8415. tehom

Strong's Lexicon

tehom: Deep, abyss, depths, primeval ocean

Original Word: תְּהוֹם
Part of Speech: Noun
Transliteration: thowm
Pronunciation: teh-HOME
Phonetic Spelling: (teh-home')
Definition: Deep, abyss, depths, primeval ocean
Meaning: an abyss, the deep

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be agitated or to roar.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent often used in the Septuagint (LXX) for "tehom" is ἄβυσσος (abussos), Strong's Greek #12, which also means abyss or deep.

Usage: The Hebrew word "tehom" refers to the deep, often associated with the primordial waters or the abyss. It is used to describe the vast, chaotic waters that existed before creation, as well as the depths of the sea. In the biblical context, "tehom" often symbolizes chaos, mystery, and the unknown, contrasting with the order and life brought by God's creative power.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, the concept of a primordial ocean or abyss was common. Many cultures, including the Babylonians and Egyptians, had myths involving a chaotic sea that existed before the ordered world. In the Hebrew Bible, "tehom" is not personified as a deity but is subject to the sovereign power of God, who brings order out of chaos. This reflects the biblical worldview that God is supreme over all creation, including the chaotic forces represented by the deep.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
deep, sea, abyss
NASB Translation
deep (22), deeps (8), depths (4), ocean depths (1), springs (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

תִּהוֺם noun feminine^{Genesis 7:11 7t.}

and masculine^{Job 28:14 5t.} (Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 62} Kö^{ii. 2. 167 Ency. Bib}.^DEEP) deep, sea, abyss (almost always in poetry); — absolute ׳ת Genesis 1:2 +; plural absolute תְּהֹמוֺת Psalm 77:17 +, etc., ׳בַּתּ Isaiah 63:13 + Isa 106:9 (only here with article); construct תְּהוֺמוֺת Isa 71:20 (but see 5 infra); —

1 deep, of subterranean waters, Genesis 49:25 (poem in J; opposed to שָׁמַיִם), Deuteronomy 33:13 (opposed to id.); ׳רַבָּה מַעְיְנוֺת ת Genesis 7:11; Genesis 8:2 (P; "" אֲרֻבֹּת הַשָּׁמַיִם), ׳עִינוֺת ת Proverbs 8:28 ("" שְׁחָקִים), Job 28:14; Job 38:16 (both "" יָם); תְּהוֺם רַבָּה Amos 7:4 (probably), רַבָּה ׳מִשְׁמָּטֶיךָ ת Psalm 36:7 (opposed to אֵל צִדְקָֽתְךָ כְּהַרְרֵי), Isaiah 51:10 (perhaps); so plural תְּהֹמוֺת, Proverbs 8:24 ("" מַעְיָנוֺת), Proverbs 3:20 (opposed to שְׁחָקִים), and probably Psalm 33:7 ("" מֵי הַיָּם), Psalm 135:6 ( + יַמִּים).

2 (deep) sea, overwhelming Tyre Ezekiel 26:19 ("" הַמַּיִם הָרַבִּים), roaring at theoph. Habakkuk 3:10; in General, "" יָם, Job 38:30 (׳מְּנֵי ת); "" מַיִם Jonah 2:6; alonE Job 41:24; figurative, קוֺרַא ׳אֶלתֿ ׳ת Job 42:8 ("" מִשְׁבָּרִים, גַּלִּים; but possibly here of Jordan, compare

4); in plural = abysses of sea, Exodus 15:5,8 (of Red Sea, so) Isaiah 63:13 "" Psalm 106:9; Psalm 77:17; also Psalm 78:15 (in simile), Psalm 107:26 (poetic of hollows of great waves, opposed to שָׁמַיִם); vaguely, כָּלתְּֿהֹמוֺת Psalm 135:6; Psalm 148:7.

3 primaeval ocean, deep, in Hebrew cosmogony, ׳מְּנֵי ת Genesis 1:2 (P; "" מְּנֵי הַמַּיִם), Proverbs 8:27 ("" שָׁמַיִם), Psalm 104:6. — (compare, further, Gunk^{Schöpfung u. Chaos 21 ff.} OCWhitehouse^{Hast. DB COSMOGONY} Zim^{KAT3. 492 f., 509 f., 585}).

4 deep, depth, of river Ezekiel 31:4 (Nile; "" מַיִם, + נַהֲרוֺתֶיהָ), Ezekiel 31:15 ("" id.); plural of bursts of water fertilizing Canaan, יוצאים בבקעה ובהר Deuteronomy 8:7 ( + עֲיָנֹת, נַחֲלֵי מַיִם). — On Psalm 42:8 see

2. 5. abyss (si vera lectio): תְּהוֺמוֺת הָאָרֶץ = Shejôl, Psalm 71:20, but Ol We תַּחְתִיּוֺת.

[תַּחְמֻּכָה] see הפך. תָּו see תוה. below,

תּוֺא see תְּאוֺ. [תּוֺאָם] see תאם.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, vain, vanity, waste,

Or thom {teh-home'}; (usually feminine) from huwm; an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean water-supply) -- deep (place), depth.

see HEBREW huwm

Forms and Transliterations

בַּ֝תְּהֹמ֗וֹת בַּתְּהֹמ֑וֹת בתהמות וּֽמִתְּהֹמ֥וֹת וּמִתְּה֖וֹם וּתְהֹמֹ֔ת ומתהום ומתהמות ותהמת כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת כתהמות תְ֝ה֗וֹם תְּ֝ה֗וֹם תְּ֭הוֹם תְּה֔וֹם תְּה֖וֹם תְּה֣וֹם תְּהֹמ֥וֹת תְּהֹמֹ֖ת תְּהֹמֽוֹת׃ תְּהֽוֹם־ תְּהוֹם֙ תְּהוֹם׃ תְּהוֹמ֣וֹת תְּהוֹמֽוֹת׃ תְה֑וֹם תְהֹמֹ֖ת תְהֹמֽוֹת׃ תְהֽוֹם׃ תְהוֹמ֑וֹת תהום תהום־ תהום׃ תהומות תהומות׃ תהמות תהמות׃ תהמת bat·tə·hō·mō·wṯ battehoMot battəhōmōwṯ kiṯ·hō·mō·wṯ kithoMot kiṯhōmōwṯ tə·hō·mō·wṯ ṯə·hō·mō·wṯ tə·hō·mōṯ ṯə·hō·mōṯ tə·hō·w·mō·wṯ ṯə·hō·w·mō·wṯ tə·hō·wm ṯə·hō·wm tə·hō·wm- teHom tehoMot təhōmōṯ ṯəhōmōṯ təhōmōwṯ ṯəhōmōwṯ təhōwm ṯəhōwm təhōwm- təhōwmōwṯ ṯəhōwmōwṯ ū·mit·tə·hō·mō·wṯ ū·mit·tə·hō·wm ū·ṯə·hō·mōṯ umitteHom umittehoMot ūmittəhōmōwṯ ūmittəhōwm utehoMot ūṯəhōmōṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 1:2
HEB: עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים
NAS: the surface of the deep, and the Spirit
KJV: [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit
INT: was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God

Genesis 7:11
HEB: כָּֽל־ מַעְיְנֹת֙ תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֔ה וַאֲרֻבֹּ֥ת
NAS: of the great deep burst open,
KJV: of the great deep broken up,
INT: all the fountains deep of the great and the floodgates

Genesis 8:2
HEB: וַיִּסָּֽכְרוּ֙ מַעְיְנֹ֣ת תְּה֔וֹם וַֽאֲרֻבֹּ֖ת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם
NAS: Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates
KJV: The fountains also of the deep and the windows
INT: were closed the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky

Genesis 49:25
HEB: מֵעָ֔ל בִּרְכֹ֥ת תְּה֖וֹם רֹבֶ֣צֶת תָּ֑חַת
NAS: Blessings of the deep that lies
KJV: blessings of the deep that lieth
INT: and Blessings of the deep lies beneath

Exodus 15:5
HEB: תְּהֹמֹ֖ת יְכַסְיֻ֑מוּ יָרְד֥וּ
NAS: The deeps cover them; They went down
KJV: The depths have covered
INT: the deeps cover went

Exodus 15:8
HEB: נֹזְלִ֑ים קָֽפְא֥וּ תְהֹמֹ֖ת בְּלֶב־ יָֽם׃
NAS: a heap; The deeps were congealed
KJV: as an heap, [and] the depths were congealed
INT: the flowing were congealed the deeps the heart of the sea

Deuteronomy 8:7
HEB: מָ֔יִם עֲיָנֹת֙ וּתְהֹמֹ֔ת יֹצְאִ֥ים בַּבִּקְעָ֖ה
NAS: of fountains and springs, flowing forth
KJV: of fountains and depths that spring out
INT: of water of fountains and springs flowing valleys

Deuteronomy 33:13
HEB: שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִטָּ֔ל וּמִתְּה֖וֹם רֹבֶ֥צֶת תָּֽחַת׃
NAS: with the dew, And from the deep lying
KJV: for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
INT: of heaven the dew the deep lying beneath

Job 28:14
HEB: תְּה֣וֹם אָ֭מַר לֹ֣א
NAS: The deep says,
KJV: The depth saith,
INT: the deep says not

Job 38:16
HEB: יָ֑ם וּבְחֵ֥קֶר תְּ֝ה֗וֹם הִתְהַלָּֽכְתָּ׃
NAS: Or walked in the recesses of the deep?
KJV: in the search of the depth?
INT: of the sea the recesses confusion walked

Job 38:30
HEB: יִתְחַבָּ֑אוּ וּפְנֵ֥י תְ֝ה֗וֹם יִתְלַכָּֽדוּ׃
NAS: And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
KJV: and the face of the deep is frozen.
INT: becomes and the surface of the deep is imprisoned

Job 41:32
HEB: נָתִ֑יב יַחְשֹׁ֖ב תְּה֣וֹם לְשֵׂיבָֽה׃ אֵֽין־
NAS: One would think the deep to be gray-haired.
KJV: him; [one] would think the deep [to be] hoary.
INT: A wake think the deep to be gray-haired else

Psalm 33:7
HEB: נֹתֵ֖ן בְּאֹצָר֣וֹת תְּהוֹמֽוֹת׃
NAS: He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
KJV: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
INT: lays storehouses the deeps

Psalm 36:6
HEB: אֵ֗ל מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶךָ תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֑ה אָ֤דָֽם־
NAS: are [like] a great deep. O LORD,
KJV: [are] a great deep: O LORD,
INT: of God your judgments deep are a great man

Psalm 42:6
HEB: מֵהַ֥ר מִצְעָֽר׃ תְּהֽוֹם־ אֶל־
INT: Mount Mizar confusion about

Psalm 42:7
HEB: תְּה֣וֹם ק֭וֹרֵא לְק֣וֹל
NAS: Deep calls to deep
KJV: Deep calleth unto deep
INT: Deep calls the sound

Psalm 71:20
HEB: (תְּחַיֵּ֑ינִי ק) וּֽמִתְּהֹמ֥וֹת הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ תָּשׁ֥וּב
NAS: me up again from the depths of the earth.
KJV: again from the depths of the earth.
INT: again keep leave the depths of the earth again

Psalm 77:16
HEB: אַ֝֗ף יִרְגְּז֥וּ תְהֹמֽוֹת׃
NAS: You, they were in anguish; The deeps also
KJV: thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
INT: also trembled the deeps

Psalm 78:15
HEB: בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃
NAS: drink like the ocean depths.
KJV: as [out of] the great depths.
INT: the wilderness and gave the ocean abundant

Psalm 104:6
HEB: תְּ֭הוֹם כַּלְּב֣וּשׁ כִּסִּית֑וֹ
NAS: You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
KJV: Thou coveredst it with the deep as [with] a garment:
INT: the deep A garment covered

Psalm 106:9
HEB: וַֽיֶּחֱרָ֑ב וַיּוֹלִיכֵ֥ם בַּ֝תְּהֹמ֗וֹת כַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
NAS: up, And He led them through the deeps, as through the wilderness.
KJV: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
INT: dried led the deeps the wilderness

Psalm 107:26
HEB: שָׁ֭מַיִם יֵרְד֣וּ תְהוֹמ֑וֹת נַ֝פְשָׁ֗ם בְּרָעָ֥ה
NAS: they went down to the depths; Their soul
KJV: they go down again to the depths: their soul
INT: to the heavens went to the depths their soul of trouble

Psalm 135:6
HEB: בַּ֝יַּמִּ֗ים וְכָל־ תְּהוֹמֽוֹת׃
NAS: in the seas and in all deeps.
KJV: in the seas, and all deep places.
INT: the seas all deeps

Psalm 148:7
HEB: תַּ֝נִּינִ֗ים וְכָל־ תְּהֹמֽוֹת׃
NAS: Sea monsters and all deeps;
KJV: ye dragons, and all deeps:
INT: Sea and all deeps

Proverbs 3:20
HEB: בְּ֭דַעְתּוֹ תְּהוֹמ֣וֹת נִבְקָ֑עוּ וּ֝שְׁחָקִ֗ים
NAS: By His knowledge the deeps were broken
KJV: By his knowledge the depths are broken up,
INT: his knowledge the deeps were broken and the skies

36 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8415
36 Occurrences

bat·tə·hō·mō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
kiṯ·hō·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ṯə·hō·wm — 21 Occ.
tə·hō·mōṯ — 9 Occ.
ū·mit·tə·hō·wm — 1 Occ.
ū·mit·tə·hō·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ū·ṯə·hō·mōṯ — 1 Occ.