Lexical Summary tachti: Lower, lowest, beneath Original Word: תַּחְתִּי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lowest, nethermost From tachath; lowermost; as noun (feminine plural) the depths (figuratively, a pit, the womb) -- low (parts, -er, -er parts, - est), nether (part). see HEBREW tachath NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tachath Definition lower, lowest NASB Translation beneath (3), depths (3), foot (1), lower (4), lower parts (3), lowest (2), lowest part (1), lowest parts (1), nether (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs תַּחְתִּי adjective and substantive lower, lowest (places): — feminine singular תַּחָתִּיָּה Psalm 86:13, תַּחְתִּית Exodus 19:17 +; masculine plural תַּחְתִּיִּם Genesis 6:16; feminine plural תַּחְתִיּוֺת Psalm 63:10 +; — Exodus 19:17 ויתיצבו בְּחַחְתִּית הָהָר in the lower part of the mountain, Judges 1:15 = Joshua 15:19 (so read here with ᵐ5MSS ᵑ6 ᵑ7 ᵑ9 for גֻּלֹּת תַּחְתִּיּוֺת) אֵת גֻּלַּת תַּחְתִּית the lower spring, Job 41:16 כְּמֶּלַח תַּחְתִּית like the lower mill-stone, Genesis 6:16 (P) תַּחְתִּיִּם = lower stories; of Sh®°ôl, Deuteronomy 32:22 עַד שְׁאוֺל תַּחְתַּית to the lowest Sh®°ôl, Psalm 86:13 תַּחְתִּיָּה ׳מִשְּׁ, so אֶרֶץ תַּחְתִּית thelowest earth (or land) i.e. Sh., Ezekiel 31:14,16,18, אֶרֶץ תַּחְתִיּוֺת the land of lowest places Ezekiel 26:20; Ezekiel 32:18,24, בּוֺר תַּחְתִיּוֺת the pit of lowest places Lamentations 3:55; Psalm 88:7, תֵּחְתִיּוֺת הָאָרֶץ Psalm 63:10 (+ perhaps Psalm 71:20) the lowest places of the earth, אֶרֶץ ׳תּ Isaiah 44:23, and figurative of the dark and hidden interior of the womb Psalm 139:15. — Nehemiah 4:7 וָאַעֲמִיד מִתַּחְתִיּוֺת לַמָּקוֺם and I set (ᵐ5L and they stood) at parts below (מִן as in מִחַחַת לְ) the place (where they were to work), so Ke Gu, but text perhaps corrupt (Berthol Sgf). Topical Lexicon Overview of Biblical UsageThe adjective translated “lower” or “lowest” appears nineteen times. It can mark physical space (the bottom layer of a structure, the underside of an object, the foot of a mountain), but its richest burden is theological, portraying the hidden depths of the earth and the realm of the dead (Sheol, the Pit). Each setting underscores the Lord’s unrivaled rule from the highest heaven to the deepest abyss. Physical Structures and Geography • Genesis 6:16 – Noah’s ark required “lower, second, and third decks,” a reminder that divine judgment and salvation are worked out in ordered, tangible particulars. • Exodus 19:17 – Israel “stood at the base of the mountain” while the LORD descended. The spatial gulf highlights holiness, mediation, and covenant approach. • Joshua 15:19; Judges 1:15 – Achsah’s request for “lower springs” completes her inheritance, illustrating that covenant blessing extends to the unseen and the ordinary. • Nehemiah 4:13 – Posting guards “behind the lowest points of the wall” models vigilance: godly builders shore up vulnerable places rather than neglect them. • Job 41:24 – Leviathan’s chest is “as hard as a lower millstone,” exalting the Creator, who alone can master such strength. The Lower Realm: Sheol and the Depths “For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol” (Deuteronomy 32:22). Eight further texts (Psalms 63:9; 86:13; 88:6; 139:15; Isaiah 44:23; Lamentations 3:55; plus multiple oracles in Ezekiel) employ the word to speak of the subterranean world. This lower region is both literal grave and symbolic sphere of judgment, yet even there the reach of grace is proclaimed: • “You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.” Psalm 86:13 Prophetic Oracles Against the Nations Ezekiel uses the term eight times. Tyre (Ezekiel 26:20), Assyria (Ezekiel 31:14-18), Egypt (Ezekiel 32:18), and Elam (Ezekiel 32:24) are hurled “to the depths of the earth” with those who descend to the Pit. The repetition drives home a covenant principle: any power that exalts itself will be cast down. Theological Themes 1. Vertical Moral Order – Height and pride belong together; depth and humility (or judgment) belong together. All creation sits on a vertical axis determined by God. Ministry Applications • Preaching and Discipleship – The “lower parts” materializes sin’s consequences, enriching calls to repentance and magnifying the scope of redemption. • Pastoral Care – Passages from Psalms and Lamentations supply vocabulary for sufferers who feel buried beneath grief yet remain seen and heard by God. • Worship – Isaiah 44:23 authorizes cosmic praise: even the earth’s depths join the chorus of redemption. • Prophetic Witness – Ezekiel’s judgments embolden the Church to speak against modern empires that trust in their own height. Christological and Eschatological Outlook The Septuagint’s rendering of תַּחְתִּי underlies Paul’s affirmation that Christ “descended into the lower parts of the earth” (Ephesians 4:9). The Messiah entered the realm marked by Strong’s 8482, broke its chains, and rose, gathering captives in His train. His victory ensures that “every knee should bow … in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10), fulfilling the trajectory begun in Genesis and consummated in Revelation. Summary From the ark’s lowest deck to the deepest chamber of Sheol, Strong’s 8482 traces a line of divine authority uninterrupted by human rebellion or death itself. Scripture’s repeated appeal to the “lower” places teaches humility, warns of judgment, comforts the afflicted, and glorifies the Redeemer who fills all things—even the depths. Forms and Transliterations בְּֽתַחְתִּיּ֥וֹת בְּתַחְתִּ֥ית בתחתיות בתחתית מִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹת מתחתיות תַּחְתִּ֑ית תַּחְתִּ֗ית תַּחְתִּֽית׃ תַּחְתִּיִּ֛ם תַּחְתִּיָּֽה׃ תַּחְתִּיּ֑וֹת תַּחְתִּיּ֖וֹת תַּחְתִּיּ֗וֹת תַּחְתִּיּ֜וֹת תַּחְתִּיּ֣וֹת תַּחְתִּיּֽוֹת׃ תַּחְתִּית֙ תחתיה׃ תחתיות תחתיות׃ תחתים תחתית תחתית׃ bə·ṯaḥ·tî·yō·wṯ bə·ṯaḥ·tîṯ betachTit betachtiYot bəṯaḥtîṯ bəṯaḥtîyōwṯ mit·taḥ·tî·yō·wṯ mittachtiYot mittaḥtîyōwṯ tachTit tachtiYah tachtiYim tachtiYot taḥ·tî·yāh taḥ·tî·yim taḥ·tî·yō·wṯ taḥ·tîṯ taḥtîṯ taḥtîyāh taḥtîyim taḥtîyōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 6:16 HEB: בְּצִדָּ֣הּ תָּשִׂ֑ים תַּחְתִּיִּ֛ם שְׁנִיִּ֥ם וּשְׁלִשִׁ֖ים NAS: of it; you shall make it with lower, second, KJV: in the side thereof; [with] lower, second, INT: the side and set lower second and third Exodus 19:17 Deuteronomy 32:22 Joshua 15:19 Judges 1:15 Nehemiah 4:13 Job 41:24 Psalm 63:9 Psalm 86:13 Psalm 88:6 Psalm 139:15 Isaiah 44:23 Lamentations 3:55 Ezekiel 26:20 Ezekiel 31:14 Ezekiel 31:16 Ezekiel 31:18 Ezekiel 32:18 Ezekiel 32:24 19 Occurrences |
    |