הַ/תֹּ֗הוּ
𐤄/𐤕𐤄𐤅
hatohu
the futile things
from an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain; confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness.
1 Samuel 12:21 · Word #5
Lexicon H8414
| Lemma | תֹּהוּ |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤕𐤄𐤅 |
| Transliteration | tôhûw |
| Strong's | H8414 |
| In-context | the futile things |
Morphology HTd/Ncmsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | m — Masculine — Masculine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
SIBI-P1 H8414-02
the wasteness
| Root | תהו (t-h-w) |
| Core Meanings | wasteness, emptiness, formlessness, desolation, futility |
| Semantic Range | formless emptiness, desert waste, desolation, nothingness, futility, vanity, chaos |
| Conceptual Significance | תֹּהוּ describes primordial formlessness (e.g., Genesis 1:2) and can denote utter futility or worthlessness in prophetic literature, highlighting the contrast between YHWH’s creative order and the emptiness of chaos or idols. |
| Morphological Notes | Masculine singular common noun in the absolute state with prefixed definite article (הַ + תֹּהוּ). |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun תֹּהוּ is a masculine singular absolute form with the definite article (הַ), thus "the wasteness." Rendering it as an abstract singular preserves both its grammatical number and its core sense of desolate emptiness rather than translating it as a plural ("things"). |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root תהו (wasteness, emptiness, formlessness, desolation, futility)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H8414-01 |
betohu | in wasteness |
H8414-03 |
katohu | like the formless waste |
H8414-04 |
letohu | to wasteness |
Word Usage (20 occurrences of H8414)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesis 1:2 | תֹ֨הוּ֙ | tohu | formless |
| Deuteronomy 32:10 | וּ/בְ/תֹ֖הוּ | uvetohu | and in desolation |
| 1 Samuel 12:21 | הַ/תֹּ֗הוּ | hatohu | the futile things |