Lexical Summary tenumah: Slumber, Drowsiness Original Word: תְּנוּמָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance slumbering From nuwm; drowsiness, i.e. Sleep -- slumber(-ing). see HEBREW nuwm NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom num Definition slumber NASB Translation slumber (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs תְּנוּמָה noun feminine slumber; — absolute Psalm 132:4; Proverbs 6:4; plural תְּנוּמוֺת Proverbs 6:10 2t.; — slumber as time of visions Job 33:15 ("" תַּרְדֵּמָה); of indolent slumber Psalm 132:4 ("" שְׁנָת) Proverbs 6:4 ("" שׁנה) in both with נָחַן, followed by accusative + לְ; Proverbs 6:10; Proverbs 24:33 (both "" שׁנות, שׁכב). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Basic Concept תְּנוּמָה most commonly denotes “slumber,” an intermediate state between full wakefulness and deep sleep. In Scripture it can describe ordinary physical drowsiness, but it frequently carries a moral or spiritual connotation: the creeping lethargy that dulls alertness, fosters laziness, and threatens obedience to God. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Job 33:15 Contexts and Themes 1. Physical Repose for Divine Revelation (Job 33:15) “In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,” God takes advantage of human passivity to speak. Here slumber is morally neutral; its value depends on what God does within it. The verse affirms that even in human frailty the Lord remains active. 2. Resolute Vigilance in Worship (Psalm 132:4) “I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,” declares David (or a Davidic voice) in his vow to establish a resting place for the Ark. Slumber becomes the opposite of covenant zeal. Holy ambition refuses the ease that would postpone obedience. 3. Sloth Versus Diligence (Proverbs 6:4; 6:10; 24:33) Each proverb confronts the lazy with vivid repetition: “Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids” (Proverbs 6:4). “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest” (Proverbs 6:10; 24:33). Here slumber is not rest after labor but the small indulgence that snowballs into poverty (Proverbs 6:11; 24:34). The subtlety of תְּנוּמָה is crucial: moral decline rarely begins with rebellion; it begins with incremental neglect. Theological Significance • Human Weakness and Divine Initiative In Job 33:15 God meets humans where they are weakest, proving that salvation is by grace, not human vigilance. Both Psalm 132 and Proverbs 6–24 echo later biblical calls to spiritual alertness (for example, Romans 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:6). תְּנוּמָה warns that spiritual life requires intentional wakefulness. Scripture never condemns legitimate rest (Psalm 4:8; Mark 6:31). The issue is complacency—the heart’s willingness to drift. Slumber, when misused, is emblematic of that drift. Historical Background In an agrarian society each season demanded timely labor. Failure to plow, harvest, or guard at the right moment jeopardized survival. Proverbs addresses this reality, urging readers to consider the ant (Proverbs 6:6–8) and avoid the ruin that follows procrastination. Psalm 132 reflects the urgency of preparing the sanctuary lest Israel remain spiritually homeless. These contexts intensify the moral weight of “slumber.” Ministry and Discipleship Application • Personal Devotion Believers are exhorted to examine daily routines for creeping lethargy that crowds out prayer, Scripture intake, and service. Churches must resist collective drowsiness—settling into programs without mission. Regular corporate calls to “wake up” (Revelation 3:2) echo the charge implicit in תְּנוּמָה. When counseling those in spiritual stagnation, Proverbs 6:10–11 provides both diagnosis (incremental compromise) and remedy (immediate, disciplined action). Christological and Eschatological Connections Jesus’ parables of watchfulness (Matthew 24:42; 25:5–13) resonate with the Old Testament caution against slumber. The Bridegroom’s delay tests readiness; only the vigilant enter the feast. Eschatologically, תְּנוּמָה foreshadows the end-time division between those awakened by grace and those lulled into complacency. Related Concepts for Further Study • Sleep (שֵׁנָה) as Divine Gift and Judgment In sum, תְּנוּמָה is more than a description of nodding off; it is Scripture’s subtle warning that the greatest spiritual dangers often come not with a shout but with a yawn. Forms and Transliterations בִּ֝תְנוּמ֗וֹת בתנומות וּ֝תְנוּמָ֗ה ותנומה תְּנוּמ֑וֹת תְּנוּמָֽה׃ תנומה׃ תנומות biṯ·nū·mō·wṯ bitnuMot biṯnūmōwṯ tə·nū·māh tə·nū·mō·wṯ tenuMah tənūmāh tenuMot tənūmōwṯ ū·ṯə·nū·māh utenuMah ūṯənūmāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 33:15 HEB: עַל־ אֲנָשִׁ֑ים בִּ֝תְנוּמ֗וֹת עֲלֵ֣י מִשְׁכָּֽב׃ NAS: on men, While they slumber in their beds, KJV: upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; INT: on men slumber in their beds Psalm 132:4 Proverbs 6:4 Proverbs 6:10 Proverbs 24:33 5 Occurrences |
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