טָבַע (ta.va)
ta.va
to sink
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tabaʿ means to sink or submerge, describing the physical act of something going down into a liquid or settling into the ground. In the Old Testament, it appears in seven verses, primarily within Jeremiah, Proverbs, and Lamentations. The word captures a downward motion that is often final and heavy, whether describing an object sinking into water or a person’s spirit settling into despair.
Its usage varies from literal drowning to metaphorical states of being overwhelmed. For instance, in Lamentations 3:53, the psalmist describes being "sunk" in the pit, conveying a sense of being trapped and unable to rise. In Proverbs 26:11, it illustrates how a fool returns to folly like a dog returning to its vomit, suggesting a repetitive sinking back into bad habits. The root emphasizes gravity and lack of buoyancy, whether for stone or soul.
Translators often render tabaʿ as "drown," "sink," or "be settled," depending on context. Unlike words that imply gentle descent, tabaʿ carries weight and inevitability. It reminds readers that some situations involve being pulled down by forces beyond immediate control, a theme echoed in the prophetic warnings of Jeremiah where nations sink under the weight of their actions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels like it is pulling you down, this word reminds us that sinking is a real part of the human experience. It describes a heavy, downward motion, whether into water or into the depths of despair. In Lamentations, we see Jeremiah trapped in mire, unable to rise on his own. This honest depiction shows God does not ignore our lowest moments; He sees us when we are weighed down by circumstances beyond our control.
Yet this heaviness is not the final word. The same language that describes sinking also points to the need for divine intervention. When we feel stuck in patterns of failure or overwhelmed by grief, we can bring those feelings to God. He does not ask us to pretend we are fine. Instead, He offers a hand to pull us up, turning our deepest pits into places where His strength becomes visible.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- were they sunk1×
- they were planted1×
- they have sunk1×
- they have been sunk1×
- they are sunk1×
- and/ it sank1×
- and/ he sank1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָטְבָּ֑עוּ2×
- טֻבְּע֥וּ1×
- טָבְע֤וּ1×
- וַ/תִּטְבַּ֤ע1×
- וַ/יִּטְבַּ֥ע1×
- הָטְבְּע֥וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 2:9
Her gates have sunk into the ground. He has destroyed and broken her bars. Her king and her princes are among the nations where the law is not. Yes, her prophets find no vision from Yahweh.
This verse uses the word to describe the physical collapse of Jerusalem's gates, symbolizing how the city’s defenses failed and left its people vulnerable.
-
Jeremiah 38:6
Then they took Jeremiah and threw him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king’s son, that was in the court of the guard. They let down Jeremiah with cords. In the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.
Here the verb captures Jeremiah’s literal entrapment in mud, illustrating a moment where human hope seemed completely extinguished by his enemies' actions.
-
Exodus 15:4
He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea. His chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.
The text describes Pharaoh’s army sinking in the sea, highlighting the finality of God’s deliverance for Israel and the overwhelming power that removes threats.