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תֵּבָה

𐤕𐤁𐤄

têbâh

H8392 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain container, chest, protective enclosure

Definition

A chest or container, specifically a large box designed to float or protect its contents. In the Hebrew Bible, the term designates an ark—namely, the vessel constructed by Noah to preserve life during the flood, and the basket made to conceal the infant Moses among the reeds. While the core sense is of a sizable, enclosed, protective container (often watertight), its contextual applications are specialized: the enormous vessel for Noah and the small container for Moses. The word denotes a protective enclosure, primarily for deliverance from danger by water. It does not mean 'ark' in the sense of the sacred container for the tablets of the covenant (which is ארון, ʾarôn).

Semantic Range

large protective vessel (Noah's ark), small floating container (basket for Moses)

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain—possibly of non-Hebrew (foreign) origin. There is no clear cognate in Semitic languages. The word does not align with the expected developments from Hebrew roots meaning 'box' or 'chest.' Some suggest Egyptian derivation (cf. Egyptian tebet, box), but a precise etymology remains inconclusive.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word appears exclusively in two narrative traditions: Genesis 6–9 (the so-called 'Noah's Ark') and Exodus 2 (the container for Moses). In both, the תֵּבָה is associated with protection in the face of watery peril and is a vessel of deliverance. Its use is distinct from ארון (ʾarôn), which designates the sacred ark of the covenant or other types of chests. English Bibles typically render תֵּבָה as 'ark' for both Noah and Moses, but this conflates two distinct Hebrew terms. The Greek Septuagint translates תֵּבָה as κιβωτός (kibōtos), the same as for ארון, contributing to later conflation. In later Jewish and Christian traditions, 'ark' became the common English translation, but the original Hebrew preserves the distinction. No evidence exists for the term's usage in the sense of 'boat' or 'ship' outside these narratives; nor does it serve as a general word for box or chest in biblical Hebrew. Thus, its semantic range is almost wholly set by these two stories, both involving deliverance of life through watery judgment or threat, highlighting its association with divine protection.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps of foreign derivation; a box; ark.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תבה (uncertain) (t-b-h (uncertain)) — container, chest, protective enclosure

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8392-02 הַ/תֵּבָ֑ה hatevah HTd/Ncfsa the ark the protective vessel 23
H8392-04 תֵּבַ֣ת tevat HNcfsc an ark of protective container of 2
H8392-01 בַּ/תֵּבָֽה batevah HRd/Ncfsa in the ark in the protective chest 2
H8392-03 לַ/תֵּבָ֗ה latevah HRd/Ncfsa for the ark protective chest 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8392-04 Genesis 6:14 תֵּבַ֣ת tevat HNcfsc an ark protective container of
H8392-02 Genesis 6:14 הַ/תֵּבָ֑ה hatevah HTd/Ncfsa the ark the protective vessel
H8392-02 Genesis 6:15 הַ/תֵּבָ֔ה hatevah HTd/Ncfsa of the ark the protective vessel
H8392-03 Genesis 6:16 לַ/תֵּבָ֗ה latevah HRd/Ncfsa for the ark protective chest
H8392-02 Genesis 6:16 הַ/תֵּבָ֖ה hatevah HTd/Ncfsa of the ark the protective vessel
H8392-02 Genesis 6:18 הַ/תֵּבָ֔ה hatevah HTd/Ncfsa the ark the protective vessel
H8392-02 Genesis 6:19 הַ/תֵּבָ֖ה hatevah HTd/Ncfsa the ark the protective vessel
H8392-02 Genesis 7:1 הַ/תֵּבָ֑ה hatevah HTd/Ncfsa the ark the protective vessel
H8392-02 Genesis 7:7 הַ/תֵּבָ֑ה hatevah HTd/Ncfsa the ark the protective vessel
H8392-02 Genesis 7:9 הַ/תֵּבָ֖ה hatevah HTd/Ncfsa the ark the protective vessel
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