8414. tohu

Lexicon

tohu: Formlessness, emptiness, confusion, chaos, nothingness

Original Word: תֹּהוּ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tohuw
Pronunciation: TOH-hoo
Phonetic Spelling: (to'-hoo)
Definition: Formlessness, emptiness, confusion, chaos, nothingness
Meaning: a desolation, desert, a worthless thing, in vain

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Tidal

From an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), i.e. Desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain -- confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness
NASB Translation
chaos (1), confusion (1), desolation (1), emptiness (1), empty space (1), formless (2), futile (2), futile things (1), meaningless (2), meaningless arguments (1), nothing (2), waste (3), waste place (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

תֹּ֫הוּ noun masculine^{1Samuel 12:21} (Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 112}) formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness (primary meaning difficult to seize; Vrss usually Κενόν, οὐδέν, μάταιον, inane, vacuum, vanum; compare Lag^{Or. ii. 60}; BN 144); —

1 formlessness, of primaeval earth Genesis 1:2 (P), of land reduced to primaeval chaos Jeremiah 4:23 (both + וָבֹהוּ and voidness), Isaiah 34:11 ׳קַותֿֿ ("" אַבְנֵי בֹהוּ), Isaiah 45:18 בְרָאָהּ ׳לֹא ת ("" לָשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָתּ); Isaiah 24:10 ׳קִרְיַתאתּ city of chaos (of ruined city); = nothingness, empty space, Job 26:7 תֹּלֶה אֶרֶץ ׳עַלתּֿ; of empty, trackless waste Deuteronomy 32:10 ("" מִדְבָּר), Job 6:18; Job 12:24 = Psalm 107:40.

2 figurative of what is empty, unreal, as idols 1 Samuel 12:21 (collective: אֲשֶׁר ׳אַחֲרֵי הַתּ לֹא יוֺעִילוּ), 1 Samuel 12:21; Isaiah 41:29 נִסְכֵּיהֶם ׳רוּחַ וָת, Isaiah 44:9 (of idol-makers), groundless arguments or considerations, Isaiah 29:21 צַדִּיק ׳וַיַּטּוּ בַתּ, Isaiah 59:4 moral unreality or falsehood ׳בָּטוֺחַ עַלאתּ ("" וְדַבֶּרשָֿׁוְא); = a thing of nought (compare Ecclus 41:10 מתהו אל תהו), Isaiah 40:17 ("" אַיִן אֶפֶס), Isaiah 40:23 עָשָׂה ׳שֹׁפְטֵי אֶרֶץ כַּתּ ("" לְאַיִן), worthlessness Isaiah 49:19 וְהֶבֶל כֹּחִי כִלֵּיתִי ׳לְת ("" לְרִיק יָגַעְתִּי); as adverb accusative Isaiah 45:19 I said not, תֹּהוּ בַקְּשׁוּנִי seek me emptily, to no purpose. compare Isaiah 29:13 ᵐ5 וְתֹהוּ for וַתְּהִי.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to lie waste.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G94 (ἀκαταστασία, akatastasia): Refers to instability or disorder, often used in the context of confusion or tumult.
• G517 (ἀπορία, aporia): Denotes a state of perplexity or being at a loss, akin to confusion or lack of direction.
• G1373 (δυσώδης, dusōdēs): While not a direct translation, it conveys a sense of something being foul or offensive, which can metaphorically relate to the desolation implied by "tohu."
• G2048 (ἔρημος, erēmos): Translates to "desert" or "wilderness," directly corresponding to the desolate aspect of "tohu."
• G2756 (κενός, kenos): Means "empty" or "vain," capturing the futility aspect of "tohu."
• G3152 (ματαιότης, mataiotēs): Refers to vanity or emptiness, often used to describe the futility of human endeavors apart from God.

This lexical entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the Hebrew word "tohu," its usage in the Bible, and its theological significance, along with corresponding Greek terms that capture similar concepts.

Usage: The term "tohu" is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a state of formlessness, emptiness, or chaos. It often conveys the idea of desolation or a wasteland, and can also imply something that is futile or without purpose.

Context: • General Overview: The Hebrew word "tohu" appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often describing a state of disorder or emptiness. It is famously used in Genesis 1:2, where the earth is described as "formless and void" (tohu va-bohu) before God begins the work of creation. This phrase sets the stage for the creative order that follows, highlighting the transformation from chaos to cosmos.

• Theological Implications: The use of "tohu" in the creation narrative underscores the power of God to bring order out of chaos. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over the universe and His ability to bring purpose and structure to what is otherwise formless and empty.

• Other Biblical References:
• In Deuteronomy 32:10, God finds Israel in a "desert land" (tohu), symbolizing a place of barrenness and danger, yet also a place where God provides and protects.
• Isaiah 24:10 describes a "city of chaos" (tohu), indicating a place of confusion and desolation.
• In Isaiah 45:18, God declares that He did not create the earth to be "empty" (tohu), but formed it to be inhabited, emphasizing His intentional design and purpose for creation.

• Symbolic Usage: Beyond its literal sense, "tohu" can symbolize spiritual or moral emptiness. It is used metaphorically to describe idolatry and false worship as "worthless" or "in vain" (e.g., Isaiah 41:29), highlighting the futility of trusting in anything other than the true God.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּתֹ֣הוּ בַתֹּ֖הוּ בַתֹּ֣הוּ בתהו הַתֹּ֗הוּ התהו וָתֹ֖הוּ וּבְתֹ֖הוּ ובתהו ותהו כַּתֹּ֥הוּ כתהו לְתֹ֥הוּ לתהו תֹ֖הוּ תֹ֙הוּ֙ תֹ֥הוּ תֹּ֑הוּ תֹּ֔הוּ תֹּ֙הוּ֙ תֹּ֣הוּ תהו ḇat·tō·hū ḇattōhū bə·ṯō·hū beTohu bəṯōhū hat·tō·hū hatTohu hattōhū kat·tō·hū katTohu kattōhū lə·ṯō·hū leTohu ləṯōhū tō·hū ṯō·hū tohu tōhū ṯōhū ū·ḇə·ṯō·hū ūḇəṯōhū uveTohu vaTohu vatTohu wā·ṯō·hū wāṯōhū

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 1:2
HEB: וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ
NAS: The earth was formless and void,
KJV: was without form, and void;
INT: the earth was was formless and void and darkness

Deuteronomy 32:10
HEB: בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִדְבָּ֔ר וּבְתֹ֖הוּ יְלֵ֣ל יְשִׁמֹ֑ן
NAS: And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
KJV: land, and in the waste howling
INT: land A desert waste the howling of a wilderness

1 Samuel 12:21
HEB: כִּ֣י ׀ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַתֹּ֗הוּ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־
NAS: for [then you would go] after futile things
KJV: for [then should ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit
INT: because after futile which not

1 Samuel 12:21
HEB: יַצִּ֖ילוּ כִּי־ תֹ֥הוּ הֵֽמָּה׃
NAS: futile things which
KJV: nor deliver; for they [are] vain.
INT: deliver because things like

Job 6:18
HEB: דַּרְכָּ֑ם יַעֲל֖וּ בַתֹּ֣הוּ וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃
NAS: They go up into nothing and perish.
KJV: they go to nothing, and perish.
INT: of their course go nothing and perish

Job 12:24
HEB: הָאָ֑רֶץ וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם בְּתֹ֣הוּ לֹא־ דָֽרֶךְ׃
NAS: in a pathless waste.
KJV: and causeth them to wander in a wilderness [where there is] no way.
INT: of the earth's wander waste no way

Job 26:7
HEB: צָפ֣וֹן עַל־ תֹּ֑הוּ תֹּ֥לֶה אֶ֝֗רֶץ
NAS: over empty space And hangs
KJV: the north over the empty place, [and] hangeth
INT: the north over empty and hangs the earth

Psalm 107:40
HEB: נְדִיבִ֑ים וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם בְּתֹ֣הוּ לֹא־ דָֽרֶךְ׃
NAS: in a pathless waste.
KJV: and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.
INT: princes wander waste no way

Isaiah 24:10
HEB: נִשְׁבְּרָ֖ה קִרְיַת־ תֹּ֑הוּ סֻגַּ֥ר כָּל־
NAS: The city of chaos is broken down;
KJV: The city of confusion is broken down:
INT: is broken the city of chaos is shut Every

Isaiah 29:21
HEB: יְקֹשׁ֑וּן וַיַּטּ֥וּ בַתֹּ֖הוּ צַדִּֽיק׃ ס
NAS: the one in the right with meaningless arguments.
KJV: the just for a thing of nought.
INT: and ensnare and defraud meaningless the one

Isaiah 34:11
HEB: עָלֶ֛יהָ קַֽו־ תֹ֖הוּ וְאַבְנֵי־ בֹֽהוּ׃
NAS: it the line of desolation And the plumb line
KJV: upon it the line of confusion, and the stones
INT: over the line of desolation and the plumb of emptiness

Isaiah 40:17
HEB: נֶגְדּ֑וֹ מֵאֶ֥פֶס וָתֹ֖הוּ נֶחְשְׁבוּ־ לֽוֹ׃
NAS: than nothing and meaningless.
KJV: to him less than nothing, and vanity.
INT: before less and meaningless are regarded

Isaiah 40:23
HEB: שֹׁ֥פְטֵי אֶ֖רֶץ כַּתֹּ֥הוּ עָשָֽׂה׃
NAS: the judges of the earth meaningless.
KJV: the judges of the earth as vanity.
INT: the judges of the earth meaningless makes

Isaiah 41:29
HEB: מַעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם ר֥וּחַ וָתֹ֖הוּ נִסְכֵּיהֶֽם׃ פ
NAS: are wind and emptiness.
KJV: [are] wind and confusion.
INT: their works are wind and emptiness their molten

Isaiah 44:9
HEB: פֶ֤סֶל כֻּלָּם֙ תֹּ֔הוּ וַחֲמוּדֵיהֶ֖ם בַּל־
NAS: are all of them futile, and their precious things
KJV: a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and their delectable things
INT: A graven are all futile and their precious no

Isaiah 45:18
HEB: כֽוֹנְנָ֔הּ לֹא־ תֹ֥הוּ בְרָאָ֖הּ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת
NAS: it [and] did not create it a waste place, [but] formed
KJV: it, he created it not in vain, he formed
INT: established not a waste create to be inhabited

Isaiah 45:19
HEB: לְזֶ֥רַע יַעֲקֹ֖ב תֹּ֣הוּ בַקְּשׁ֑וּנִי אֲנִ֤י
NAS: Seek Me in a waste place; I, the LORD,
KJV: Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD
INT: to the offspring of Jacob a waste Seek I

Isaiah 49:4
HEB: לְרִ֣יק יָגַ֔עְתִּי לְתֹ֥הוּ וְהֶ֖בֶל כֹּחִ֣י
NAS: My strength for nothing and vanity;
KJV: my strength for nought, and in vain:
INT: vain have toiled nothing and vanity my strength

Isaiah 59:4
HEB: בָּט֤וֹחַ עַל־ תֹּ֙הוּ֙ וְדַבֶּר־ שָׁ֔וְא
NAS: They trust in confusion and speak
KJV: they trust in vanity, and speak
INT: trust in confusion and speak lies

Jeremiah 4:23
HEB: הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִנֵּה־ תֹ֖הוּ וָבֹ֑הוּ וְאֶל־
NAS: and behold, [it was] formless and void;
KJV: the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void;
INT: the earth and behold formless and void and to

20 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8414
20 Occurrences

bə·ṯō·hū — 2 Occ.
hat·tō·hū — 1 Occ.
kat·tō·hū — 1 Occ.
lə·ṯō·hū — 1 Occ.
ṯō·hū — 10 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ṯō·hū — 1 Occ.
wā·ṯō·hū — 2 Occ.
ḇat·tō·hū — 2 Occ.