נִדָּה
𐤍𐤃𐤄
niddâh
H5079 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or substance of ritual impurity, most often referring to the status of a menstruating woman (and the period of menstruation itself), but also used more generally for states of ritual exclusion or impurity. The term denotes both the physiological event and the consequent state of exclusion from regular cultic or community participation. In extended contexts, can refer metaphorically to abomination or defilement, particularly those causing social or religious isolation.
Semantic Range
ritual impurity due to menstruation, physical menstrual flow, state of being removed or excluded for impurity, symbolic or moral defilement, abomination, exile, object/person excluded from community or ritual, something detestable
Root / Etymology
Root: נָדַד (nadad), meaning 'to flee, be banished, be driven away.' The noun נִדָּה is formed from this root, conveying the sense of being set apart, removed, or excluded. The meaning developed from the basic sense of separation or exclusion to the specific technical designation of ritual impurity, especially relating to menstruation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Torah, particularly Leviticus (15:19–33), נִדָּה refers precisely to the ritual state associated with menstruation—defining both the time and the restrictions on social and cultic involvement. This is distinct from general ritual impurity (טֻמְאָה) or other forms of exclusion. In later biblical texts (e.g., Ezekiel, Lamentations), the word can take on a metaphorical or polemical force, such as describing extreme uncleanness, exile, or moral abomination (as in Ezekiel 7:19–21 or Lamentations 1:8, 17). In some post-exilic usage, the term acquires greater emphasis on community boundaries—not simply biological events but on social, religious, or moral exclusion. English translations often obscure these distinctions by rendering נִדָּה generically as 'unclean' or, problematically, 'menstruous woman.' The Greek Septuagint typically renders the term with ἀκαθαρσία (uncleanness), which similarly generalizes the meaning. The later English term 'menstruous' does not capture the wider semantic scope, especially the metaphorical uses in exilic and post-exilic texts. The technical differentiation between נִדָּה and other impurity terms (e.g. טֻמְאָה, כָּרֵת) is significant in priestly and legal material, but may blur in prophetic and poetic contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָדַד; properly, rejection; by implication, impurity, especially personal (menstruation) or moral (idolatry, incest); [idiom] far, filthiness, [idiom] flowers, menstruous (woman), put apart, [idiom] removed (woman), separation, set apart, unclean(-ness, thing, with filthiness).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נדד (n-d-d) — fleeing, driving away, exclusion, rejection
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4059 | מִדַּד | and he scattered |
| H5074 | נָדַד | the wandering-one |
| H5075 | נְדַד | she fled away |
| H5076 | נָדֻד | restless tossings |
| H5206 | נִידָה | for exclusion |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5079-06 |
נִדָּ֣ה | nidah | HNcfsa |
of impurity | exclusion-impurity | 7 |
H5079-08 |
נִדָּתָ/הּ֙ | nidatah | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
of her impurity | her exclusion-impurity | 6 |
H5079-03 |
הַ/נִּדָּה֙ | hanidah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of impurity | the exclusion-impurity | 5 |
H5079-05 |
לְ/נִדָּ֣ה | lenidah | HR/Ncfsa |
a detestable thing | for exclusion-impurity | 3 |
H5079-01 |
בְּ/נִדַּ֣ת | benidat | HR/Ncfsc |
in the menstruation of | in menstrual-exclusion of | 2 |
H5079-02 |
בְּ/נִדָּתָ֖/הּ | benidatah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
during her menstrual impurity | in her exclusion-impurity | 2 |
H5079-09 |
וּ/לְ/נִדָּֽה | ulenidah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and-for impurity | and to exclusion-impurity | 1 |
H5079-10 |
בְ/נִדָּתָ֔/הּ | venidatah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
in her menstrual impurity | in her exclusion-impurity | 1 |
H5079-07 |
נִדַּ֥ת | nidat | HNcfsc |
her menstrual impurity | exclusion-impurity of | 1 |
H5079-04 |
כְּ/נִדָּתָ֑/הּ | kenidatah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
as in her menstruation | as her exclusion-impurity | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
29 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5079-07 |
Leviticus 12:2 | נִדַּ֥ת | nidat | HNcfsc |
her menstrual impurity | exclusion-impurity of |
H5079-04 |
Leviticus 12:5 | כְּ/נִדָּתָ֑/הּ | kenidatah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
as in her menstruation | as her exclusion-impurity |
H5079-10 |
Leviticus 15:19 | בְ/נִדָּתָ֔/הּ | venidatah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
in her menstrual impurity | in her exclusion-impurity |
H5079-02 |
Leviticus 15:20 | בְּ/נִדָּתָ֖/הּ | benidatah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
during her menstrual impurity | in her exclusion-impurity |
H5079-08 |
Leviticus 15:24 | נִדָּתָ/הּ֙ | nidatah | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
her impurity | her exclusion-impurity |
H5079-08 |
Leviticus 15:25 | נִדָּתָ֔/הּ | nidatah | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
of-her-menstruation | her exclusion-impurity |
H5079-08 |
Leviticus 15:25 | נִדָּתָ֑/הּ | nidatah-2 | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
her-menstruation | her exclusion-impurity |
H5079-08 |
Leviticus 15:25 | נִדָּתָ֛/הּ | nidatah-3 | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
her-menstruation | her exclusion-impurity |
H5079-08 |
Leviticus 15:26 | נִדָּתָ֖/הּ | nidatah | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
of her impurity | her exclusion-impurity |
H5079-08 |
Leviticus 15:26 | נִדָּתָֽ/הּ | nidatah-2 | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
of her impurity | her exclusion-impurity |