טָוָה (ta.vah)
ta.vah
to spin
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ta.vah means to spin, specifically the act of twisting fibers into thread or yarn. In the Old Testament, it appears only twice, both within the detailed instructions for constructing the Tabernacle in Exodus (26:1 and 35:25). It describes the skilled labor required to prepare materials for the sacred tent, highlighting the precision and care involved in creating the holy garments and curtains.
This word points to a specific craft rather than general weaving. The sources indicate it refers to the preparatory stage where raw wool or linen is drawn out and twisted into a usable strand. By limiting its usage to these critical construction passages, the text emphasizes that even the most mundane domestic skills become acts of worship when dedicated to God’s dwelling place. The act of spinning transforms loose fibers into strong, continuous thread, mirroring how individual contributions come together for a divine purpose.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ta.vah describes the careful, hands-on work of spinning fibers into thread. In the Bible, this specific skill appears only twice, both in Exodus during the building of the Tabernacle. It reminds us that God cares about the details of our daily labor. When women spun wool and goat hair with their hands, they were not just making cloth; they were preparing materials for God’s dwelling place.
For you, this means your ordinary skills matter to Him. Whether you work with your hands or your mind, dedicating that effort to His purposes transforms routine tasks into worship. You do not need a special title to serve well. Your faithful attention to the small things is seen and valued by God, who uses our unique gifts to build something holy.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they spun2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- טָו֖וּ1×
- טָו֑וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 35:25
All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen.
This verse highlights how women used their specific wisdom and skill to spin colored threads for the sacred tent.
-
Exodus 35:26
All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair.
Here the text shows that those whose hearts were moved by wisdom contributed spun goat hair for the tabernacle coverings.