טָוָה
𐤈𐤅𐤄
ṭâvâh
H2901 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To spin fibers into thread or yarn by twisting together strands of material, typically involving the manual use of a spindle. The term is used especially in reference to women's domestic labor in the ancient home, producing textile materials from raw fibers such as wool, flax, or goat hair. In its extended usage, it may refer more generally to the process of making thread or yarn, or, by metonymy, to the work of weaving, although the primary lexical meaning is the manual act of spinning.
Semantic Range
to spin thread or yarn, to twist fibers together, to perform the act of spinning as domestic labor
Root / Etymology
Root: טוה. The root טוה conveys the idea of twisting or spinning fibers together. The verb טָוָה is a direct verbal formation from the root, retaining this core sense and is attested in other Semitic languages (e.g., Aramaic טוי, Arabic طوىṭawā 'to twist, fold').
Historical & Contextual Notes
Usage of טָוָה is limited in biblical Hebrew, appearing in contexts that emphasize household textile production, a critical component of the economic life of ancient Israelite families. Its strongest attestations are in descriptions of skilled women's labor (e.g., Exodus 35:25–26), often in connection with the preparation of materials for sanctuary construction or domestic garments. Spinning was distinguished from weaving (ארג), with spinning denoting the production of thread and weaving the formation of fabric. In rabbinic literature, its meaning remains consistent, and the activity is often cited as a paradigmatic example of productive labor. Later translations, including the King James and other English Bibles, sometimes obscure the specific distinction between spinning and weaving, but the Hebrew clearly marks טָוָה as spinning. The term does not undergo significant semantic shift over time and is not associated with metaphorical or abstract senses in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to spin; spin.
Bantu Hebrew
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טוה (ṭ-w-h) — to spin thread, twist fibers
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2901-01 |
טָו֑וּ | tavu | HVqp3cp |
spun | they spun thread | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2901-01 |
Exodus 35:25 | טָו֑וּ | tavu | HVqp3cp |
spun | they spun thread |
H2901-01 |
Exodus 35:26 | טָו֖וּ | tavu | HVqp3cp |
spun | they spun thread |