טָמַן (ta.man)
ta.man
to hide
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ṭāman means to hide or conceal something, often by covering it over with earth or another material. While it can simply mean to put something out of sight, it frequently carries the sense of burying or laying something away secretly. This physical action is central to its usage in narratives like Joshua 7:21, where Achan hides stolen goods under his tent, and Jeremiah 13:4, where the prophet buries a linen belt by the Euphrates.
Beyond literal concealment, ṭāman extends into metaphorical territory. It describes plotting against someone by hiding a snare or net, as seen in Psalms 140:6 and Job 18:10. The word also appears in humorous or vivid imagery, such as Proverbs 19:24, where a lazy man hides his hand in a dish, unable to lift it to eat. This range shows how the act of hiding can shift from simple storage to dangerous deception or even sloth.
The term’s root suggests covering or immersing, which connects it to ideas of preservation and secrecy. In some contexts, like Job 3:16, it refers to things hidden in death, such as a miscarried child who never saw light. Translators often render ṭāman as "hide," "bury," or "lay privily," depending on whether the focus is on the object concealed or the intent behind hiding it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The verb ṭāman describes the physical act of burying or concealing something, often under earth or within a structure. In the Old Testament, this action ranges from Achan hiding stolen goods in his tent to Jeremiah burying a linen belt by the Euphrates as a sign. It captures moments of secrecy, whether driven by fear, shame, or divine instruction.
For your faith, this word highlights the tension between hidden things and God’s all-seeing nature. While people may attempt to cover their actions or store treasures out of sight, Scripture reminds us that nothing remains truly concealed from the Creator. This reality invites honesty in our prayers and a release from the burden of keeping secrets.
Ultimately, the word points to the futility of hiding from God and the importance of transparency. Instead of burying our struggles or sins, we are called to bring them into the light where healing and grace can take place. This openness allows us to live freely, trusting that God sees all and offers restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they have hidden2×
- he hides2×
- and/ they hid [them]2×
- [is] hidden2×
- to/ hide/ it1×
- in the/ hidden [place]1×
- hide/ them1×
- hidden [things] of1×
- hidden1×
- he hid1×
- by/ hiding1×
- and/ you will hide/ them1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- טָ֘מַ֤ן2×
- לִ/טְמ֖וֹן1×
- לְ/טָמְנ/וֹ\־1×
- טָמָ֑נְתִּי1×
- טָמַ֣ן1×
- טָמְנֵ֣/ם1×
- טָמְנ֥וּ1×
- טָמ֪וּן1×
- טָמ֣וּן1×
- טָֽמְנוּ\־1×
- טָ֭מוּן1×
- טְמוּנָ֛ה1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 7:21
When I saw among the plunder a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, with the silver under it.”
This verse illustrates how ṭāman is used for the secret concealment of stolen goods, leading to severe consequences when the hidden sin is exposed.
-
Jeremiah 13:4
“Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.”
Here, the prophet obeys a divine command to hide a belt by the Euphrates, using the physical act as a prophetic sign of Israel’s spiritual ruin.
-
Job 31:33
if like Adam I have covered my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my heart,
Job uses this term metaphorically to describe covering his transgressions in his heart, contrasting his honesty with those who hide their sins from God.
-
Proverbs 19:24
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
This vivid imagery of a sluggard burying his hand in a dish highlights extreme laziness, where the act of hiding becomes a symbol of sloth and inaction.