Lexical Summary tikon: Order, Arrangement, Regulation Original Word: תִּיכוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance middlemost, midst Or tiykon {tee-kone'}; from tavek; central -- middle(-most), midst. see HEBREW tavek NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tavek Definition middle NASB Translation lowest (1), middle (7), middle ones (2), second (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs תִּיכוֺן, תִּיכֹן adjective middle; — absolute ׳תּ Exodus 26:28 +, feminine singular תִּ(י)בוֺנָה Judges 7:19 +, feminine plural נוֺת- Ezekiel 42:5,6 (on form, see הִיצוֺן p. 300, Ges§ 27w); — Exodus 26:28 = Exodus 36:33 (P) הַבְּרִיחַ הַתִּיכוֺן בְּתוֺח הַקְּרָשִׁים the middle bar (holding the 'boards' in their place); Judges 7:19 ׳הָאַשְׁמוּרָה הַתּ the middle watch (of the night); of the middle story of side-chambers to Temple 1 Kings 6:6,8b. b (1Kings 6:8a read with ᵐ5 ᵑ7 הַתַּחְתֹּנָה for ׳הַתִּי), Ezekiel 41:7b (read with ᵐ5 ᵑ6 הַתִּיכוֺנָה עלהֿעליונה וּמִןהֿתחתונה יַעֲלוּ לַהִּיכוֺנָה וּמִןֿ), Ezekiel 42:5,6, 2 Kings 20:4 הָעִיר הַתִּיכֹנָה (but read with Qr Vrss ׳חָצֵר הַתּ, i.e. the חָצֵר הָאַחֶרֶת, see I. חָצֵר 2). — חָצֵר הַתִּיכוֺן Ezekiel 47:16. תּוֺכֵחָה, תּוֺכַ֫חַת see יכח. תּוּכִּ יִּים see ׳תּכּ. תּוֺלָ֫ד, [תּוֺלֵדוֺת] see ילד. תולון see תִּילוֺן. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Translation The term תִּיכוֹן appears eleven times, consistently rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as “middle,” “center,” or “central.” The contexts range from the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 26:28; Exodus 36:33) to military narrative (Judges 7:19), from Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 6:6, 1 Kings 6:8) to the royal compound of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:4), and finally to Ezekiel’s visionary temple (Ezekiel 41:7; Ezekiel 42:5–6). Each setting employs the word to highlight a point of structural or strategic centrality. Central Bar of the Tabernacle Exodus 26:28 and Exodus 36:33 describe the “center crossbar” that ran “from one end to the other,” binding the boards of the Tabernacle into a single, unified sanctuary. Theologically, that unifying bar foreshadows the way God Himself secures His dwelling among His people. As every board depended on the central bar for stability, so Israel’s worship depended on the Lord who dwelt in their midst. Strategic Timing in Gideon’s Battle Judges 7:19 recounts, “Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch…”. The “middle” watch—neither the onset of night nor its end—was chosen to maximize confusion among the Midianites. The narrative underscores that divine strategy often unfolds at pivotal moments, teaching believers to recognize God’s timing at the very center of human circumstances. Middle Chambers of Solomon’s Temple 1 Kings 6 describes three accounts of side rooms built against the main hall of the Temple. Verse 6 mentions “the middle chamber,” while verse 8 notes a stairway that rose “to the middle level.” These spaces provided both storage for sacred vessels and circulation for priests. Their placement between the outer courts and the inner sanctuary reflects a graded holiness: outer activity, middle preparation, and inner communion. The architectural “middle” thus becomes a threshold of increasing consecration. The Middle Court in Hezekiah’s Palace In 2 Kings 20:4 Isaiah had only reached “the middle courtyard” when the Lord reversed His initial word of judgment and sent him back with healing and promise. The episode highlights the immediacy of God’s response to humble prayer; even before Isaiah exits the central court, divine mercy meets penitent supplication. Ezekiel’s Visionary Middle Chambers Ezekiel 41:7 and 42:5–6 picture ascending side rooms that grew “wider as one went upward,” with “the middle chambers” supporting this expansion. In the visionary temple the central tiers symbolize both solid foundation and upward movement toward greater intimacy with God. They anticipate a future house where every dimension, even its middle, is ordered by divine design. Theological Themes 1. Divine Centrality: Whether bar, watch, room, or court, each occurrence places God’s purpose at the center, urging worshipers to keep Him supreme in all structures and schedules. Ministry Application • Build ministries that keep Christ central—structurally, doctrinally, and relationally. See Also Exodus 25–31 (Tabernacle pattern); 1 Corinthians 3:16 (corporate temple); Hebrews 9 (earthly and heavenly sanctuaries). Forms and Transliterations הַתִּ֣יכֹנָ֔ה הַתִּֽיכֹנָ֑ה הַתִּֽיכֹנָ֖ה הַתִּֽיכוֹנָ֔ה הַתִּיכֹ֑ן הַתִּיכֹ֖ן התיכונה התיכן התיכנה וְהַתִּֽיכֹנָה֙ וּמֵהַתִּֽיכֹנ֖וֹת וּמֵהַתִּֽכֹנ֖וֹת והתיכנה ומהתיכנות ומהתכנות לַתִּיכוֹנָֽה׃ לתיכונה׃ hat·tî·ḵō·nāh hat·tî·ḵō·w·nāh hat·tî·ḵōn hattiChon hattichoNah hattîḵōn hattîḵōnāh hattîḵōwnāh lat·tî·ḵō·w·nāh lattichoNah lattîḵōwnāh ū·mê·hat·ti·ḵō·nō·wṯ ū·mê·hat·tî·ḵō·nō·wṯ umehattichoNot ūmêhattiḵōnōwṯ ūmêhattîḵōnōwṯ vehattichoNah wə·hat·tî·ḵō·nāh wəhattîḵōnāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 26:28 HEB: וְהַבְּרִ֥יחַ הַתִּיכֹ֖ן בְּת֣וֹךְ הַקְּרָשִׁ֑ים NAS: The middle bar in the center KJV: And the middle bar in the midst INT: bar the middle the center of the boards Exodus 36:33 Judges 7:19 1 Kings 6:6 1 Kings 6:8 1 Kings 6:8 1 Kings 6:8 2 Kings 20:4 Ezekiel 41:7 Ezekiel 42:5 Ezekiel 42:6 11 Occurrences |