טוּל (tul)
tul
to cast
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tul means to throw or hurl something with force. It appears twelve times in the Old Testament, most frequently in the books of Jonah, Jeremiah, and 1 Samuel. The word describes physical actions where an object is cast away, thrown down, or hurled out, often implying a decisive or violent motion rather than a gentle placement.
In its active forms, it can mean to carry something away or cast it out entirely. For example, in Jonah 1:15, the sailors throw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship during a storm. The sources note that this usage highlights a practical removal of weight or burden through forceful action. In Jeremiah, the term is used when objects are cast down or destroyed, emphasizing finality.
The word’s strength lies in its immediacy and physical impact. It does not describe careful handling but rather a quick, decisive act of casting. This distinction helps readers see the urgency in biblical narratives where tul is used, such as when items are discarded or enemies are thrown out. Translators typically render it as "cast," "throw," or "hurl," depending on the context’s intensity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tul describes a forceful action of casting or hurling something away. It is not a gentle placement but a decisive removal, often used in narratives where burdens must be shed or judgments executed. When the sailors in Jonah cast cargo overboard, they were engaging in a practical act to survive a crisis. This word reminds us that some situations require immediate, firm action to restore balance.
In our own lives, we sometimes face moments where holding on causes more harm than letting go. The biblical use of this term suggests that God can work through decisive changes in our circumstances. Whether it is removing a source of danger or clearing away what weighs us down, there is a sense of purpose in these transitions. We are invited to trust that even when things are cast aside, we remain held by divine care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he threw2×
- and/ I will throw out2×
- it is thrown1×
- he will be thrown down1×
- he threw1×
- have they been thrown out1×
- and/ throw/ me1×
- and/ they threw/ him1×
- and/ they threw1×
- [is] about to hurl away/ you1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְטַלְטֶלְ/ךָ֔1×
- יוּטָ֑ל1×
- יוּטַ֣ל1×
- וַ/יָּטִ֨לוּ1×
- וַ/יָּ֨טֶל1×
- וַ/יָּ֤טֶל1×
- וַ/יְטִלֻ֖/הוּ1×
- וַ/הֲטִילֻ֣/נִי1×
- וְ/הֵטַלְתִּ֣י1×
- וְ/הֵֽטַלְתִּ֣י1×
- הֽוּטֲלוּ֙1×
- הֵטִ֤יל1×
Key Verses
-
Jonah 1:5
Then the mariners were afraid, and every man cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship and he was laying down, and was fast asleep.
The mariners use this action to lighten the ship, showing how casting away burdens can be a practical step toward survival.
-
Jonah 1:12
He said to them, “Take me up, and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; for I know that because of me this great storm is on you.”
Jonah identifies himself as the cause of the storm and suggests being thrown into the sea to bring calm, linking the action to resolution.
-
I Samuel 18:11
and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
Saul’s violent casting of the spear reveals his intense desire to harm David, highlighting the word's use in expressing aggressive intent.
-
Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.
This verse contrasts human action with divine sovereignty, noting that while lots are cast by people, their outcome is from Yahweh.