תּוֹחֶ֫לֶת (to.che.let)
to.che.let
hope
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tochelet carries the core meaning of hope, but it specifically denotes a confident expectation or waiting for something good. Unlike a vague wish, this word implies an active, steadfast trust in God’s promises. It appears only four times in the Bible, primarily within Proverbs and Lamentations, where it anchors the believer’s spirit in difficult circumstances.
In Proverbs 13:12, tochelet is described as "delayed," highlighting that hope often involves a period of waiting. The text contrasts this with desire that comes to pass, suggesting that true hope endures through uncertainty. Similarly, Lamentations 3:24 uses the word to declare Yahweh as the portion of hope, indicating a deep reliance on God rather than on immediate circumstances.
The term’s root relates to waiting or expecting, emphasizing patience and endurance. Translators typically render it as "hope," though this English word can sometimes feel passive. The Hebrew concept is more dynamic, involving a sustained look toward God’s faithfulness even when outcomes are unclear. This usage underscores that biblical hope is not merely optimism but a firm foundation for the soul.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tochelet describes a hope that is active and steadfast, rather than a passive wish. It implies a confident waiting for God’s promises, even when the outcome is not yet visible. This kind of trust anchors the soul in difficult times, offering stability when circumstances feel uncertain.
In Lamentations 3:18, the writer admits that his strength and expectation from Yahweh have perished. Yet, this honest admission leads to a deeper reliance on God as his portion. True hope does not ignore pain; it faces it while still looking toward God’s faithfulness.
Proverbs 13:12 reminds us that delayed hope can make the heart sick, but fulfillment brings life. This word invites you to wait with patience, knowing that God is worthy of your trust. Your hope is not in quick fixes, but in the One who never fails.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hope1×
- and/ hope/ my1×
- and/ [the] hope of1×
- [the] hope of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תּוֹחֶ֣לֶת2×
- וְ/תוֹחַלְתִּ֖/י1×
- וְ/תוֹחֶ֖לֶת1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 3:18
I said, “My strength has perished, along with my expectation from Yahweh.”
This verse shows tochelet as something that can feel lost in despair, yet it remains the object of the soul's search for strength.
-
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
Here the word highlights how prolonged waiting tests the heart, contrasting the pain of delay with the life-giving nature of fulfilled longing.
-
Proverbs 10:28
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.
The righteous person’s hope is described as joy, indicating that this confident expectation brings stability and peace rather than anxiety.