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תְּמוֹל

𐤕𐤌𐤅𐤋

tᵉmôwl

H8543 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root אתמול recent past, to be before, previously

Definition

An adverb of time indicating the recent past, most often 'yesterday' or 'previously.' Used to refer to a time just prior to the present, ranging from the immediate past ('yesterday') to an indefinite period in the past, but typically not long ago. At times, used in phrases meaning 'formerly,' 'before now,' or 'heretofore.' Frequently appears in combination with שִׁלְשׁוֹם (shilshom, 'day before yesterday') to mean 'in the two or three days past' or to evoke a vaguely recent period.

Semantic Range

yesterday, formerly, heretofore, previously, the day before this, a short time ago, in days gone by; in phrase תְּמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם: in recent days, formerly, up to now

Root / Etymology

Root: אתמול (possibly from א-ת-מ-ל, etymology uncertain); תמוֹל seems to be a contracted or variant form of אֶתְמוֹל, carrying the same meaning ('yesterday,' 'formerly'). The core meaning of the root is 'the day before the present,' but the derived form תמוֹל may function broadly to signify recent past.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תְּמוֹל predominantly indicates the previous day ('yesterday') in narrative contexts but can also refer more generally to a recent, undefined past ('formerly,' 'heretofore'). When paired with שִׁלְשׁוֹם ('day before yesterday') as תְּמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם (literally, 'yesterday, day before yesterday'), it serves as an idiom for 'recent days' or 'formerly.' The distinction from other Hebrew temporal adverbs such as פַּעַם ('once, formerly') is that תְּמוֹל limits its reference to the immediate past, whereas פַּעַם may indicate a less specific previous time. In later Hebrew and Jewish Aramaic literature, the root retains its temporal association but may acquire a somewhat broader or idiomatic sense ('previously,' 'in former times'). Standard English translations typically render תְּמוֹל as 'yesterday,' but sometimes also as 'formerly' or 'heretofore' where the context requires broader reference. Use in poetry may highlight fleetingness or contrast between past and present. The term does not carry the cyclical or ritual nuance of 'Sabbath' or feast days but is mundane and temporal.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or תְּמֹל; probably for אֶתְמוֹל; sometimes with שִׁלְשׁוֹם; properly, ago, i.e. a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before yesterday; [phrase] before (-time), [phrase] these (three) days, [phrase] heretofore, [phrase] time past, yesterday.

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Root Family

אתמול (ʾ-t-m-w-l) — recent past, previously, the day before

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H865 אֶתְמוֹל the prior day

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8543-04 תְּמ֤וֹל temol HD yesterday recently before 8
H8543-03 מִ/תְּמוֹל֙ mitemol HR/D from yesterday from previously 8
H8543-02 כִּ/תְמ֥וֹל kitemol HR/D as yesterday as previously 6
H8543-01 כִ/תְמוֹל khitemol HR/D as like yesterday 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8543-02 Genesis 31:2 כִּ/תְמ֥וֹל kitemol HR/D as as previously
H8543-02 Genesis 31:5 כִּ/תְמֹ֣ל kitemol HR/D as before as previously
H8543-03 Exodus 4:10 מִ/תְּמוֹל֙ mitemol HR/D since yesterday from previously
H8543-02 Exodus 5:7 כִּ/תְמ֣וֹל kitemol HR/D as before as previously
H8543-04 Exodus 5:8 תְּמ֤וֹל temol HD previously recently before
H8543-02 Exodus 5:14 כִּ/תְמ֣וֹל kitemol HR/D as yesterday as previously
H8543-04 Exodus 5:14 תְּמ֖וֹל temol HD yesterday recently before
H8543-03 Exodus 21:29 מִ/תְּמֹ֣ל mitemol HR/D from yesterday from previously
H8543-03 Exodus 21:36 מִ/תְּמ֣וֹל mitemol HR/D from-yesterday from previously
H8543-03 Deuteronomy 4:42 מִ/תְּמ֣וֹל mitemol HR/D from yesterday from previously
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