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תְּאֵן

𐤕𐤀𐤍

tᵉʼên

H8384 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Fig, specifically the fig tree (Ficus carica) or its fruit; denotes both the tree and its edible produce in various contexts. The term can refer to the actual fig fruit, the tree as an object of agricultural or symbolic reference, and, by extension, to products or circumstances associated with figs.

Semantic Range

fig tree, fig fruit, fig tree as a symbol of prosperity or security, the produce of the fig tree (dried or fresh), agricultural product, tree species (Ficus carica)

Root / Etymology

etymology uncertain. The word תְּאֵן (teʾen) does not fit regularly derived Semitic roots and is considered possibly of non-Semitic (foreign) origin, potentially a loanword adapted into Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, תְּאֵן refers to both the fig fruit and the tree itself. The fig is one of the seven products listed as native to the land in Deuteronomy 8:8, underscoring its agricultural and symbolic importance among Israelites. Its fruit was a staple of the ancient Israelite diet, eaten fresh or dried, and the tree was valued for both its yield and shade. The term occurs more frequently than other names for fruit trees, reflecting the abundance and prestige of figs in agrarian society. Symbolically, the fig tree often connotes peace, security, or prosperity, as in expressions like 'each man under his vine and under his fig tree' (Micah 4:4). In prophetic and wisdom literature, the withering or absence of the תְּאֵן may suggest judgment or calamity. The standard translation as 'fig' or 'fig tree' generally conveys the primary sense, but in English versions, 'fig' sometimes fails to capture the symbol-laden associations present in Hebrew culture. The term distinguishes this species from other fruit-bearing plants (e.g., גֶּפֶן gephen, 'vine/grapevine'). Usage remains consistent throughout monarchic and post-exilic periods, with no significant shift in lexical meaning, and the term continues into post-biblical Hebrew. In later Jewish and Christian translations, 'fig' may also bear theological associations, but these do not originate in the lexical meaning of the biblical Hebrew term.

Translation Consistency

primary "fig" 39 occurrences

By far the most common and natural rendering in the P2 data is ‘fig’ (and pluralized as ‘figs’). This single base covers both the tree and its fruit, and easily accommodates the agricultural and symbolic senses (prosperity/security) without awkwardness.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (in the singular, feminine) תְּאֵנָה; perhaps of foreign derivation; the fig (tree or fruit); fig (tree).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain uncertain; possibly relates to 'fig, fig tree' as a nominal designation
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

20 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8384-10 תְּאֵנִ֑ים teenim HNcfpa figs figs figs 8
H8384-08 תְאֵנָ֔ה teenah HNcfsa fig tree fig tree fig tree 5
H8384-09 תְּאֵֽנָת֔/וֹ teenato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his fig tree his fig tree his fig tree 4
H8384-02 הַ/תְּאֵנָ֔ה hateenah HTd/Ncfsa the fig tree the fig tree the fig tree 2
H8384-03 הַ/תְּאֵנִ֤ים hateenim HTd/Ncfpa the figs the fig trees the figs 2
H8384-04 כַּ/תְּאֵנִ֥ים kateenim HRd/Ncfpa like figs like figs like figs 2
H8384-11 וּ/תְאֵנָ֖ה uteenah HC/Ncfsa and-fig and fig tree and fig tree 2
H8384-18 וְ/הַ/תְּאֵנָ֧ה vehateenah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the fig tree and the fig tree and the fig tree 2
H8384-01 בַּ/תְּאֵנָ֗ה bateenah HRd/Ncfsa on the fig tree fig tree in the fig tree 1
H8384-05 כִּ/תְאֵנֵ֖י kiteeney HR/Ncfpc like-the-figs figs of like the figs of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8384-08 Genesis 3:7 תְאֵנָ֔ה teenah HNcfsa fig fig tree fig tree
H8384-03 Numbers 13:23 הַ/תְּאֵנִֽים hateenim HTd/Ncfpa the figs the fig trees the figs
H8384-11 Numbers 20:5 וּ/תְאֵנָ֤ה uteenah HC/Ncfsa and-fig and fig tree and fig tree
H8384-11 Deuteronomy 8:8 וּ/תְאֵנָ֖ה uteenah HC/Ncfsa fig trees and fig tree and fig tree
H8384-06 Judges 9:10 לַ/תְּאֵנָ֑ה lateenah HRd/Ncfsa to the fig tree to the fig tree to the fig tree
H8384-02 Judges 9:11 הַ/תְּאֵנָ֔ה hateenah HTd/Ncfsa the fig tree the fig tree the fig tree
H8384-09 1 Kings 5:5 תְּאֵֽנָת֔/וֹ teenato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his fig tree his fig tree his fig tree
H8384-09 2 Kings 18:31 תְּאֵֽנָת֔/וֹ teenato HNcfsc/Sp3ms of his fig tree his fig tree his fig tree
H8384-10 2 Kings 20:7 תְּאֵנִ֑ים teenim HNcfpa of figs figs figs
H8384-07 Isaiah 34:4 מִ/תְּאֵנָֽה miteenah HR/Ncfsa from the fig tree from a fig tree from a fig tree
H8384-09 Isaiah 36:16 תְּאֵנָת֔/וֹ teenato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his fig tree his fig tree his fig tree
H8384-10 Isaiah 38:21 תְּאֵנִ֑ים teenim HNcfpa figs figs figs
H8384-14 Jeremiah 5:17 וּ/תְאֵנָתֶ֑/ךָ uteenatekha HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms and your fig trees your fig tree and your fig tree
H8384-10 Jeremiah 8:13 תְּאֵנִ֣ים teenim HNcfpa figs figs figs
H8384-01 Jeremiah 8:13 בַּ/תְּאֵנָ֗ה bateenah HRd/Ncfsa on the fig tree fig tree in the fig tree
H8384-10 Jeremiah 24:1 תְאֵנִ֔ים teenim HNcfpa of figs figs figs
H8384-10 Jeremiah 24:2 תְּאֵנִים֙ teenim HNcfpa figs figs figs
H8384-05 Jeremiah 24:2 כִּ/תְאֵנֵ֖י kiteeney HR/Ncfpc like-the-figs figs of like the figs of
H8384-10 Jeremiah 24:2 תְּאֵנִים֙ teenim-2 HNcfpa figs figs figs
H8384-10 Jeremiah 24:3 תְּאֵנִ֑ים teenim HNcfpa figs figs figs
H8384-03 Jeremiah 24:3 הַ/תְּאֵנִ֤ים hateenim HTd/Ncfpa the-figs the fig trees the figs
H8384-04 Jeremiah 24:5 כַּ/תְּאֵנִ֥ים kateenim HRd/Ncfpa like the figs like figs like figs
H8384-19 Jeremiah 24:8 וְ/כַ/תְּאֵנִים֙ vekhateenim HC/Rd/Ncfpa and-like-the-figs and like figs and like figs
H8384-04 Jeremiah 29:17 כַּ/תְּאֵנִים֙ kateenim HRd/Ncfpa like figs like figs like figs
H8384-12 Hosea 2:14 וּ/תְאֵ֣נָתָ֔/הּ uteenatah HC/Ncfsc/Sp3fs and-her-fig-tree and her fig tree and her fig tree
H8384-20 Hosea 9:10 בִ/תְאֵנָה֙ viteenah HR/Ncfsa on the fig tree fig tree on the fig tree
H8384-15 Joel 1:7 וּ/תְאֵנָתִ֖/י uteenati HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs and my fig tree and my fig tree and my fig tree
H8384-18 Joel 1:12 וְ/הַ/תְּאֵנָ֖ה vehateenah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the fig tree and the fig tree and the fig tree
H8384-08 Joel 2:22 תְּאֵנָ֥ה teenah HNcfsa fig tree fig tree fig tree
H8384-16 Amos 4:9 וּ/תְאֵנֵי/כֶ֥ם uteeneykhem HC/Ncfpc/Sp2mp and your fig trees and your fig trees and your fig trees
H8384-09 Micah 4:4 תְּאֵנָת֖/וֹ teenato HNcfsc/Sp3ms his-fig-tree his fig tree his fig tree
H8384-10 Nahum 3:12 תְּאֵנִ֖ים teenim HNcfpa fig trees figs fig trees
H8384-08 Habakkuk 3:17 תְאֵנָ֣ה teenah HNcfsa fig tree fig tree fig tree
H8384-18 Haggai 2:19 וְ/הַ/תְּאֵנָ֧ה vehateenah HC/Td/Ncfsa and the fig tree and the fig tree and the fig tree
H8384-08 Zechariah 3:10 תְּאֵנָֽה teenah HNcfsa fig tree fig tree fig tree
H8384-13 Psalms 105:33 וּ/תְאֵנָתָ֑/ם uteenatam HC/Ncfsc/Sp3mp and their fig trees and their fig tree and their fig tree
H8384-08 Proverbs 27:18 תְּ֭אֵנָה teenah HNcfsa the fig tree fig tree fig tree
H8384-02 Song of Songs 2:13 הַ/תְּאֵנָה֙ hateenah HTd/Ncfsa the fig tree the fig tree the fig tree
H8384-17 Nehemiah 13:15 וּ/תְאֵנִים֙ uteenim HC/Ncfpa and figs and figs and figs
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