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תּוּר

𐤕𐤅𐤓

tûwr

H8446 verb

SILEX Entry

Root תור to seek, to explore, to survey

Definition

To seek out, explore, or examine, particularly with the intent of gathering information about a place or situation. The verb uniquely conveys the act of systematic exploring or surveying (often of land), whether for reconnaissance, evaluating suitability, or learning conditions. Extended senses include seeking, searching, or surveying more generally.

Semantic Range

to seek out, to explore, to examine for information, to survey (as land), to reconnoitre (in a primarily overt and authorized sense), to investigate, to search, to look for opportunities (in later usage—including trade, but not primarily in biblical usage)

Root / Etymology

Root: תור. The basic root meaning is 'to seek out, explore, survey.' The verb תּוּר is formed from this root and specifically refers to the action of going to observe, survey, or investigate a place or situation. The etymology is clear, although the root itself is not common outside Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תּוּר is most commonly used for reconnaissance or surveying, as when the twelve Israelite scouts are sent to explore ('spy out', Num 13–14) the land of Canaan. Unlike other verbs for spying (e.g., רגל, 'to spy, go on foot secretly'), תּוּר suggests planned, overt, and thorough examination rather than covert or surreptitious reconnaissance. Outside of military or territorial exploration, it may also refer more generally to investigation or searching (e.g., searching for pasture, 1 Chr 19:17). The sense of 'merchant' or 'trade' in some translations arises not from the core verbal meaning but from subsequent noun derivations and later usage (as reconnaissance relates to commerce/reconnoitering opportunities in trade routes), but this is far less prominent in the biblical texts. In later Hebrew, nouns from this root were associated with 'merchant' or 'trader' via the idea of journeying or travelling to seek trade. English translations such as 'spy' can be misleading, since the overt, official exploring or surveying aspect is central, as opposed to clandestine espionage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to meander (causatively, guide) about, especially fortrade or reconnoitring; chap(-man), sent to descry, be excellent, merchant(-man), search (out), seek, (e-) spy (out).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תור (t-w-r) — to seek, to explore, to survey

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8447 תּוֹר arranged rows
H8448 תּוֹר as a turn of
H8449 תּוֹר the turtledove
H8450 תּוֹר like bulls

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8446-02 לָ/ת֥וּר latur HR/Vqc to spy out to explore 8
H8446-01 הַ/תָּרִ֖ים hatarim HTd/Vqrmpa the traders the exploring ones 3
H8446-10 וְ/לָ/תוּר֙ velatur HC/R/Vqc and to explore 2
H8446-05 תַּ֣רְתִּי tareti HVqp1cs I had searched out I explored 2
H8446-04 תַּרְתֶּ֣ם taretem HVqp2mp you explored you surveyed 1
H8446-08 וַ/יָּתִ֥ירוּ vayatiru HC/Vhw3mp sent to spy out and they sent to explore 1
H8446-09 וַ/יָּתֻ֣רוּ vayaturu HC/Vqw3mp and they spied out and they explored 1
H8446-12 יָתֵ֣ר yater HVhi3ms is more excellent he will cause to survey 1
H8446-06 תָּר֣וּ taru HVqp3cp they had explored they explored 1
H8446-11 וְ/יָתֻ֨רוּ֙ veyaturu HC/Vqi3mp that they may spy out and they will explore 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8446-02 Numbers 10:33 לָ/ת֥וּר latur HR/Vqc to search out to explore
H8446-11 Numbers 13:2 וְ/יָתֻ֨רוּ֙ veyaturu HC/Vqi3mp that they may spy out and they will explore
H8446-02 Numbers 13:16 לָ/ת֣וּר latur HR/Vqc to spy out to explore
H8446-02 Numbers 13:17 לָ/ת֖וּר latur HR/Vqc to spy out to explore
H8446-09 Numbers 13:21 וַ/יָּתֻ֣רוּ vayaturu HC/Vqw3mp and they spied out and they explored
H8446-03 Numbers 13:25 מִ/תּ֣וּר mitur HR/Vqc from exploring from surveying
H8446-06 Numbers 13:32 תָּר֣וּ taru HVqp3cp they had explored they explored
H8446-02 Numbers 13:32 לָ/ת֣וּר latur HR/Vqc to explore to explore
H8446-01 Numbers 14:6 הַ/תָּרִ֖ים hatarim HTd/Vqrmpa the explorers the exploring ones
H8446-02 Numbers 14:7 לָ/ת֣וּר latur HR/Vqc to spy to explore
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