Strong's Hebrew: 3971. מְאוּם (mum) -- Blemish, defect, imperfection
Strong's Lexicon
mum: Blemish, defect, imperfection
Original Word: מאוּם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: m'uwm
Pronunciation: moom
Phonetic Spelling: (moom)
Definition: Blemish, defect, imperfection
Meaning: to stain, a blemish
Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to stain or blemish
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3470: μῶμος (mōmos) - blemish, fault
- G299: ἄμωμος (amōmos) - without blemish, blameless
Usage: The Hebrew word "mum" refers to a physical blemish or defect, often used in the context of sacrificial animals or priests. In the Old Testament, it denotes any imperfection that disqualifies an offering or a person from being presented before God. The term underscores the importance of purity and perfection in worship and service to God.
Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israel, the sacrificial system was central to religious life. Animals offered to God had to be without blemish (Leviticus 22:21). Similarly, priests serving in the temple were required to be free from physical defects (Leviticus 21:17-23). This emphasis on physical perfection symbolized spiritual purity and the holiness required to approach a holy God. The concept of "mum" reflects the broader biblical theme of God's desire for His people to be holy and set apart.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
blemish, defect
NASB Translation
defect (1), spot (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
מאוּם noun masculineJob 31:7 blemish, defect (for מְאוּם, which, although found only late, is (si vera lectio) apparently original form, .Köii. 146); — ׳מ absolute:
1 of physical defect Daniel 1:4.
2 figurative ׳בְּכַמַּי דָּבַק מ Job 31:7 of moral stain; usually
מוּם
noun masculineLeviticus 21:17 (= foregoing; quiescent א omitted) (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic מוּמָא, 
); — absolute ׳מ Leviticus 21:17 16t.; suffix מוּמוֺ Proverbs 9:7; מוּמָם Deuteronomy 32:5; — blemish, defect (chiefly H):
1 physical,
a. in man, as excluding from priestly service, Leviticus 21:17,18,21 (twice in verse); Leviticus 21:23; disfiguring man 2 Samuel 14:25, woman Songs 4:7; (in all בְּ ׳היה מ); as caused by man upon man Leviticus 24:19,20.
b. in beast (reference to sacrifice) Leviticus 22:20,21,25; Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 15:21 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 17:1 (in all בְּ ׳היה מ).
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
blemish, blot, spot
Usually muwm {moom}; as if passive participle from an unused root probably meaning to stain; a blemish (physically or morally) -- blemish, blot, spot.
Forms and Transliterations
וּמ֖וּם ומום מ֔וּם מ֖וּם מ֗וּם מ֣וּם מִמּ֑וּם מֻאֽוּם׃ מֽוּם׃ מאום מוּם֙ מוּם֩ מוּמָ֑ם מוּמֽוֹ׃ מום מום׃ מומו׃ מומם ממום mim·mūm mimmūm miMum mu’ūm mu·’ūm mū·mām mū·mōw Mum mūm muMam mūmām muMo mūmōw muUm ū·mūm uMum ūmūm
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Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 21:17
HEB: יִהְיֶ֥ה בוֹ֙ מ֔וּם לֹ֣א יִקְרַ֔ב
KJV: in their generations that hath [any] blemish, let him not approach
INT: who has hath blemish No shall approach
Leviticus 21:18
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ בּ֥וֹ מ֖וּם לֹ֣א יִקְרָ֑ב
KJV: For whatsoever man [he be] that hath a blemish, he shall not approach:
INT: one who A blemish not shall approach
Leviticus 21:21
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ בּ֣וֹ מ֗וּם מִזֶּ֙רַע֙ אַהֲרֹ֣ן
KJV: No man that hath a blemish of the seed
INT: man who A blemish the descendants of Aaron
Leviticus 21:21
HEB: אִשֵּׁ֣י יְהוָ֑ה מ֣וּם בּ֔וֹ אֵ֚ת
KJV: made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh
INT: offerings the LORD'S A blemish the food of his God
Leviticus 21:23
HEB: יִגַּ֖שׁ כִּֽי־ מ֣וּם בּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֤א
KJV: unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane
INT: come because A blemish he will not profane
Leviticus 22:20
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ בּ֥וֹ מ֖וּם לֹ֣א תַקְרִ֑יבוּ
KJV: [But] whatsoever hath a blemish, [that] shall ye not offer:
INT: all manner after A blemish shall not offer
Leviticus 22:21
HEB: לְרָצ֔וֹן כָּל־ מ֖וּם לֹ֥א יִהְיֶה־
KJV: to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
INT: to be accepted shall be no blemish not become
Leviticus 22:25
HEB: מָשְׁחָתָ֤ם בָּהֶם֙ מ֣וּם בָּ֔ם לֹ֥א
KJV: of any of these; because their corruption [is] in them, [and] blemishes [be] in them: they shall not be accepted
INT: for their corruption them blemishes nor shall not be accepted
Leviticus 24:19
HEB: כִּֽי־ יִתֵּ֥ן מ֖וּם בַּעֲמִית֑וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
KJV: cause a blemish in his neighbour;
INT: If cause A blemish his neighbor he
Leviticus 24:20
HEB: כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתֵּ֥ן מוּם֙ בָּֽאָדָ֔ם כֵּ֖ן
KJV: as he hath caused a blemish in a man,
INT: it shall be inflicted A blemish A man so
Numbers 19:2
HEB: אֵֽין־ בָּהּ֙ מ֔וּם אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־
KJV: without spot, wherein [is] no blemish, [and] upon which never
INT: which is no blemish which has never
Deuteronomy 15:21
HEB: יִהְיֶ֨ה ב֜וֹ מ֗וּם פִּסֵּ֙חַ֙ א֣וֹ
KJV: And if there be [any] blemish therein, [as if it be] lame,
INT: if has there be blemish lameness or
Deuteronomy 15:21
HEB: עִוֵּ֔ר כֹּ֖ל מ֣וּם רָ֑ע לֹ֣א
KJV: [or have] any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice
INT: blindness any blemish serious shall not
Deuteronomy 17:1
HEB: יִהְיֶ֥ה בוֹ֙ מ֔וּם כֹּ֖ל דָּבָ֣ר
KJV: or sheep, wherein is blemish, [or] any evilfavouredness:
INT: which has is blemish any act
Deuteronomy 32:5
HEB: לֹ֖א בָּנָ֣יו מוּמָ֑ם דּ֥וֹר עִקֵּ֖שׁ
KJV: They have corrupted themselves, their spot [is] not [the spot] of his children:
INT: not his children their spot generation a perverse
2 Samuel 14:25
HEB: הָ֥יָה ב֖וֹ מֽוּם׃
KJV: even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
INT: no become blemish
Job 11:15
HEB: תִּשָּׂ֣א פָנֶ֣יךָ מִמּ֑וּם וְהָיִ֥יתָ מֻ֝צָ֗ק
KJV: thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast,
INT: lift your face spot become would be steadfast
Job 31:7
HEB: וּ֝בְכַפַּ֗י דָּ֣בַק מֻאֽוּם׃ פ
NAS: my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck
KJV: mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved
INT: to my hands has stuck spot
Proverbs 9:7
HEB: וּמוֹכִ֖יחַ לְרָשָׁ֣ע מוּמֽוֹ׃
KJV: a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot.
INT: reproves A wicked A blot
Songs 4:7
HEB: יָפָה֙ רַעְיָתִ֔י וּמ֖וּם אֵ֥ין בָּֽךְ׃
KJV: my love; [there is] no spot in thee.
INT: beautiful my darling spot and there
Daniel 1:4
HEB: [מְאוּם כ] (מוּם֩ ק) וְטוֹבֵ֨י
NAS: was no defect, who were good-looking,
KJV: Children in whom [was] no blemish, but well
INT: else every blemish well favoured