezekiel, who was a priest, uses the word as a technical term in his lists of sins (18:6; 22:10). After the exile it becomes a picture of hated defilement: Lam 1:17 calls Jerusalem a niddâ, and Ezra 9:11 says the land is “a land of niddâ” because of its peoples' abominations. Zechariah 13:1 promises a fountain “for sin and for niddâ.” The Dead Sea Scrolls use the term often in purity rules, and a whole Mishnah tractate (Niddah) is devoted to it.

From the study of Ezekiel 18:6

Range of meaning

The basic idea is 'separation' or 'exclusion'. It probably comes from a root meaning 'to move away' or 'to put away' (n-d-d / n-d-h). It is used (1) for the state of a menstruating woman (Lev 12:2, 15:19–33, 18:19), (2) for impurity in general, including the 'water of niddah' used to purify people from contact with the dead (Num 19:9, 13), and (3) in images for something abhorrent (Ezek 7:19–20; 36:17; Lam 1:17; Ezra 9:11).

Against the English

KJV 'menstruous woman', BSB 'during her period' and NIV 'during her period' name the physical situation. WEB 'in her impurity' and ESV 'menstrual impurity' keep the ritual category. YLT 'separated woman' follows the word's root. None says outright that the focus is a temporary ritual status, not a moral defect in the woman.

How it drifted

In modern English, 'impure' and 'unclean' sound moral or hygienic. In the priestly system impurity was a temporary status that came from normal bodily processes. It mattered mostly for contact with holy things, and it ended with time and washing.

Used elsewhere in the period

Leviticus 15:19–24 sets a seven-day period. Leviticus 18:19 and 20:18 forbid intercourse during it and list this among the sexual prohibitions. Ezekiel 22:10 condemns those who 'violate women in their niddah'. The Dead Sea Scrolls and later the Mishnah tractate Niddah developed these rules in detail.

From the study of Ezekiel 7:19

Range of meaning

Basic sense: 'separation, expulsion', probably from the root ndd ('to flee, move away') or ndh ('to put away'). In use it is above all the technical term for menstrual impurity, the state of a menstruating woman, who was kept apart from holy things and from sexual contact (Lev 12:2, 5; 15:19–33; 18:19). By extension it means anything abhorrent, defiling, to be shunned (Lam 1:8, 17; Ezra 9:11; 2 Chr 29:5). It also appears in the phrase mê niddâ, 'water for impurity', used in purification rites (Num 19:9–21).

Against the English

BSB: 'seem unclean'. WEB: 'as an unclean thing'. KJV: 'removed'. YLT: 'impurity'. 'Unclean' is right in category but colourless to modern ears, where it suggests 'dirty'. KJV's 'removed' follows the root idea of separation but loses the purity image altogether. BSB's 'seem' softens a real change of status into an appearance.

How it drifted

'Unclean' in English now means grimy or morally bad. In Israel, impurity was a ritual status. It had to be kept away from what was holy and caused a visceral pulling-back. The menstrual connotation is usually dropped in translation, partly out of delicacy.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezekiel uses niddâ as a charged image several times: 18:6; 22:10; 36:17, where Israel's conduct was 'like the impurity of niddâ'. The closest parallel is Isaiah 30:22: people will defile their silver-plated and gold-covered idols and 'scatter them like a menstruous cloth (dāwâ); you will say to it, "Get out!"'. Here too precious metal is flung away with menstrual-impurity disgust. At Qumran (e.g., the Damascus Document and the Community Rule) niddâ is broadened to mean general defilement.

Where it appears

Leviticus · 13

  1. Leviticus 12:2 נִדַּ֥ת menstrous impurity of

    “Say to the Israelites, ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be unclean for seven days, as she is during the days of her menstruation.

  2. Leviticus 12:5 כְּנִדָּתָ֑הּ like menstruous impurity her

    If, however, she gives birth to a daughter, the woman will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstruation. Then she must continue in purification from her bleeding for sixty-six days.

  3. Leviticus 15:19 בְנִדָּתָ֔הּ in menstruous impurity her

    When a woman has a discharge consisting of blood from her body, she will be unclean due to her menstruation for seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening.

  4. Leviticus 15:20 בְּנִדָּתָ֖הּ in menstruous impurity her

    Anything on which she lies or sits during her menstruation will be unclean,

  5. Leviticus 15:24 נִדָּתָהּ֙ menstruous impurity her

    If a man lies with her and her menstrual flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days, and any bed on which he lies will become unclean.

  6. Leviticus 15:25 נִדָּתָ֔הּ נִדָּתָ֑הּ נִדָּתָ֛הּ menstruous impurity her

    When a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days at a time other than her menstrual period, or if it continues beyond her period, she will be unclean all the days of her unclean discharge, just as she is during the days of her menstruation.

  7. Leviticus 15:26 נִדָּתָ֖הּ נִדָּתָֽהּ׃ menstruous impurity her

    Any bed on which she lies or any furniture on which she sits during the days of her discharge will be unclean, like her bed during her menstrual period.

  8. Leviticus 15:33 בְּנִדָּתָ֔הּ in menstruous impurity her

    of a woman in her menstrual period, of any male or female who has a discharge, and of a man who lies with an unclean woman.’”

  9. Leviticus 18:19 בְּנִדַּ֣ת in [the] menstruous impurity of

    You must not approach a woman to have sexual relations with her during her menstrual period.

  10. Leviticus 20:21 נִדָּ֣ה [is] impurity

    If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.

Numbers · 6

  1. Numbers 19:9 נִדָּ֖ה impurity

    Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and store them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept by the congregation of Israel for preparing the water of purification; this is for purification from sin.

  2. Numbers 19:13 נִדָּ֜ה impurity

    Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

    Here: "Impurity": in this phrase it is water used against impurity, so "water for impurity" or "water for removing impurity".

  3. Numbers 19:20 נִדָּ֛ה impurity

    But if a person who is unclean does not purify himself, he will be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

  4. Numbers 19:21 הַנִּדָּה֙ הַנִּדָּ֔ה <the> impurity

    This is a permanent statute for the people: The one who sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water of purification will be unclean until evening.

  5. Numbers 31:23 נִדָּ֖ה impurity

    everything that can withstand the fire—must be put through the fire, and it will be clean. But it must still be purified with the water of purification. And everything that cannot withstand the fire must pass through the water.

2 Chronicles · 1

  1. 2 Chronicles 29:5 הַנִּדָּ֖ה the impurity

    “Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.

Ezra · 2

  1. Ezra 9:11 נִדָּה֙ בְּנִדַּ֖ת impurity, by [the] impurity of

    that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end.

Lamentations · 1

  1. Lamentations 1:17 לְנִדָּ֖ה <into> an impure thing

    Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD has decreed against Jacob that his neighbors become his foes. Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them.

    Here: The word for a woman's state during her monthly bleeding, when contact with her was restricted, and by extension for anything others keep away from. The Hebrew says she has become this, without the word 'like'.

Ezekiel · 5

  1. Ezekiel 7:19 לְנִדָּ֣ה <into> an impure thing

    They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.

    Here: 'Into niddah': the word for the impurity of menstruation, something a person kept at a distance. Gold becomes a thing handled with revulsion.

  2. Ezekiel 7:20 לְנִדָּֽה׃ into an impure thing

    His beautiful ornaments they transformed into pride and used them to fashion their vile images and detestable idols. Therefore I will make these into something unclean for them.

    Here: In priestly law, niddah is the impurity of menstruation, which made whatever it touched untouchable. The beloved gold becomes something people shrink from, as in v. 19, where they throw it into the streets.

  3. Ezekiel 18:6 נִדָּ֖ה menstruation

    He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.

    Here: 'Of separation': the state of ritual impurity during menstruation (Lev 15:19–24). It sits directly after 'woman' and describes her, as if 'a woman-in-niddah'. It names a ritual status, not a moral fault.

  4. Ezekiel 22:10 הַנִּדָּ֖ה the menstruation

    In you they have uncovered the nakedness of their fathers; in you they violate women during their menstrual impurity.

  5. Ezekiel 36:17 הַנִּדָּ֔ה <the> menstruation

    “Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. Their behavior before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman’s impurity.

    Here: The technical term in Leviticus for menstrual impurity, or for the woman in that state (Lev 15:19–33). Her impurity lasted seven days, spread to whatever she lay or sat on, and kept her from anything holy. The article (“the”) marks it as the standard, well-known case.

Zechariah · 1

  1. Zechariah 13:1 וּלְנִדָּֽה׃ and for impurity

    “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

    Here: A strong word for impurity, first used of menstrual impurity. The prophets used it for the defilement idolatry and bloodshed bring on people and land. Verse 2 continues this, naming idols and a 'spirit of impurity'.

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