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תַּחְבֻּלָה

𐤕𐤇𐤁𐤋𐤄

tachbulâh

H8458 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Steering guidance or the art of skillfully managing or directing a course, both in literal navigation (steering a ship) and, more commonly, in an abstract sense of skillful counsel, strategic advice, prudent planning, or sagacious guidance for action. The term embodies deliberation and the capacity for wise, insightful decision-making, especially in contexts requiring strategic or prudent direction.

Semantic Range

steering (literal), navigation, skillful management, strategic counsel, prudent plan, wise guidance, sagacious advice, calculated direction

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חבל ('to bind, bind fast, pledge, take as a pledge') and the noun חבל ('cord, rope, territory'), תַּחְבֻּלָה emerges as a denominative form meaning literally 'the act of handling ropes' (i.e., steering or managing), with the abstract development toward counsel or strategy paralleling the metaphorical use of navigating a course. The etymology thus connects the original, concrete activity of managing ropes (navigation) with the abstract concept of guiding or advising.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תַּחְבֻּלָה is never used for casual advice but rather for considered, strategic guidance, often attributed to wise individuals seeking success or the avoidance of disaster (e.g., Proverbs). In earlier periods, the maritime or navigational nuance may have been more vivid, but in the literary and wisdom traditions, it more commonly signifies sagacious deliberation, prudent planning, and expert counsel. The translation 'counsel' can narrow the term's nuance, which often carries implications of skill, forethought, and even shrewdness. Distinct from simple advice (עֵצָה), תַּחְבֻּלָה is guidance that involves calculation, expertise, or creative problem-solving. Later Jewish tradition sometimes extends the sense to include tactical wit or subtlety. The term is closely tied to the literature of wisdom in the Hebrew Bible and not commonly used in legal or prophetic texts.

Translation Consistency

primary "guidance" 4 occurrences

"Guidance" naturally covers both literal steering/navigation and the more common abstract sense of wise counsel, prudent planning, and strategic direction. It is plain, natural English and fits the typical uses in the SILEX range, so it will yield consistent, idiomatic renderings across all forms.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"strategic steerings" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or תַּחְבּוּלָה; from חָבַל as denominative from חֶבֶל; (only in plural) properly, steerage (as a management of ropes), i.e. (figuratively) guidance or (by implication) a plan; good advice, (wise) counsels.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

חבל (chăbûwlâh) — to bind, pledge, damage, destroy

Root חבל to bind, pledge, bind with cords, manage ropes
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2248 חֲבוּלָה injury
H2254 חָבַל he bound
H2255 חֲבַל they severely harmed me
H2256 חֶבֶל in her binding-cords
H2257 חֲבַל he harmed

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8458-02 תַּחְבֻּל֥וֹת tachebulot HNcfpa counsels strategic steerings strategic steerings 3
H8458-01 בְּ/תַחְבּוּלֹתָ֣י/ו betachebulotayv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms by his guidances by his steering-strategies by his guidances 1
H8458-03 וּ֝/בְ/תַחְבֻּל֗וֹת uvetachebulot HC/R/Ncfpa and by wise guidance steering strategies and by skillful guidance 1
H8458-04 בְ֭/תַחְבֻּלוֹת vetachebulot HR/Ncfpa by wise guidance by steering-guidances by skillful guidance 1
H8458-05 ב/תחבולת/ו vtchvvltv HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms by his guidance his strategic steering by his guidance 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8458-02 Proverbs 1:5 תַּחְבֻּל֥וֹת tachebulot HNcfpa wise counsel strategic steerings strategic steerings
H8458-02 Proverbs 11:14 תַּ֭חְבֻּלוֹת tachebulot HNcfpa guidance strategic steerings strategic steerings
H8458-02 Proverbs 12:5 תַּחְבֻּל֖וֹת tachebulot HNcfpc counsels strategic steerings strategic steerings
H8458-03 Proverbs 20:18 וּ֝/בְ/תַחְבֻּל֗וֹת uvetachebulot HC/R/Ncfpa and by wise guidance steering strategies and by skillful guidance
H8458-04 Proverbs 24:6 בְ֭/תַחְבֻּלוֹת vetachebulot HR/Ncfpa by wise guidance by steering-guidances by skillful guidance
H8458-05 Job 37:12 ב/תחבולת/ו vtchvvltv HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms by his guidance his strategic steering by his guidance
H8458-01 Job 37:12 בְּ/תַחְבּוּלֹתָ֣י/ו betachebulotayv HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms by his guidances by his steering-strategies by his guidances
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