תָּוָה
𐤕𐤅𐤄
tâvâh
H8428 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To mark, describe, delineate, or trace out, especially in reference to boundaries or lines; by extension, to inscribe or sketch. In some contexts, the term is used with the nuance of drawing or sketching with a physical implement (such as marking out on a surface), but in poetic or metaphorical usage may refer to describing or outlining an idea, fate, or path.
Semantic Range
to mark out, delineate, trace, describe, inscribe, sketch, engrave
Root / Etymology
Root תוה (t-v-h) carries the core sense of 'to mark, delineate, describe.' The root suggests the act of making a mark or boundary, often by drawing or tracing. The primary verb תָּוָה derives directly from this root, indicating marking, usually in the sense of defining a space or path. Occasionally confusion with roots associated with grief or limit appears in some dictionaries, but primary usage relates to marking or defining.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Used infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Job 19:23 where it clearly means 'to inscribe' or 'engrave.' Some older lexicons, influenced by later semantic shifts, have connected the root to meanings like 'to grieve' or 'to limit,' but this is not well-attested in extant Hebrew texts; such confusion may stem from similarity to other roots (e.g., תָוָה meaning 'to desire, to mark'). In early periods, the verb primarily referred to the act of making a line or inscription, which could be physical (e.g., marking on stone) or metaphorical (defining a fate or destiny). English translations vary, sometimes rendering as 'inscribe,' 'engrave,' or 'mark out,' but often flatten the nuance of physically tracing or drawing. This root is distinct from words meaning 'to grieve' or 'to limit,' despite etymological overlap suggested in some lexical works. The rarity of the verb in biblical texts limits the range of observed usages, but where it appears, the connotation is clearly of delineating by marking.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (or perhaps identical with תָּוָה through a similar idea from scraping to pieces); to grieve; limit (by confusion with תָּוָה).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תוה (t-v-h) — to mark, delineate, inscribe
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8420 | תָּו | the distinguishing mark |
| H8427 | תָּוָה | and he inscribed |
| H8429 | תְּוַהּ | he was astonished |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8428-01 |
הִתְווּ | hitevu | HVhp3cp |
they grieved | they marked out | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8428-01 |
Psalms 78:41 | הִתְווּ | hitevu | HVhp3cp |
they grieved | they marked out |