Lexical Summary towkechah: Reproof, correction, rebuke, argument Original Word: תּוֹכֵחָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance amongst, where, into, middle, midnight, midst among, out of, through, withinAnd towkachath {to-kakh'-ath}; from yakach; chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence) -- argument, X chastened, correction, reasoning, rebuke, reproof, X be (often) reproved. see HEBREW yakach Brown-Driver-Briggs תּוֺכֵחָה noun feminine rebuke, correction; — ת׳יום Hosea 5:9; ׳יום צרה ות 2 Kings 19:3 = Isaiah 37:3; plural תּוֺכֵחוֺת Psalm 149:7 ("" נקמה). תּוֺכַ֫חַת noun feminine argument, reproof; — ׳ת Proverbs 10:17 9t.; suffix תּוֺכַחְתִּי Habakkuk 2:1 5t.; תּוֺכַחְתּוֺ Proverbs 3:11; plural תּוֺכָחוֺת Psalm 38:15 3t.; construct תּוֺכְחוֺת Proverbs 6:23; Ezekiel 25:17; תֹּכְחוֺת Ezekiel 5:15 (but latter strike out Co; given by SS under תּוֺכֵחָה); — 1 argument, impeachment, spoken by lips and mouth Psalm 38:15; Job 13:6; Job 23:4; Habakkuk 2:1. 2 reproof, chiding Proverbs 1:23; Proverbs 27:5; "" עצה Proverbs 1:25,30; "" מוסר Proverbs 3:11; Proverbs 5:12; Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 12:1; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 15:5,10,32; מוסר ׳ת Proverbs 6:23 reporoofs for discipline; חיים ׳ת Proverbs 15:31 reproof that giveth life; אישׁ תוכחוֺת Proverbs 29:1 man of reproofs (who deserves them). 3 correction, rebuke Psalm 39:12; Psalm 73:14; שֵׁבֶט ׳ות Proverbs 29:15; חֵמָה ׳תּ Ezekiel 5:15; Ezekiel 25:17. Topical Lexicon Essential Concept תּוֹכֵחָה (Strong’s 8433) expresses verbal confrontation that both exposes wrong and appeals for change. It ranges from orderly legal argument to sharp prophetic rebuke. Because it aims at restoration, Scripture treats תּוֹכֵחָה as a gracious gift rather than a mere censure. Wisdom Literature: The Reproof that Gives Life Proverbs employs the noun more than any other book, portraying reproof as indispensable to the fear of the LORD and the pursuit of wisdom. In Proverbs, תּוֹכֵחָה is contrasted with flattery (Proverbs 28:23) and valued above even sincere affection that keeps silent (Proverbs 27:5). Accepting correction therefore marks the wise and opens the way to God’s further self-disclosure. Job and the Language of Legal Contest Job uses the term for courtroom-style pleading (Job 13:6; 23:4), underscoring its forensic nuance: the presentation of evidence that justifies or condemns. Job longs to lay out his “argument” before God, confident that divine assessment, though painful, will ultimately vindicate true righteousness. Historical Narratives: A Day of Rebuke Hezekiah, facing Assyrian siege, declares, “This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace” (2 Kings 19:3; Isaiah 37:3). National crisis is interpreted as God’s public reproof of covenant unfaithfulness, driving Judah to humble intercession. Genesis 20:16 records Abimelech’s gifts as “a vindication,” publicly clearing Sarah’s reputation—another judicial shade of the word. Prophetic Literature: Covenant Lawsuit and Gracious Invitation Prophets often frame their messages as תּוֹכֵחָה, a covenant lawsuit (Micah 6:2) that both indicts and extends mercy: Here divine rebuke becomes redemptive dialogue, promising cleansing for the repentant. Prophetic use of תּוֹכֵחָה is therefore inseparable from the gospel pattern: exposure of sin, call to repentance, and assurance of forgiveness. Psalms: Personal and Corporate Discipline Psalm 39:11 depicts God’s corrective hand: “When You rebuke and discipline a man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth.” The psalmist accepts divine reproof as purifying fire. Psalm 141:5 welcomes righteous correction from a godly friend, seeing it as “oil upon the head.” Theological Thread: Reproof as a Means of Grace 1. Reflects God’s character: holy enough to confront sin, loving enough to restore. Christological Fulfillment Christ embodies perfect reproof—“full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). His encounters (Mark 10:21; Revelation 3:19) model loving correction aimed at repentance and life. On the cross He absorbs the ultimate rebuke reserved for sinners, enabling believers to accept fatherly discipline without fear of condemnation. Eschatological Dimension Earthly reproof anticipates the final judgment where every argument will be laid bare (Romans 3:19). Those who heed God’s present correction avoid eschatological shame; those who spurn it face definitive censure. Ministry Applications • Preaching: Faithful exposition includes corrective elements, echoing Paul’s charge to “preach the word… rebuke, exhort” (2 Timothy 4:2). Representative Occurrences Genesis 20:16; Deuteronomy 32:36; Job 13:6; Psalm 38:1; Psalm 39:11; Proverbs 1:23, 25, 30; Proverbs 6:23; Proverbs 15:31-32; Proverbs 27:5; Proverbs 28:23; Isaiah 1:17-18; Isaiah 37:3; Micah 6:2; Habakkuk 1:12. Together these texts reveal a consistent biblical pattern: God confronts to cleanse, corrects to cultivate wisdom, and reproves to redeem. Forms and Transliterations בְּֽתוֹכָ֘ח֤וֹת בְּתוֹכְח֖וֹת בְּתוֹכַחְתּֽוֹ׃ בתוכחות בתוכחתו׃ וְ֝תוֹכַ֗חַת וְ֝תוֹכַחְתִּ֗י וְ֭תוֹכַחַת וְתוֹכֵחָ֛ה וּבְתֹכְח֣וֹת ובתכחות ותוכחה ותוכחת ותוכחתי לְֽת֫וֹכַחְתִּ֥י לתוכחתי תּ֝וֹכַ֗חַת תּ֭וֹכָחוֹת תּֽ֝וֹכֵחֹ֗ת תּֽוֹכֵחָ֑ה תּוֹכְח֥וֹת תּוֹכַ֣חַת תּוֹכַחְתִּֽי׃ תּוֹכָחֽוֹת׃ תוֹכַ֣חַת תוֹכַחְתִּ֑י תוֹכָחֽוֹת׃ תוכחה תוכחות תוכחות׃ תוכחת תוכחתי תוכחתי׃ bə·ṯō·w·ḵā·ḥō·wṯ bə·ṯō·w·ḵaḥ·tōw bə·ṯō·wḵ·ḥō·wṯ betoChaChot betochachTo betochChot bəṯōwḵāḥōwṯ bəṯōwḵaḥtōw bəṯōwḵḥōwṯ lə·ṯō·w·ḵaḥ·tî leTochachTi ləṯōwḵaḥtî tō·w·ḵa·ḥaṯ ṯō·w·ḵa·ḥaṯ tō·w·ḵā·ḥō·wṯ ṯō·w·ḵā·ḥō·wṯ tō·w·ḵaḥ·tî ṯō·w·ḵaḥ·tî tō·w·ḵê·ḥāh tō·w·ḵê·ḥōṯ tō·wḵ·ḥō·wṯ toChachat tochaChot tochachTi tochChot tocheChah tocheChot tōwḵaḥaṯ ṯōwḵaḥaṯ tōwḵāḥōwṯ ṯōwḵāḥōwṯ tōwḵaḥtî ṯōwḵaḥtî tōwḵêḥāh tōwḵêḥōṯ tōwḵḥōwṯ ū·ḇə·ṯō·ḵə·ḥō·wṯ ūḇəṯōḵəḥōwṯ uvetocheChot vetoChachat vetochachTi vetocheChah wə·ṯō·w·ḵa·ḥaṯ wə·ṯō·w·ḵaḥ·tî wə·ṯō·w·ḵê·ḥāh wəṯōwḵaḥaṯ wəṯōwḵaḥtî wəṯōwḵêḥāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 19:3 HEB: יוֹם־ צָרָ֧ה וְתוֹכֵחָ֛ה וּנְאָצָ֖ה הַיּ֣וֹם NAS: of distress, rebuke, and rejection; KJV: of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: INT: day of distress rebuke and rejection day Job 13:6 Job 23:4 Psalm 38:14 Psalm 39:11 Psalm 73:14 Psalm 149:7 Proverbs 1:23 Proverbs 1:25 Proverbs 1:30 Proverbs 3:11 Proverbs 5:12 Proverbs 6:23 Proverbs 10:17 Proverbs 12:1 Proverbs 13:18 Proverbs 15:5 Proverbs 15:10 Proverbs 15:31 Proverbs 15:32 Proverbs 27:5 Proverbs 29:1 Proverbs 29:15 Isaiah 37:3 Ezekiel 5:15 28 Occurrences |
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