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מאוּם

𐤌𐤀𐤅𐤌

mʼûwm

H3971 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מום to blemish, to become defective, to mar

Definition

A physical or moral defect, flaw, or blemish—something that mars wholeness, integrity, or ritual acceptability. The term denotes any imperfection, injury, or spot that would disqualify an animal, object, or individual from ritual or cultic use, and by extension can refer to a discreditable moral fault.

Semantic Range

physical defect, ritual or cultic blemish, flaw rendering unfit for sacrifice or priestly service; by extension, any disqualifying imperfection

Root / Etymology

Root: מאמ or מום (the latter much more common and productive). The root מום primarily means 'to blemish, to become defective.' The form מאוּם is related but appears rarely, functioning as a synonym or variant of מום, and may represent a passive or abstract form signifying 'something blemished/deformed.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

מאוּם appears only a handful of times, each closely linked in context with concerns for wholeness and ritual fitness, especially regarding sacrificial offerings (see Leviticus 21:21, 22:21). It overlaps strongly with מוּם, and may be a variant spelling or a specialized nominal form. In these priestly texts, both terms refer strictly to physical blemishes that render an offering unfit or a priest disqualified from service. Its range does not extend independently into moral or metaphorical realms as do related terms like עָוֹן. Most English translations (blemish, defect) convey the core sense, but may obscure the ritual-legal specificity and the close connection to cultic standards. In later usage, מום (not מאום) becomes a more general term for any defect, including moral or character faults, but this semantic broadening is not clear in the sparse biblical record of מאוּם. The translation 'spot' or 'blot' can mislead when it suggests mere surface irregularity rather than the disqualifying status implied by the term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

usually מוּם; as if passive participle from an unused root probably meaning; to stain; a blemish (physically or morally); blemish, blot, spot.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מום (m-w-m) — to blemish, to become defective, to mar

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3971-02 מ֔וּם mum HNcmsa defect blemish 16
H3971-01 מִ/מּ֑וּם mimum HR/Ncmsa from blemish blemish 1
H3971-07 וּ/מ֖וּם umum HC/Ncmsa and blemish blemish 1
H3971-06 מאום mvm HNcmsa defect blemish 1
H3971-03 מוּמָ֑/ם mumam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their defect their blemish 1
H3971-04 מוּמֽ/וֹ mumo HNcmsc/Sp3ms insults his blemish 1
H3971-05 מֻאֽוּם muum HNcmsa blemish blemish 1

Occurrences in Scripture

22 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3971-02 Leviticus 21:17 מ֔וּם mum HNcmsa a blemish blemish
H3971-02 Leviticus 21:18 מ֖וּם mum HNcmsa defect blemish
H3971-02 Leviticus 21:21 מ֗וּם mum HNcmsa defect blemish
H3971-02 Leviticus 21:21 מ֣וּם mum-2 HNcmsa defect blemish
H3971-02 Leviticus 21:23 מ֣וּם mum HNcmsa defect blemish
H3971-02 Leviticus 22:20 מ֖וּם mum HNcmsa has a defect blemish
H3971-02 Leviticus 22:21 מ֖וּם mum HNcmsa blemish blemish
H3971-02 Leviticus 22:25 מ֣וּם mum HNcmsa defect blemish
H3971-02 Leviticus 24:19 מ֖וּם mum HNcmsa a blemish blemish
H3971-02 Leviticus 24:20 מוּם֙ mum HNcmsa a blemish blemish
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