תְּהוֹם (te.hom)
te.hom
abyss
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 27 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tehom refers to the vast, churning waters that existed before creation or lie beneath the earth’s surface. It describes the primeval ocean in Genesis 1:2 and the subterranean sources that burst forth during the flood narrative in Genesis 7:11. The word carries a sense of immense depth and power, often personified as a chaotic force that God restrains or orders.
Its root suggests a roaring or surging sound, which explains why it appears in poetic passages describing waves calling to one another (Psalm 42:7) or the sea’s depths covering the enemy in Exodus 15:5. Unlike words for calm lakes, tehom implies movement and potential danger, yet it remains under divine sovereignty, as seen when wisdom is found beyond its reach (Proverbs 8:27).
Translators usually render it "the deep" or "abyss," capturing both the physical ocean and the metaphorical grave. The term appears frequently in Psalms to express either terror at God’s power or hope in His deliverance from overwhelming waters, reflecting an ancient worldview where the sea represented both life-giving source and chaotic threat.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tehom describes the vast, churning waters that existed before creation or lie beneath the earth’s surface. It carries a sense of immense depth and power, often personified as a chaotic force that God restrains or orders. This imagery reminds us that even the most overwhelming forces in life are under divine sovereignty.
When you face situations that feel like they might sweep you away, remember that the same God who spoke order into the primeval ocean is present with you. The biblical writers used this term to express both terror at God’s power and hope in His deliverance from overwhelming waters. You are not alone in your struggles.
This ancient concept invites us to trust in a Creator who can calm the deepest storms. Whether you are facing personal trials or global uncertainties, the promise remains that God holds all things together. His Spirit hovers over the chaos, bringing peace and purpose where there was once only formlessness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 27 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] deep13×
- [the] deeps6×
- in the/ deeps2×
- like/ deeps1×
- and/ from/ [the] depths of1×
- and/ from/ [the] deep1×
- and/ deeps1×
- [were] [the] deeps1×
- [the] depths1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּה֣וֹם4×
- תְּהוֹמֽוֹת\׃2×
- תְּהוֹמ֣וֹת1×
- תְּהוֹם֙1×
- תְּהוֹם\׃1×
- תְּהֹמֽוֹת\׃1×
- תְּהֹמֹ֖ת1×
- תְּהֹמ֥וֹת1×
- תְּה֖וֹם1×
- תְּה֔וֹם1×
- תְּ֭הוֹם1×
- תְּ֝ה֗וֹם1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.
This verse establishes tehom as the primeval ocean present at creation, showing God's Spirit hovering over it to bring order.
-
Exodus 15:5
The deeps cover them. They went down into the depths like a stone.
Here the deeps cover Pharaoh’s army, illustrating how God uses the chaotic waters as an instrument of judgment against oppression.
-
Psalms 71:20
You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
The psalmist asks God to bring him up from the depths, using tehom metaphorically for a situation of severe distress and near-death.
-
Isaiah 51:10
Isn’t it you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?
This passage recalls the Red Sea crossing, reminding readers that God makes a way through the deeps for His redeemed people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tehom mean in the Bible?
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What does tehom teach us about God?
Every Occurrence (27 verses across 9 books)
Genesis 4 verses
The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the…
Genesis 7:11In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the…
Genesis 8:2The deep’s fountains and the sky’s windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained.
Genesis 49:25even by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above,…