טֵאטֵא (tu)
tu
to sweep
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb te’eta is a rare term that appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Isaiah 14:23. In this specific context, it means to sweep or sweep away with force. The text uses it to describe God’s judgment upon Babylon, stating He will sweep the city out "with the broom of destruction." This vivid imagery conveys a thorough and decisive removal, leaving no trace behind.
Its form is a reduplicated stem, which often emphasizes the intensity or completeness of an action. By using this grammatical structure, the prophet underscores that the coming judgment will be total and irreversible. The word does not suggest a gentle cleaning but rather a forceful clearing out, mirroring the finality of the city’s fall.
Because it occurs in such a singular location, the word carries significant weight in its immediate context. It serves as a powerful metaphor for divine justice, illustrating how pride and arrogance can be completely erased from history. The rarity of the term highlights the unique severity of the prophecy directed at Babylon.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb te’eta, meaning 'to sweep,' appears only once in Scripture within Isaiah 14:23. Here, it describes God’s decisive judgment against Babylon using the metaphor of a broom of destruction. This imagery conveys a thorough and forceful removal, leaving no trace of the city’s former pride behind.
For believers today, this rare word reminds us that God sees all arrogance and injustice. While human kingdoms may seem powerful, they are subject to His ultimate authority. The completeness of the sweep assures us that evil will not endure forever, offering hope that justice will prevail.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ I will sweep away/ it1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/טֵֽאטֵאתִ֙י/הָ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 14:23
“I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water. I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says Yahweh of Armies.
This verse uses the verb to depict the total removal of Babylon through divine judgment, emphasizing its irreversible nature.